Cherry Bright

This is the winter flowering cherry on the southerly bank of our neighbour's lake which had boughs toppled by Storm Henk. I photographed it when we had a brief spell of bright sunshine. People get confused by these trees, thinking that they're regular ornamental cherries flowering out of season. I think it is a Prunus × subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'. These do not occur in the wild but were bred in Japan to cater for people's desire for blooms in the dark months. They flower from November to February.