Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossoms are flowering cherry trees also known as sakura in Japan. However, cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) comes from a different species of tree. And to my surprise, Sakura is actually indigenous to the Himalayas, including northern India, and to east Asian states such as China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. And it has finally found fame here in United States.

Whereas in China the cherry blossom symbolizes feminine beauty, the feminine principle, or love in the language of herbs, in Japan the cherry blossoms are believed to exemplify the transient nature of life, because of their short blooming times.During World War II, the sakura was used to motivate and manipulate the Japanese people, to stoke nationalism and militarism among the populace.

Japan gave 3,020 sakura trees as a gift to the United States in 1912 to celebrate the nations' then-growing friendship. These trees have since lined the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. (see West Potomac Park), and the gift was renewed with another 3,800 trees in 1965. The sakura trees continue to be a popular tourist attraction (and the subject of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival) when they reach full bloom in early spring.

Other US cities have an annual Cherry Blossom Festival (or Sakura Matsuri), including the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia, which features over 300,000 cherry trees. Belleville,Bloomfield and Newark, New Jersey has an annual Cherry Blossom Festival which attracts thousands of visitors from the local area and Korea, Japan and India. It is in the Branch Brook Park.