first cherry blossoms of the year
Refers to the earliest cherry blossoms to bloom in a given year, often carrying a sense of seasonal anticipation.
This year's first cherry blossoms came earlier than usual.
News of the first cherry blossoms has started to arrive.
Standard modern spelling.
Outdated kanji form using 櫻; rarely seen outside historical or literary contexts.
Compound of 初 (hatsu, 'first') and 桜 (sakura, 'cherry blossom'), with rendaku voicing of さくら to ざくら.