As I am walking up to the park gates, I realize that it’s just about to close. I first notice the people that surrounded the gates. I see older folks or parents with young children having conversations by the gate. I can hear the distant voices of people playing a field game on the other side of the gates and the barking of the small dogs being walked by onlookers.

I am observing a small tree that seems to have wrapped itself towards the gate on the outskirts of the park. I see white flowers growing on bunches in this tree. Each flower has five petals with brownish-pink stamens protruding from the center. The stamens are pink at the roots and transition to white up their stem with a brown end. Each flower is in a different stage of blooming; some flowers are still closed in a bud while most are on their way to full bloom. The petals on the flowers remind me of butterfly wings; they look so symmetrical and delicate. After some research, I was able to match these flowers to those of a flowering mirabelle plum tree. I wonder what flowering plants are native to France and Europe in general.

Although I am still in the Parisian winter, the temperature has gradually increased over the past few weeks. The average temperature these days are in the mid-50s/low-60s Fahrenheit. It doesn’t rain too often; the skies tend to stay gray consistently rather than a drastic change between sunshine and a downpour of rain. I think the moderate climate allows for floral and plant growth even in the wintertime.