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News and Blog Articles
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You’ve probably heard before that there is a Cherry Blossom tree festival in Japan every year – but did you know there’s an International Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated right here in the United States? In fact, the Cherry Blossom capital of the world is in Macon, Georgia! What Makes Cherry Blossoms So Special?Cherry trees bloom once every spring, but the flowers only last for about a week before the petals begin to fall from the trees. From start to finish, any given cherry tree will have blooms for a mere ten days on average. Despite the short-lived nature of their beauty (or perhaps because of it), cherry trees have been an important symbol in Japanese culture and identity for centuries. Called Sakura in Japanese, cherry trees were originally used to determine harvest times, as their blooming is heavily dependent on the weather. This practical application led to an association of good harvest, health, and plentiful times with the pink and white flowers. Over the years, the anticipation of seeing those flowers led to gatherings, celebrations, and eventually, formal festivals. Today, cherry blossoms represent ideals of impermanence, hope, and renewal. There are countless events, parties, specialty tours, and more in Japan around cherry blossom time, and the blooming is a major tourist attraction for the country. How Did the Cherry Blossom Festival Come to America?Our nation’s Capital is littered with beautiful cherry blossom trees, making the beautiful grounds even more stunning for a few short weeks in the spring. The credit for bringing Japanese cherry blossoms to Washington DC goes to one Eliza Scidmore, a diplomat who became enamored with cherry blossoms after visiting Japan. Upon returning to America, Scidmore petitioned to have cherry blossoms planted in DC. This first appeal, in 1885, would not become successful until 1909, about 24 years later, when a renewed request reached First Lady Helen Taft. The First Lady had lived in Japan and knew the beauty of cherry blossoms, and agreed that they would be a wonderful addition to Washington. Within the year, plans were underway to plant hundreds of cherry trees along the Speedway. Before they broke ground on the project, the Japanese consul in New York heard of the plans, and suggested that the City of Tokyo donate an additional 2,000 trees to fill out the area. First Lady Taft agreed to accept the donation, and the mayor of Tokyo similarly approved of making the trees a gift to the United States. The completion of the project took a few years due to scale and a few technical problems along the way, but the fruits of that labor can be seen to this day in the beautiful cherry trees surrounding the Capital. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia
During this time, you can walk the cherry-blossom-lined streets on the Cherry Blossom Trail, a special route that passes by near-endless blooming cherry trees. Cherry trees will also be available for purchase at Carolyn Crayton Park, for just $15 each. The Different Kinds of Cherry TreesThe term “cherry tree” might seem like it refers to a specific species. But actually, there are dozens of varieties of cherry trees, all native to China and Japan. They come in many shapes and sizes, some with pale white flowers, bright pink flowers, and every shade in between. The tree that spurred the devotion in Japan is the Yoshino cherry. The Washington DC cherries are largely Yoshino, but there are many other varieties there as well. What Are the Best Cherry Trees to Grow in Georgia?If you’d like to plant your very own cherry tree, you’ll be pleased to know they are very easy to maintain. There are four main varieties that do well in the unforgiving heat of Georgia summers. All four of these varieties prefer full sun to partial shade, which means about 4 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day. They like plenty of water, but grow best in well-drained soil. Weeping Cherry Weeping cherries are often confused as a variation of the weeping willow. While their branches have a similar drooping appearance, they aren’t actually related. Weeping cherries come in different strains, with different average sizes, growth patterns, flower colors, and leaf colors. When you go to buy one, be sure to read the characteristics to make sure you’re getting your favorite. Yoshino The Yoshino cherry is the star of the International Cherry Blossom Festival. On average, these trees reach around 35 feet tall, and have light pink to pinkish-white blooms. Their leaves change to yellows and reddish-browns in the fall. Okame Okame cherry trees are more ornamental, and are a good indicator of the arrival of spring in the south. The flowers of the Okame tree are deep pink, and the branches are largely leafless. On average, they reach about 20 feet tall, and have an overall oval-like shape. In the fall, the foliage turns orange-red, and the park itself turns a glossy red-brown, giving an overall stunning fall display. Kwanzan The Kwanzan cherry tree grows larger blossoms than the other varieties. The blooms are ruffled, similar to carnations, and come in a range of pink shades. These trees can reach up to about 30 feet tall. They tend to grow out just as much as they do up, giving them a broader appearance than other cherry varieties. Do Cherry Blossom Trees Grow Cherries?This might feel like a silly question. They’re cherry trees, after all. Surely they grow cherries? The answer is yes, all cherry blossom trees do grow cherries, but not the kind you’d find at the grocery store. These cherries are small, bitter, and generally unappetizing. You can eat them if you like, but most people don’t. They are, however, a favorite of birds. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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National Invasive Species Awareness Week (or NISAW, for short), is actually an international movement that aims to raise awareness of the dangers of invasive species all across the world. NISAW 2021, Part I starts on February 22 and goes through the 28. This week is all about spreading awareness about invasive species and promoting legislative changes at local, state, and federal levels. Part II will be May 15 through 22, and will continue these efforts, but will also include events that bring communities together to remove invasive species. In the spirit of NISAW this week, we thought we’d do our part in getting the word out on one of the biggest threats to our beloved trees. What Are Invasive Species?You may remember learning this term back in high school, but basically, invasive species are plants or animals that have been introduced to an ecosystem they aren’t native to. Not all “invaders” will survive in a new environment, because they haven’t evolved or adapted to the conditions there. But sometimes, the invading species actually takes really well to their new home. Consider this: the invaders decide they really, really like eating a specific other species in this new environment. The native species in the area aren’t evolved or adapted to defend against the new threat, so their numbers suffer. Plus, since the invaders aren’t native to the area, they won’t have any natural predators to keep their numbers within reason. So, you end up with an overpopulation of the invasive species decimating the populations of native species. What Are Some Invasive Species in Georgia?Probably the most well-known invasive species in our area is kudzu. You’ve seen kudzu blanketing trees around town, covering ground along the highway, and even taking over powerlines. Kudzu is a vine native to Japan. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as a new way to control soil erosion. Kudzu is a climbing vine, and it uses existing structures to reach for more sun exposure and access to rainwater. In doing so, it blocks these resources from whatever tree or plant it’s growing on. In its natural habitat, with insects that feed upon it, kudzu is just another vine in the forest. But in the States, we don’t have those insects. Our insects actually tend to avoid kudzu. So, with nothing keeping the kudzu in check, it grows wildly in every direction, literally choking our native trees and plants. Another major invasive species in our area is the Chinese Privet. You may not have heard of it, but you’ve definitely seen it, because it’s everywhere. This shrub grows quickly into a dense thicket that blocks light and water from reaching anything beneath it. It also tends to leech nutrients from the soil around it, making the surrounding area less hospitable to native species. When we do underbrush clearing for a customer, Chinese Privet is usually one of the culprits clogging up their property. It’s difficult to get rid of, so if you suspect you’ve got some Chinese Privet spreading, give us a call so we can remove it before it becomes a problem! Other common invasive tree species in the Athens area specifically are the Chinaberry tree, Mimosa tree, Paulownia tree, and Tallow tree. How Can You Help?
If you think you have an invasive species in your yard, or are worried about the health of any of your trees, check out our guide on some simple signs that your tree is in decline. Or, contact us for a free quote! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Most of us have probably heard of Arbor Day before, but fewer and fewer people seem to celebrate it. The holiday has faded into the background over the years, taking a backseat to the more famous Earth Day. And while they’re similar, Arbor Day has its own history and traditions separate from Earth Day. So, in honor of Georgia’s Arbor Day this Friday, let’s take a minute and learn about the holiday! Where Did Arbor Day Come From?Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by a humble newspaper editor by the name of Julius Sterling Morton. Morton, along with many other pioneers, noticed the lack of trees in Nebraska almost immediately after leaving Detroit to travel there. While he missed having trees around like he used to, Morton also knew how important trees were to a functioning society. At the time (and now), trees were an important source of fuel and building materials. They also acted as windbreaks to protect towns from harsher weather, and prevented soil erosion, which in turn meant better conditions for farming. Soon after arriving, Morton began advocating for the community to plant as many trees as possible. He would eventually become the Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, a position he quickly used to establish a tree-planting holiday, which we now know as Arbor Day. The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10th, 1872. Nebraska awarded prizes to the communities and individuals with the “largest number of properly planted trees” for the day. By most estimates, more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. What Is Arbor Day Today?Nowadays, nearly 150 years later, Arbor Day is still around. Communities come together on this special holiday to reflect on the importance of trees and work together to plant more. New research has proven that trees, in addition to producing the oxygen we breathe and supporting our environments, actually have a multitude of benefits. These include sheltering homes and towns from hot summer temperatures, encouraging creativity, and improving both our mental and physical health.
When Is Arbor Day?Nationally, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. In Nebraska, where it began, Arbor Day is actually a civic holiday. Over the years, many other states began to adopt Arbor Day, choosing their own dates to celebrate it. Now, all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day at some point early in the year. In Georgia, we celebrate Arbor Day on the third Friday in February. How Can You Celebrate Arbor Day?The traditional way to celebrate Arbor Day is by planting a tree. After all, the holiday is set aside for us to remember the importance of trees. But there are lots of other ways you can celebrate trees this Arbor Day, if planting one isn’t an option for you. Here are just a few:
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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