Cherry Blossoms

There's only one downside about going to Japan in June as far as I can tell: I'm going to miss cherry blossom season.  Every year, right around the beginning of spring, a warm front moves north through Japan and the cherry blossoms burst open, creating a sight to behold throughout the country.  People have even made a science of predicting when the blossoms will open in each region and major city. This week, people in Tokyo and Kyoto will be witness to the beautiful blossoms unfolding. 

Cherry blossom viewing is a tradition in Japan that is also practiced in some places here in the United States, most notably in Washington, D.C., where nearly 7,000 Sakura trees are located.  These trees were gifts from the Japan to the United States in 1912 and in 1965.  

From what I read, the cherry blossom front is so followed by the Japanese people that meteorologists cover the phenomenon in their daily weather reports.  I found a site that goes into this in more detail, but I really couldn't tell you what it says because it's all in Japanese.  However, the picture on its front page says plenty:

Even though I won't get to see the cherry blossoms this time, I will make it a point to visit Japan in the early spring sometime in the future, hopefully when my daughter is old enough to travel and appreciate the spectacle.  Until then, we have this on our front door to welcome the spring:

And they bloom year round!  Thanks, Jo-Ann Fabrics!