Tuesday, March 29, 2011

YuJo and Sakura and Honor

This festival in Washington DC originates from the Japanese tradition of picnicking under the flowering trees in the spring of the year. The bloom time is tracked (much like we track Santa'a global trip) across the islands of Japan. Folks songs, secret societies, nationalism and symbols are all woven into the fabric of the blooming cherry trees in this Asian country. The United States is not the only country that celebrates this magical time.   But, in 1912, Japan gave us 3020 cherry trees (some replacing earlier trees). This gift of friendship has evolved into the week-long National Cherry Blossom Festival which takes place in Washington, D.C.  While awaiting the birth of my third grandchild I was able to visit the trees one afternoon.  Below are photos for you to enjoy and to thank the Japanese for such a lovely gift.  The festival this year is more poignant than in years past.






10 comments:

  1. Were these taken this year? The scent must be incredible. They are a beautiful promise of spring for those of us still in snowbanks.

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  2. Not much of a scent, and yes, they were taken this year.

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  3. love it...we try to go every year if we can...they are so beautiful...my fav tree!!!

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  4. Such delicate flowers, and a very blue sky, I can almost smell them.

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  5. Thank you. I grew up in DC and went to see the cherry blossoms every year.

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  6. Lovely. Many (many) years ago I visited a friend in DC. We walked among these pink-starred trees. A vastly different time.

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  7. Anonymous1:43 PM

    Just love the Mall in D.C. any time of the year. Wish we still lived in Maryland as we used to visit often. Great photos of the trees this year.

    DI

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  8. So beautiful.
    This is the first tree
    I planted in front of
    my cottage here at the edge of the woods. It is tiny and in full
    bloom.

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  9. Just absolutely stunning.
    thank you so so much for sharing this

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  10. Mother Nature at her best! What a treat it is to see these exquisite blooms. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
    Yes, a poiqnant reminder of our Japanese friends and the turmoil they're living through. So sad.
    You have a third grandchild? How wonderful! Congratulations!

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Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.