Appreciating Our Cherry Blossom (like Japan!)
In Japan, the annual cherry blossom season from the end of March to the end of May is celebrated by everyone, with locals gathering to stop and stare at over 1 million cherry trees for a stunning seasonal spectacle of blooms.
‘Cherry’ Ingram is the Englishman credited with saving cherry blossoms in Japan, after he began to send rare varieties from his own garden to Japan, with help of a network of ‘cherry guardians’.
Cherry blossom trees contain natural cyanide, so keep away from pets, horses & livestock. Read more on toxic plants & trees to avoid near animal friends.
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.
When they bloom in England depends on the weather and location, but usually you can find them in full flower in many of the London royal parks, alongside other locations throughout England. With climate change, some trees are now blooming as early as February.
Inspiring Lessons from Japan
Japan is a unique country, likely most of us has never visited. You may consider Japan as home of lovely buildings, macaque monkeys (who like to throw snowballs in hot springs), but what else do we know about this most unusual of countries?
In fact, it’s home to some of the healthiest people on earth, who regularly live to over 100 with no ill health until end-of-life.
Japan is mostly islands, with only a few urban areas, one of which is Tokyo. But all cities are better at protecting the planet than here, with hardly any litter (like Switzerland).
Animal welfare in Japan is a hot topic right now, after a horse died during a 680-year old Shinto festival. The charity has a long history, beginning after World War II when the founders began to raise money to help emaciated and dying dogs and horses.
