Rhonda SG Some households display branches of Pussy Willows / Cherry Blossoms / that small delicate yellow flowering branches (sorry, don't know the name! ) in large Chinese porcelain vases during CNY and hang nice decorations on the branches for a festive look. Does your family purchase any of these for display during CNY? If so, how long do you keep them for before you discard them? I remember seeing branches of pussy willows being discarded at the staircase landing in August one year and mom and I were ... wah biangz... some folks keep them for THAT long, ah?! I love Cherry Blossoms and decided to do a bit of research on them. Here are a few lovely photos of the Cherry Blossom trees first. (Photos taken by Shizuko Mishima).
Rhonda SG The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. - From http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
Rhonda SG Did you know that Sakura trees can be found in Washington as well? These famous trees, surrounding the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin, are gifts from Japan in 1912. The original trees were planted by First Lady Mrs. William Howard Taft and the Vicountess Chinda of Japan. Since then, every year, they signal the coming of Spring with an explosion of life and colour, bathing the area in a sea of pale pink and white. Today more than 3,700 cherry trees of several varietiesgrow around the Tidal Basin, at East Potomac Park, and on the Washington Monument Grounds. To read more, pls visit : http://www.nps.gov/nacc/cherry/
Rhonda SG You guys MUST visit this website to view the awesome photos of the Sakura!! http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=1196
coolger03 SG but then my jap fren say the sakura trees got a lot of worms on it one leh... so i think not advisable to picnic under the trees?? wait got more additives in ur food and drink leh...
Rhonda SG When I brought my American pal to a dimsum restaurant in NYC's Chinatown and ordered Century Egg Porridge for him, I watched quietly as he ate it. He seemed to enjoy it a lot and said it was 'delicious'! He even emphasised with a thumbs up and a wide-eyed look. Then he pointed to a slice of century egg and asked, ''What's this? It tastes goooood!!'' ''Oh, that's century egg!'' Then I proceeded to tell him how it was made! Amazingly, he was tickled by the revelation, and then proceeded to finish the entire bowl of century egg porridge! I fell in love with him that day! ... ... ... ... ... Actually, I didn't! Just itching to spin a yarn!
