Hello, Beauties🌸 Today’s post, The Philly Japanese Cherry Blossom Experience in Fairmont Park.
The Japanese Cherry Blossoms are the official emblem of springtime. Seeing these pink and white flowering beauties are the best way to celebrate spring especially in Philly’s Fairmont Park.
I didn’t make it to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. this year. The last time I saw the gorgeous blooms in full force in the national capital, April 20, 2013, when I participated in the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon.
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia presents the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Fairmont Park. There was a whole host of family-friendly Japanese cultural events to enjoy. In the celebration of all things Japanese, I would love learning how to make matcha green tea from experts. However, I was there for the Philly photo shoot to indulge in the backdrop of natural beauty.
According to the Global Philly News website, the Cherry Blossom Festival takes its name and inspiration from the fleeting beauty of the sakura, the Japanese name for cherry blossoms. In honor of the Sesquicentennial of American Independence, 1,600 cherry trees donated and planted in Fairmont Park in 1926 as a gift to the City of Philadelphia from Japan.
More than a century ago, the City of Tokyo extended the kindest of gestures to the city of Washington, D.C: an incredible gift of 3,000 of its acclaimed trees. The donation, symbolic of the strong bond between Japan and the United States. The flowering trees, planted along the picturesque Tidal Basin in the nation’s capital where more than one million people attend the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Since I didn’t get to indulge in all the planned activities at the 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, I feel obligated to share cherry blossom fun facts:
🌸 Cherry blossoms are Japan’s national flower
🌸 Picnicking beneath cherry blossom trees is a Japanese tradition
🌸 Cherry blossom festivals celebrate more than just spring – they stand for renewal and hope
🌸 The U.S. cherry blossom trees date back to 1912
🌸 Peak bloom (can vary) is usually around April 4
🌸 Bloom predictions can’t be made too far in advance
🌸 They make up the best selling fragrance (Bath and Body Works’ Japanese Cherry Blossom) in the U.S.
🌸 Macon, Georgia is home to 300,00 Yoshino cherry blossom trees
🌸 Cherry blossoms are said to be native to the Himalayas
🌸 There are 200 different varieties of cherry blossom
🌸 They aren’t always pink
🌸 Trees usually live for 30 to 40 years
Do you have a favorite spring flower? Does your local city/area plan celebrations around a spring flower like the cherry blossom? Do share in the comments section.
Happy Easter ✝️ and Passover ✡️As always, thank you for reading. Have a fabulous week.
