Flowers are beautiful . .. .. they pervade fragrance and happiness. Imagine
walking in a beautiful garden - sweet scent would waft through the
air. In a Temple they pervade divinity. The blooming and fragrance
is perhaps part of a strategy that helps flowering plants reproduce
themselves and spread their species. Plants flower to produce seeds that
can go on to become new plants. To make a viable seed, pollen from one part of
the flower must fertilize the ovules in another part of the flower. Some plants
can self-pollinate, using their own pollen to fertilize the ovule. Others
require pollen from another plant of the same species – that’s called
cross-pollination.
Hanami ("flower
viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient
beauty of flowers; flowers (hana) in this case almost always refer to those of
the cherry (sakura) or, less frequently, plum (ume) trees. From the end of March
to early May, cherry trees bloom all over Japan, and around the first of
February on the island of Okinawa.The blossom forecast (sakura-zensen)
"cherry blossom front" is announced each year by the Japan
Meteorological Agency, and is watched carefully by those planning hanami as the
blossoms only last a week or two.In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of
having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. A more
ancient form of hanami also exists in Japan, which is enjoying the plum
blossoms, instead, which is narrowly
referred to as umemi (plum-viewing). This kind of hanami is popular among older
people, because they are calmer than the sakura parties, which usually involve
younger people and can sometimes be very crowded and noisy.
A cherry
blossom is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus or Prunus subg.
Cerasus. They are known as Japanese cherry and sakura and refer to ornamental cherry trees, not
to be confused with cherry trees that produce fruit for eating. They are considered the national flower of
Japan.[6]
Wild species of cherry
tree are widely distributed mainly in the Northern hemisphere. In the
mainstream classification in Europe and North America, cherry trees for
ornamental purposes are classified into the genus Prunus which consists of
about 400 species. In the mainstream classification in Japan, China, and
Russia, on the other hand, ornamental cherry trees are classified into the
genus Cerasus, which consists of about 100 species separated from the genus
Prunus, and the genus Cerasus does not include Prunus salicina, Prunus persica
(Peach), Prunus mume, Prunus grayana, amongst others. Due to its diverse presence, it is considered that the culture of viewing
cherry blossoms and the production of cultivars have developed historically in
Japan. Many of the cherry trees currently enjoyed for cherry blossom viewing are
not wild species but cultivar. Because cherry trees have a mutable trait, many
cultivars have been created for cherry blossom viewing, especially in Japan.
After two years of
pandemic-related cancellations and restrictions, Japan is again observing the
time-honoured ritual of hanami – cherry blossom viewing.As the delicate pink
flowers reached their peak, people who had previously avoided the crowds – or
had their local viewing festivals called off – have turned out in large numbers
to view Tokyo’s sakura petals.But a rise in Covid-19 cases in the capital since
quasi-emergency restrictions were lifted at the start of last week has sparked
concern that the long-awaited hanami season could help fuel a resurgence.
At Chidorigafuchi park, a
famous hanami spot northwest of the imperial palace, thousands of people viewed
the flowers as they walked beneath rows of trees or from rowing boats on the
palace moat. The blossoms reached full bloom in Tokyo on Sunday – four days
earlier than average but five days later than last year – when temperatures
reached 21C, according to the meteorological agency.“ I feel like life has
finally gotten back to normal,” Takanori Shiwaku, a 62-year-old cafe owner, said
as he strolled in the park. “Here in the downtown area, people have waited for
this for so long.” Midori Hayashi, 75, has spent most of the past two years
staying at home. Hayashi said she was “really happy” to finally be able to
admire the blossoms.
While Covid-19 measures,
including restrictions on bar and restaurant opening times, were lifted on 21
March, local authorities have asked hanami-goers to be vigilant.Shigeru Omi,
who heads the government’s coronavirus advisory panel, urged them to wear masks
and avoid parties where large numbers of people eat and drink together, the
Japan Times said.Tokyo reported 7,846 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, more than
twice the 3,533 a week earlier, in a resurgence attributed to the BA.2
subvariant of Omicron !!.
Cherry blossom might have
rung a different bell .. .. when
you buy a new pair of shoes, you want to make sure that they last and look
like-new for years to come. Maintenance of footwear is an often-neglected
practice but it always pays dividends. From
something as simple as cleaning your footwear once a week, to cleaning,
polishing, protecting and even replacing the insoles and accessories on your
footwear – preserving is an easy act to follow. If your shoes are a little tight
after purchase, don't force them on as this can cause damage to their backs and
that won't be easy to reverse. Use a simple Shoe Horn, which provides a smooth
ramp that allows your feet to easily move into your shoes without risking
damage.
Cherry Blossom is another
name just a Kiwi boot polish that strikes mind immediately when we think of shoes
and polish. Cherry blossom is produced in Derbyshire, England. Its website reads that the brand's aim is a
simple one – to keep your feet moving, and make you feel and look your best, by
preparing all footwear for the chaos of an unpredictable world.
Slightly more than a
century ago, in 1906, tired of having
shoe polish rub off onto their clothing, Dan and Charles Mason decide to create
a polish that would last an entire day. They called the product Cherry Blossom
Boot Polish and launched it across the
UK. After its success, in 1913, the
Chiswick Polish Company, owned jointly by the Masons and Reckitt & Sons
Ltd, was founded. Its website adds that - with workers’ welfare high on the
agenda at Cherry Blossom, a staff magazine called “Forward” was launched in
1916. Shortly after, the company introduced a 5-day working week in 1918 and a
pension scheme in 1923.
Interesting !
31st Mar 2022.
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