Have you seen a Cherry Blossom tree blooming? What was your reaction?
"Beautiful. Awesome. Gorgeous."
Yes, Cherry Blossoms are indeed beautiful. But they bloom for less than two weeks. So, would you like to add the following:
"Beautiful but fleeting"
"Spectacular but brief"
"Blushing beauty"
"Reward of patience"
"Bloom with purpose"
It is blooming time for Cherry Blossoms in Japan and North America. In Japan it is called 'Sakura'. But Ghumakkad is at neither of these locations. In Japan it holds significant cultural importance, symbolizing beauty, impermanence, and the arrival of spring.
This story is prompted by few pictures of Cherry Blossoms posted recently by Ashi, our daughter in California. You don't have to go to Japan or USA to enjoy the beauty of Cherry Blossoms. Just head towards Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim or the north eastern States in India to enjoy the magic. Not in April but in November every year.
Pink or White?
Cherry blossoms can be both white and pink, with variations ranging from pale pink to a darker shade, and some varieties even have blossoms that start white and then turn pink as they mature.
Sharing below few pictures of Cherry Blossoms taken around Shillong in Meghalaya during the famous India International Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival has a website www.cherryblossomfestival.in . Users may browse for details. Enjoy the blushing blossoms.
On a lighter note, many in India associate Cherry Blossom with a shoe polish. It comes in various shades and packaging as shown in the pciture below.
Coming back to the story, Cherry blossoms are nature's way of saying, 'Let's celebrate!' So, forget your problems and sorrows, just celebrate life! Pictured below are the California blooms.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with inputs from Ashi/ Secunderabad/ 8th April 2025
Postscript: 9th April 2025
Many of our readers from Bengaluru wrote saying they have seen Cherry Blossom flowering in Bengaluru. Another Bengaluru resident Col Jaishankar has clarified that what grows and blooms in Bengaluru is the Pink Trumpet or the Tabebuia tree, not the Cherry Blossom. Thanks Jai.
Pink Trumpet or Tabebuia, a look alike of Cherry Blossom in Bengaluru
Our readers from Canada (Sujata Das) and Washington DC (Gyan Agarwal) have shared the pictures of Cherry Blossom from their yard.
White Cherry Blossom, Canada
#cherryblossom #flowers #nature #renewal #spring #seasons #shadesofpink #trees #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkladhb
Loved the key takeaway from the cherry blossom blog sir, and that's - "Forget problems and sorrow; Just celebrate life!" It's the 'cherry on the blossom'
ReplyDeleteSpot on Admiral. Sharp eye as always!
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteThanks much.
DeleteYet another beautiful blossoming of your creative presentation or should I say ‘outpouring’! Recently I came across cherry blossoms in Bengaluru… unbelievable but true. Not everywhere, but a few parts of the city that still have greenery around. Thanks for reviving my memories of witnessing the cherry blossom season in Both Japan & California.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing. What you have seen in Bengaluru is not Cherry Blossom but Tabebuia or the Pink Trumpet tree. It is a look alike. We have inserted a picture in the postscript today.
DeleteThanks again.
“A Thing of Beauty is a Joy for ever” - so said the famous poet John Keats and we learnt in our school days.
ReplyDeleteThanks much Raman.
DeleteBeautiful captures Sir i think this is the first time they are doing the festival? I was by chance the fire a day
ReplyDeleteThanks Sunisha. Have you seen Cherry Blossom in Australia also?
DeleteGreat pics and as usual a great write up about the Cherry Blossom
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement.
DeleteThanks sir,Cherry blossoms truly can make pleasant thoughts bloom!Cheers Shillong.
ReplyDeleteWell said Peter. Thanks much.
DeleteLovely, cheery blossoms have a special attachment for my family and me too . I used to visit Kodaikanal every year for my granny’s birthday on Aug 30th and stay a few days for the cheery blossom to bloom
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memories Praveen. Appreciate.
DeleteAwesomely awesome
ReplyDeleteThanks Nattu
DeleteThank you Harsh for a colourful exposition. Remembered the 1950s number ‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’, which was a childhood favourite and has spawned so many trumpet versions.
ReplyDeleteOur Laburnum is blooming now.
Thanks much Ravi for sharing your memories.
DeleteYes, laburnum synchronises with rising temperatures in the summer.
Loved the write-up, and the pictures are simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation.
DeleteLovely and beautiful blossom.very nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks much Prof.
DeleteNice Informative Article with great Pictures,stating that India is also no less in Nature Beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks much Rajeev.
DeleteFrom Rajeev Bhargava.
ReplyDelete