Sentence:  Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the <WSD>blossom</WSD> or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit tree is fruiting;  a mass of such flowers.