Thursday, April 2, 2009

All Abloom in Georgia

By Mercie Hallow

Cherry blossoms are widely situated in Asian countries such as China, India, Japan, Korea and Philippines. Cherry blossoms or its Japanese counterpart name Sakura is a pink flowering tree. It is very symbolical and an icon widely used in Japan and China. It is always mentioned in songs, films and lyrical plays where it symbolizes love, beauty and friendship. Cherry blossoms are also found in other countries such as Germany, United States, Canada and United Kingdom.

Sakura or Yoshino cherries in the United States are located at the Sakura Park in Manhattan. History tells that the cherry blossoms are actually a gift from Japan to US on 1912 as a symbol of the two countrys friendship. Well, that was before the Pearl Harbor bombing at least. Japan reportedly donated 3,020 pieces of Yoshino trees to United States where it was then planted at the Sakura Park in Manhattan. The park continues to draw in tourists up to the moment.

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia is an event commemorative to the 300,000 pieces of Yoshino trees in Macon. This town is indeed the cherry blossom capital of America where it gathers locals and tourists from near and far to witness and commemorate this annual event. How the Cherry blossoms in Macon, Georgia got into existence is indeed a unique and warming history to tell.

Yoshino cherries in Macon has a history as rich as its trees. In 1949 a horticulturist named William Fickling Sr. upon discovering a Yoshino cherry tree in his backyard. He happened to chance upon the same tree again while visiting in Washington and thus began his quest to plant as many as possible with the help of his enthusiastic neighbors.

Carolyn Crayton, a female philanthropist learned about this mission and upon seeing how beautiful these trees were, invited Fickling to plant the same trees in her hometown. Soon the 300,000 cherry blossoms began in existence at the very heart of Georgia.



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