I think today we're going to look at some cherry blossoms again! Hey, tis the season. They won't last too much longer, so we have to appreciate them while they are here.
I've got two different kinds for you today. Up first, the kawazu cherry blossoms (河津桜). I've shown these several times recently. You can see how large the area is here.
This area was as busy as ever. I still didn't see any mejiro. Too bad. But if you want to see more of those guys, here is one photo from last year.
Cute, aren't they? Go read last year's post to see more of him.
Just like I mentioned last time, I always like getting some variation of this photo when I am here. This time some people were marching up into the mouth of the cherry beast!
Out of all the blossoms, the Kawazu sakura generally last the longest unless rain or exceptionally strong wind brings them down early. They are the earliest of all the sakura to bloom, starting at sometime in February depending on the location in Japan, and lasting a few weeks. It this area they were a little late this year but they have lasted longer than usual, so it all works out. They won't be around much longer. So it goes.
Next let's move on to another kind. This is from a weeping cherry tree. Weeping cherry blossoms are generally called Shidare sakura (枝垂れ桜), but that's a general category. Inside that there are all the basic types.
I'm not actually sure what type this is. They look like someiyoshino, which in the weeping cherry category would be Yoshino-Shidare (吉野枝垂). But I don't think they are. The blossoms are a bit smaller than Someiyoshino and the tree these are on is over 100 years old. As far as I know, Someiyoshino trees typically only live about 50 years.
Most people I ask don't know, but I was told Edo-Higan sakura (江戸彼岸桜) by one old woman. I thought Edo-higan was a bit more pink than these very pale blossoms, but there we go. Maybe 
Whatever kind they are, they are also beautiful.
Like I said, the tree these are on is 100 years old and it looks it. It's on the top of a mountain next to a Zen temple. I'm told it's been struck by lightning a few times, but has mostly survived. The power of being a cherry blossom tree?
Sorry I didn't take any wide photos of the tree itself. The only place to stand was on one side of the tree and the sun was right behind it when I went, making it nearly impossible to photo. Oh well. If I have the chance, I'll return here before the season is out and try to get a photo of the full tree.
But those blossoms!
Like I said, this is on top of a mountain. I had to hike a bit to get up here. Despite the climb, it was fairly busy with a great many folks standing around enjoying the sights. The temple takes advantage of the tree and has an outdoor cafe where they serve tea and sweets. The tea is free, but you pay a small price for a sweet.
After I took some photos, I went to the cafe and just sat and enjoyed for awhile.
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |