Let’s appreciate our cherry blossom (like Japan!)
Cherry blossom seasons around April, when over 100 varieties bring a beautiful pink and white display to our shores, that only lasts a week or two. Key spots are London’s royal parks and Kew gardens. Over 8000 more trees have recently been planted to boost spring colour.
The blossom petals are edible, and can be used for tea and treats, like they are in Japan. But while many trees in Japan are hundreds of years old, in England they tend to only last 15 to 30 years.
Cherry trees produce stone fruits as well as blossom. Related to plum & peach trees, the flowers produce spectacular blooms that are noted the world over.
Cherry blossom trees contain natural cyanide, so keep away from pets, horses & livestock. Read more on toxic plants & trees to avoid near animal friends.
Parakeets in London’s park often tear off cherry blossoms to get to the nectar. This is not advised (nor for pet birds) as cherry blossom is actually toxic, it’s high-risk foraging behaviour for hardy wild birds.
The Englishman who saved Japan’s cherry blossom
‘Cherry’ Ingram is the story of Collingwood Ingram (born in 1880) who as a young man travelled to Japan, and learned of the astonishing displays of cherry blossom (sakura). On a return visit in 1926, he saw frightening changes to the country’s cherry population.
A cloned variety was sweeping the landscape, so he began sending rare varieties from his own garden in England back to Japan, with the help of a network of ‘cherry guardians’. This extraordinary man is the reason why Japan has so many beautiful cherry blossom trees today.
Today, millions of people in Japan celebrate their ‘national flower’ that only blooms for a couple of weeks in March and April. People often enjoy picnics under cherry blossom trees, and they even appear on the 100-yen coin.
However, Japan is not the cherry blossom capital of the world. That title goes to Macon in Georgia (USA). Each year, over 350,000 trees blossom each March, turning the city into a pink paradise.
