Green Cherry Buds Along a Diagonal Branch

A slender grey-brown branch runs from the upper left to the lower right of the frame, cutting across a clear, deep blue sky. Along it sit several tight clusters of buds, their scales green with reddish-brown edges and tips. A few clusters are open enough to show pale green inner leaves, while smaller, darker buds sit near the left end. The light is bright and direct, which gives the buds crisp edges and a slightly glossy look. The empty sky leaves plenty of room around the subject, and the mood is calm and early-season.

The caption identifies these as buds of a cherry (Prunus sect. Cerasus) photographed at Gåseberg in Lysekil Municipality, Sweden. Cherries form their flower buds the summer before and carry them through winter in a dormant state. Warmer spring days make the scales loosen and the clusters swell, and blossom and young leaves often follow within days. The timing varies with the weather and the variety. The strong diagonal and the uncluttered blue background suit a widescreen desktop monitor, where icons can sit in the open sky. They also work on an ultrawide display, or on a phone if you crop toward one of the bud clusters.

More like this: Cherry Buds Breaking Open Against Clear Blue.