How many, many things They call to mind These cherry blossoms! ~Matsuo Basho
In Basho’s home country of Japan there are over one hundred varieties of cherry trees. The most popular cherry tree in Japan is known as Somei Yoshino. The Somei Yoshino was heavily cultivated in Tokyo during the Edo Period, which is also the time that Basho was alive and writing haiku. Somei Yoshino trees have a slightly pink, almost white, 5-petaled flowers. Their appearance is particularly intense thanks in part to the fact that their fresh leaves do not emerge until after the peak of the flowering season.(1)
This intense nature of the spring cherry blossom bloom could explain why Basho also wrote this haiku:
A lovely spring night suddenly vanished while we viewed cherry blossoms ~Matsuo Basho
The Japanese have been celebrating the blooming of the cherry blossom for over a 1,000 years with a tradition called hanami. Hanami means “viewing flowers”. This tradition started with aristocrats gathering together to look at the flowers, write poetry, and create art. Today the tradition continues but has been adapted to meet modern times with cook-outs, picnics, and sake. (2)
Earlier this week I was walking around the neighborhood and noticed the Pin Cherry blossoms. The Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) is slender and sometimes shrub like tree. This tree is a member of the Rosaceae, or Rose Family, family and has small, white with five petal flowers that grow in clusters of five to seven.(3) The bark of this tree is smooth and shiny with orange lenticels.(4) As the first flowering trees in our area, I was drawn to their presence. Then, as I sat with the tree I was reminded of the symbolic nature of the tree.
Cherry blossoms represent a time of renewal. Their vibrant blooming in early spring reminds us that life continues after winter and we should come out and celebrate. However, their short lifespan also reminds us of the impermanence of all things. Cherry blossoms usually only last for about two weeks before they start to fall away. But as the flowers begin to drop, the cherries soon take their place. These small fruits become food for other animals and the seeds for new trees. What has passed, becomes reborn. The whole cycle of life is captured in this one flower.
As I write these words, I am brought back to Basho’s haiku.
How many, many things They call to mind These cherry blossoms! ~Matsuo Basho
I am also spurred to write my own lines:
I see the cherry blossoms and think of all the roads yet travelled Connected through time and space by little white flowers
Resources
Naturalist Weekly 
Interesting post, combining haiku with information about Japanese culture and cherry blossoms. There is a pretty park in my area that is full of cherry trees. They have held cherry blossom festivals in past years with some Japanese arts and customs. I’m not sure that they held one this year, and I missed out on visiting during the peak cherry blossom time. I still enjoyed seeing cherry blossoms elsewhere and even on our own weeping cherry tree.
Hi Susan, thanks for the comment! I haven’t yet to see a cherry blossom festival. I bet it is pretty amazing when all the trees are in bloom. Hopefully, they will have your local festival next year.
🙂
Beautiful post. There is something timeless about them even as they mark a very special time of the year.
Thank you! I hope to see the festival one day. It would be amazing to see that many trees in bloom.
You’re welcome. Not sure where you’re at, but I have been reading about a park in Toronto that is full of cherry trees. Hoping to make it there at some point.
I love this tree so very much! I’ve been viewing pictures. Very skilled article! Well written.🌸
Hi Zina, Thank you for the comment. I am now noticing many apples trees in bloom. I may have to investigate them next.
There is magic in spring blossoms. Such a magical time of year!
Yes! Definitely pretty amazing to see all the new growth.
My wife and I have some huge British cherry trees in our eco-garden. They are native and some 30m high… we have five of them, and they are really popular with the birds soon! We have planted bird cherry (Prunus padus) too, but they are mere snippets now. These have lilac-like flowers and, again, are natives.
Thank you for the articles. nwhwildlife.org.uk
What a variety of trees! Thanks for sharing all these variety.