CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME

UPDATE!!!! This year’s Monday, March 21, 2022,  peak bloom date marks the eighth-earliest peak bloom on record. The earliest peak bloom occurred on March 15, 1990, and the latest on April 18, 1958.  Peak bloom is defined when 70 percent of the cherry trees’ buds are flowering.

What could be more romantic than an early evening picnic beneath cherry trees floating clouds of pink and white blossoms and strewn with sparkling lights? 

 

At Cherry Blossom time in Japan, parks are illuminated with lanterns at night, which adds to the romantic spirit of a cherry blossom picnic but there is usually very little privacy. Tables for two are set out under the trees lining the walks. Sometimes music is provided and food markets are set-up nearby.

Known as “Sakura,” cherry blossom trees are symbols of renewal and hope. Picnicking beneath the trees is a longstanding Japanese tradition, which is known as "hanami." It is a tradition, similar to our Thanksgiving, that families gather and share a meal beneath the blossoms.

“Hanami” means “trying on the flowers” and can be seen as a recognition of the ephemeral quality of nature.  The blossoms don’t last long, usually just one to two weeks. Cherry trees have a short lifespan lasting about 16-20 years.

What could be more of an East Coast springtime icon than the pink and white clouds of blooms on the cherry trees in March and April in Washington, DC?  The blossoms are expected to be blooming between March 22 to 26, 2022. And the Cherry Blossom Festival will be held once again after a two-year hiatus.

 

Here’s some interesting facts:

On January 6, 1910, 2,000 cherry trees arrived from Japan. After an inspection found they were infested with insects and nematodes, they were burned to protect American growers.  In 1912, 3,020 pest-free replacement cherry trees arrived in Washington, DC. (National Park Service history of the trees)

It is illegal to pick cherry blossoms off trees in DC. In fact, it is illegal to harm or harvest from any natural resources under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

George Washington never actually chopped down a cherry tree. It is a myth concocted by biographer Mason Weems.

Although cherry blossoms aren't native to the U.S., Macon, GA, is "The Cherry Blossom Capital of the World" with more than 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees. They will hold their 40^th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival from March 18-22, 2022.

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