Photo of the week: Spring showers and flowers

Though unseasonably low temperatures and rain have dampened the springtime mood in Lithuania, many consider the blooming cherry blossoms at the Chiune Sugihara park in Vilnius to be a sign that spring has arrived in Lithuania.

The sakura park was planted in Vilnius in 2001 on the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Chiune Sugihara, who was the Vice-Consul for the Japanese empire in Lithuania during World War II. He is known to have helped 6,000 Jews escape Europe by issuing them Japanese visas.

Here are some more photos of the cherry blossom bloom: