Nature Diary
Cherry Blossoms

You may have eaten many cherries, especially glaced cherries on cake or biscuits. Eidble cherries come from the species Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus. A related tree of genus Prunus is the cherry blossom tree. It is an ornamental variety cultivated for its flower and does not produce any fruit.
Cherry blossoms are particularly famous in Japan, where the species, Prunus serrulata, is called sakura. In the poetry of Japan, especially the few-line haiku, flowers always meant cherry blossom. The picture shows a wood-block print of cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji in the background (from 36 Views of Mount Fuji by Hiroshige). 
The flowers blossom just as winter warms into spring. Hence the flowers have had a great importance from early times. Even today, the significance of the cherry blossom is so great that the Japan Meteorological Agency tracks the blooming of the flowers across Japan. Since warm weather reaches the southern part of Japan first and then slowly the northern regions warm up, the flowers blossom first in the southern island of Kyūshū in late March and in northern Hokkaidō in the middle of May. People turn out in large numbers to see the blooms which are usually planted in large numbers in parks, temples and shrines.
The seedlings of the Japanese cherry blossom have been taken and planted all over the world including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. Many times the seedlings are donated as a goodwill gesture to various cities.
China in particular is a case in point. Cherry trees grow naturally in China. But the two most famous cherry blossom parks in China reflect Japan's brief occupation of parts of China during the first half of the 20th century or the donation from Japan thereafter. The cover photo shows the blooming of cherry blossom on the campus of Beijing University. Almost every park and University campus in China has many cherry blossom trees.
The cherry blossom season is relatively short. Full bloom is usually reached within about one week after the opening of the first blossoms. Another week later, the blooming peak is over and the blossoms are falling from the trees. Strong wind and rain can cut the blooming season even shorter. So the blossoming time is very short, a month or even less. Soon the days grow warmer and masses of red roses replace the pale pink blossoms. The short flowering season caused poets to liken the flower to clouds, short-lasting and ephemeral. It also reminds us that life is short and we must enjoy it to the fullest while we can. The sheer beauty of cherry blossoms certainly helps us to enjoy life!