International Cherry Blossom Festival

​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

You might think that the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World would have to be in Japan – but that title actually belongs to our very own Macon, Georgia! The city boasts more than 350,000 cherry trees within its limits. 

This year, the festival in Macon will be from March 19 through 28. 

​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 Trees

The 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. 

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Author

​​Emily 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.

Sources
Macon Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival
Gardener’s Path
National Park Service
Japan.Travel