Peach blossoms and willow leaves

Pink peach blossom and green willow branches often appear together in Chinese literature and painting to describe either the colours of springtime or female beauty. As indicated in the inscriptions on the left, this work was painted by the artist at the age of 85. Is she trying to convey the feeling of the inevitable disappearance of short-lived beauty by adding some falling petals of delicate peach blossom?

Xu Congyou, born in Changsha of Hunan province, was one of the leading female artists in traditional Chinese painting, particularly in the flora and fauna genre. She was appointed a professional painter at the Chinese Painting Academy from 1957.