The cherry plum tree is in full blossom.

It's always the first tree to come out, sometimes as early as late January, this year it was Monday when the blossom finally opened.

I can see it from my window and it looks wonderful.

I went for a stroll in Wanstead Park earlier to look at the bluebells. The wood was carpeted with them but the light meant that the photographs weren't as good as I had hoped.

Wanstead Park has several artificial lakes and ponds from the days when it was the gardens of a large and imposing Palladian house. The house if long gone, demolished to pay off the creditors amassed by the errant husband of the final owner in 1822.

As we walked around the Ornamental Water with its twists, turns and islands we turned a corner to find a hawthorn standing on its own at the lake edge in full blossom.

Wanstead Park is managed by the City of London as part of Epping Forest. It's a lovely place to stroll or picnic and you can find out more here:

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_plan...

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanstead_Park

The quince tree is in blossom. There seems to be a good amount. But so far the conversion rate of blossom to quinces has not been very spectacular year on year.

Year one: there was a quince, the squirrels stole it.

Year two: there were no quince. I guess that meant the squirrels couldn't steal them.

Fingers crossed for better luck for this year.

Right now when I look out of the window this is what I can see.

Obviously not quite that close up. I mean I did hang out the window to take the shot.

Lovely though isn't it.

And it will be gone in a few days.