HANAMI FESTIVAL THE MOST FLORAL TRADITION IN JAPAN

Spring always comes with an abundance of colors, fragrances and life. It’s a magical period for nature, and we can see this just by strolling the parks. However, we know for sure that spring is in the city, once we get to admire the beautiful and delicate pink and white blooms known all over the world as cherry blossom or sakura (cherry tree). This tradition of welcoming spring is referred to as ‘hanami’ and focuses on appreciating the short life-span of beauty in nature. Traveling to see cherry blossoms and/or partake in a cherry blossom festival can be a really fun activity but can be tricky to time the blooms.

The entire world is celebrating sakura, when cherries invade the streets with their serene colors and mesmerizing fragrance. From Japan to Washington D.C., cities all over the world organize festivals to praise the beauty of cherry blossom and celebrate spring.

The cherry blossom festivals around the world are based on the Japan custom of viewing blossoming plum trees, which has been celebrated since 700s. The celebrations were accompanied by music, sake and haiku writing, and kimono typical dresses.

It’s important to know that the cherry tree blooming cycle lasts for only one to two weeks, from the first buds opening to full bloom. However, its beauty lasts for a little longer. Since Mother Nature establishes the actual cherry blossom festival dates, you might not found out the exact dates until one week before the actual start of the festivals. However, you can take a look at the previous years and make an idea about the approximate time to plan your holiday.

The blossom is considered the national flower of Japan and the country’s huge population of cherry trees first come into bloom as early as January in Okinawa in the south of the country. Then gradually the blossoms further north follow suit, month by month. By March Tokyo starts to bloom. In April, it’s at its peak and the season continues its movement until May when Sapporo has its show.

The Japanese take blossom season seriously and a cherry blossom forecast is made each year by the Japan Weather Association. You can find this year’s on the National Tourism website along with a detailed list of exactly where and when to view the trees at their finest throughout the country. To name a few here, there is the beautiful cherry blossom tunnel at Japan Mint in Osaka and Ueno Park in Tokyo, where more than 1,000 trees surround the Shinobazu Pond and line the streets up to the National Museum. One of the best locations to view the blossom is said to be the Hirosaki Park, home to 2,600 blossom trees, some of them also forming tunnels in front of Hirosaki Castle. Festivals and festivities are held across the key blossom locations throughout the county, but if it’s Tokyo you’re headed to, make sure you go this month.

1. Himeji Castle Cherry Blossom Festival, Himeji, Japan

As expected, Japan is the number one destination when it comes to cherry blossom. The amazing Himeji Castle, perched on a hill and looking like a heron, is the background of no less than 1,000 cherry trees. The festival dedicated to sakura lasts three days, and includes drum and harp performances, local food, casual picnics under the blossoms, and a ceremonial tea service. The castle complex includes over 80 buildings and dates back to early 1300s. Although the festival lasts for three days, the blooming period is spread over two weeks. Himeji is situated 60 miles northwest of Osaka, and you can get there via Sanyo rail line.
Don’t miss: the cherry blossoms at night
When to go: early April

2. Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival, Kitakami, Japan

If you decide to attend this festival, you’ll have the magnificent chance to view no less than 10,000 cherry trees. The trees are lined along a 1.4 mile pathway, located on the shore of the Kitakami River. The whole experience also includes romantic river cruises, waterside strolls and impressive lantern viewing once the sun sets.
Don’t miss: the nighttime lantern viewing and horse-carriage rides through a tunnel of cherry trees
When to go: mid April-early May

3. Matsumae Koen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Matsumae Town, Japan

Let’s stay a little longer in Japan and visit the Matsumae Koen Park too, to admire its 10,000 cherry trees. This beautiful seaside town has as core the Matsumae Castle, a structure dating back to the 17^th century, which impresses visitors with delicate, curved eaves. The surprise is that you will find more than 250 varieties of cherry trees, including the “weeping sakura” that looks like a willow, but has the flowers of a cherry tree. The festival includes local seafood, parades and even a karaoke contest.
Don’t miss: the local specialties, such as miso soup made with iwanori seaweed.
When to go: late April – mid May

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!

For the 8th of March I would describe three kind of woman that impressed me for some of their manners or personality sides. I will take some example from the tv series that I most like and I will describe the kind of woman that I like and that inspired me for my life.

Here I would explain which kind of style I usually wear and which are my sources of inspirations. I like to watch tv series in my free time and of course sometimes I take example from the woman characters for some dress, shoes or work suit. I like to watch crime series and legal police procedural series.

Chief Johnson portrayed by Kyra Sedgwick during an after investigation breackfast in her office.

I like a lot Kyra Sedgwick when she join the role of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson in The Closer because I am a lover of her flowered and colored dress and I literally love her black tote bag, I have a bag like that and I use it every day for every occasion, I think that is a must have for a woman. I also like to wear dresses and skirt like Brenda because I think that a girl must always preserve some elegant and womanly details in her look, so in my free time when I go out to stroll in the city or only to go to take some food at the supermarket I wear dress and heels. I also love her “always happy and honeyed Georgia cadence” that is Brenda’s trademark and her favorite catch phrase is “thank you, thank you so much” with her nice and delicate voice but she mean “bye bye I hope you’ll go to hell damn idiot” she is always kind and gentle but she always said what she wanna said and she is elegant and beautiful but also strong and powerful, she is determinated without renouncing to her woman and sweet side. She loves routine, and she’s work addicted following every aspects of her investigations very closely and excluding everything and everyone around her. She never forget to be sweet but she’s always strong, there is many women in the police series but I think that Sedgwick character’s is became so popular because she’s different from the others.

On first episode

I also like to watch Rizzoli&Isles because I am a huge fan of Angie Harmon the actress that plays the role of Detective Jane Rizzoli, I watched also Women’s Murder Club another series with the same actress that run the role of Detective Lindsay Boxer, she debuted in the crime tv series with the role of ADA Abbie Carmichael in Law&Order. In my opinion it doesn’t matter which role Harmon plays or at which age she never age and has a physical appearance that it’s beautiful and shine in everyone of hers versions. It’s like the black, she never age.

A very young Harmon playing the role of ADA Abbie Carmichael (1998-2000) on the left and Detective Lindsay Boxer (2007-2008) on right.

I like the character of those actress because they are always strong, all of those women are ” I know what I want and who I am” women. They are determinated, on career, and they reflect some aspects of my personality because I am determinated and I like to be strong and gain my goals alone without the help of the others people, sometimes being also a little bit rude but not too much. I also love their fashion style, opposite of the womanly dresses and heels of the Chief Johnson but anyway elegant with their work suits of pants and blazer over a white shirt or a more sporty t-shirt, I like that style because I usually use that fashion format at work, and of course I like her not too much make up that she use, black mascara with black eye pencil and eyeliner plus transparent or pearl lipgloss. In addition to that I like her natural wavy hairstyle, elegant styled but without becoming too artificial and high maintenance, it’s fitted for the character and it’s elegant and beautiful for everyone in the reality because it’s adapted to every occasion.

Angie Harmon playing Detective Jane Rizzoli from Rizzoli&Isles (2010-2016)

Finally I would describe my absolute favorite character: Lilly Rush the detective of the Homicide Division on Cold Case series portrayed by Kathryn Morris. Since I was young I watched every episodes and growin I decided to wear like Det. Rush because I always liked black, grey and navy blue of her trousers and blazers in contrast of the bright color of her classical shirt like lilac, white, pearl grey, baby pink. But she also wear black on black or grey on navy blue, brown, bordeaux, that emphasize her fair skin and blonde hair with clear blue eyes and I am a fair skin girl with mixed blue, grey, green eyes and dust blonde hair with copper highlights.

Morris on set of Cold Case playing Det. Lilly Rush.

I also like the personality of the character because she comes from a dysfunctional family situation and a rough area of her city but she is very balanced and rational with a strong and independent personality that gives her the possibility to obtain more success in her police career but at the same time she has the necessary compassion to work at the cold cases and deal with the victims and families with genuine empathy. I appreciate also her passion to seek truth at every costs because for me in the people life truth is one of the most important things. She lacks on the personal relationship, and she became a cop after being victim of a crime during her first years, I appreciate that, because she suffer a trauma but she was able to process the trauma in a positive and constructive way choosing to became a police office and not becameing an unrealized depressed person locked in her past experience, like a flower that bloom after the cold winter.

So to summarize I describe three fictional characters that impressed and inspired me a lot for their fashion style, aspects, attitude, life decision, personal life or with a significant trademark in their personality portrait.

THE LONG COLD SLEEP

THE LONG COLD SLEEP

Quiet peace, first snow,
Begin in the darkness,
End in the silence.

Winter solitude,
In a world of one color,
The wind’s chilling whisper.

The sky is grey and the air cold,
Remembering the sunny days,
Sadness come through a steamy window.

No sound no land,
Just snow falling slowly.

AUTUMN AGAIN

AUTUMN AGAIN…

Autumn softly dancing leaf,
Falling down the trees like kites,
Dancing a colorful ballet.

Orange yellow brown the season shades,
Painting the upcoming change,
A silent sight of death chill my hearth.

Cold air swirl my hair summer is gone,
Black crows screaming at smmer’s funeral,
Red leaf like fire inflames ground and sky.

Wind blowing away summer’s foly,
My memories are flying with the breeze.

THE AWAKENING OF THE SUMMER

THE AWAKENING OF THE SUMMER

Staring at the blu Sky,
Searching for the first sunshine,
Smell of salty water.

White sand hot under my feet,
Waves are whispering my name,
Tide is growing lazy.

Footprints on the beach show the way,
Breathing deeply the taste of the ocean,
The sun is shining bright on my face.

Sunrise after sunrise,
That’s the awakening of the summer.

IT’S SAKURA TIME IN THIS BLOOMING DAYS! North America Edition

The amazing tree called cherry originate in the Himalayas and then they are introduced in Japan were they became a symbol of the Empire of the Sun and of its traditions and culture. The Japanese call it Sakura season in English is spring the season when the cherry tree bloom. In Japan there is a long and old cultural tradition around the cherry trees and their flower because they are identified as symbols of spring and rebirth after the cold winter. There are over 600 varieties of cherry trees grown today and strange but true the flowering cherry does not produce edible cherries as we know them: they produce a small sour fruit that birds go crazy for, it’s edibles also by human but it has a flavor very far from the cherries.

Sometimes nature surprises and the trees bloom earlier or later than expected. I listed some of the most famous festival located in North America, some of the festivals below have flexible dates so that visitors can see the cherry blossoms at their full bloom that grant you an all senses experience. The blossoms come in a variety of pinks and whites shades and give off a beautiful fragrance to your noses.

#01. NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON D.C., USA

Washington D.C. is as famous for its cherry blossom festival as an American version of the Hanami in Japan, you can admire more than 3,000 sakura, received in 1912 as a gift from the mayor of Tokyo Ozaki, today they lined the Tidal Basin and the Washington Mall they also surround the Jefferson Memorial near the Basin and they cornered the landscape of the Washington Memorial. The city has celebrated the blossom every year since then at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Taking place over six weeks between March and April, the festival includes a parade, live music and the visitors can enjoy the Blossom Kite Festival and a grandiose parade that takes place on the Constitution Avenue. Tune into Blossom Cam to see the trees as they change daily. This is one of thebiggest cherry blossom festivals in the country.

The cherry blossom trees currently grow in three National Park Service locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Hains Point), and on the Washington Monument grounds.

#02. BETHESDA, Maryland, USA

A great alternative to the crowded Tidal Basin is a short drive outside of city in the neighborhood area of Kenwood. Historical houses sit elegantly as a backdrop to mature cherry trees that create a solid canopy along the streets. For the lovers of the photography this grant a beautiful location to get some shots. The oldest cherry tree in the neighborhood is 90 years old.

#03. VIENNA, Virginia, USA

Another location just outside of Washington DC that can be paired with the Bethesda and the Washington D.C. blooming if you want to travel in the area and have enough time to spend there the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens have cherry trees surrounding the lake near the entrance to the park as well as walking paths that become solid pink when the petals fall. This can be a good diversion to the crowd in the city.

#03. BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA

Usually ignored Boston is a good choice to see some cherry tree if you are or liver in Massachusetts. You’ll find the highest concentration of cherry trees in the section of the Charles River Esplanade bordering Back Bay, roughly between the Fiedler Footbridge (off Arlington Street) and the Mass Ave access ramp.

#04. INTERNATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN MACON, Georgia, USA

Obviously you didn’t expect that in this Georgia city they proudly present no less than 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees, so it’s definitely a must see destinations for those who’re searching for sakura. It all started when Mr. Fickling Sr. was walking around in his yard and noticed a tree growing that he couldn’t identify. He asked everyone he knew about the tree but no one could provide him any answers. Several years later he was in Washington D.C. on a business trip and spotted what he thought was the same green creature. After bringing home a branch cut he was able to confirm his suspicions. It was a Yoshino cherry tree! He then learned to propagate the Yoshinos and began giving them away. The Fickling family has since then gifted 6,500 trees that have been distributed by The Cherry Blossom Festival and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission. The Cherry Blossom Trail takes you through the 12 historic districts of the city where you’ll see thousands of flowering trees. Festival take place on early March usually. The locals like to call this festival “the pinkest party on Earth”. Visitors can enjoy a street party as well as a fireworks show and to see the beautiful “balloon glow” a nighttime show that includes illuminated paper hot air-balloons like the ones used in Japan for the lanterns festival.

#05. NASHVILLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, Tennessee, USA

Music City has a 4-mile loop lined with cherry trees that bring you through Sylvan Park and then back through the historic Richland-West End neighborhood. You will see the Yoshino trees bloom in early April and the Kwanzan trees bloom late April after the threat of frost is over. So prepare yourself to a beautiful symphony of flowers.

#06. ST. LOUIS, Missouri, USA

Be sure not to miss the weeping Higan cherry trees which display long sweeping branches covered in blush colored blossoms at the Missouri Botanical Garden. There are 40 of them as well as Yoshino, Twenty Centennial, and Sargent varieties of tree all throughout the park, particularly in the Japanese Garden. An admission ticket with a fee around 12$ is needed for adults, childs enter for free.

#07. SUBARU CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, USA

The first year the trees were planted in Fairmount Park was 1926. Another 1,000 trees have being added to date. Over time, it has turned into the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia 9-day festival that includes a Silent Auction and a Japanese Culture Week, all of that taking place in April from 1 to 9. This festival truly celebrates Japanese culture including Japan’s traditional ohanami: parties underneath the blooming trees with entertainment, food, and drink. Festival has an admission ticket of 10$ for adult and it’s free entrance for children under 12 so it’s a great event for the families that desire to see the Fairmount Park and add some Japanese things to their culture.

#05. SAKURA MATSURI BROOKLYN FESTIVAL, New York, USA

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual cherry blossom festival is called Sakura Matsuri and in 2017 will be on its 36th edition. Taking place over the course of a weekend, the festival includes over 60 events and various performances that celebrate the mix of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Though cherry trees typically only live 30-40 years, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden has two of the oldest living cultivars in the country. At the north end of Cherry Walk, you will find two weeping Higan cherries. There are at least 26 species and cultivars of the flowering cherry in the garden’s collection so if you have only a little bit of time use it to make a stroll into the park in spring enjoy a gorgeous and quiet moment of flowers in bloom. The Garden website offers a map that depicts what stage of bloom each tree is in and even offers detailed information about the species of trees. There’s also history to be found at Cherry Tree Park, renamed from the George Washington Houses Playground, as a symbol of the late president’s honesty when confronted by his father for cutting down his prized tree on a whim. The park is now maintained by volunteers in the neighborhoods.

#07. ESSEX COUNTY CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN NEWARK, New Jersey, USA

The Garden State has more cherry trees than Washington D.C. I mean it’s the Garden State! There are more than 4,000 Japanese cherry trees in Branch Brook Park, which runs through Belleville and Newark cities. You can take a stroll on your own through the park or attend the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival that lasts for two weeks ands give you the possibility to enjoy the Japan atmosphere.

#05. PORTLAND, Oregon, USA

Find the blooming flowers at the Portland Japanese Garden and along the bank of the Willamette River at the Japanese American Historical Plaza. It was dedicated in 1990 as a memorial to those who were interned during WWII so you can pair the flower with an historical landmark that give to your travel an accent of history experience. In Japanese tradition, the landscape is used to tell a story. Here cherry trees create a backdrop to exploring history thru engraved poetry and bronze relief. It is very evocative and touching.

#07. SEATTLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, Washington, USA

In addition to the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival, the city has some mature cherry trees you shouldn’t miss! The University of Washington has 30 Yoshino cherry trees that were relocated from the Arboretum in the 1960’s. Seward Park has trees that were donated in 1929 by Japan. You can find the oldest cherries in the city at Jefferson Park. They were planted in 1912 and another 25 were planted to mark the park’s 100 year anniversary.

#04. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO, California, United States of America

All the cherry action in San Francisco takes obviously place in Japantown, one of the only three remaining Japanese enclaves in the country. Cherry trees are easy to spot along the pedestrian mall, while the festival takes place for two weeks, usually from April 9-10 to April 16-17 when the final parade take place on April 17th around midday, the festival includes performances on the koto (a Japanese musical instrument), and visitors will also have the opportunity to attend classical and folk dance performances to enjoy the Japan culture. The cherry trees start blooming in the meadows of Golden Gate Park in mid-March but keep an eye on the ones in the Tea Garden. They are spectacular and were originally planted as a ‘Japanese Village’ exhibit in 1894 for the California Midwinter International Exposition so they have a long and interesting history. The Tea Garden is one of the most popular attractions in the city and cherry blossom season is the best season to enjoy its beauty.

#05. LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America

The largest collection of cherry trees in Los Angeles is in the San Fernando Valley where you can enjoy a view of over 1,000 pink cloud cherry blossom trees in the Lake Balboa / Anthony C. Beilenson Park off Balboa Boulevard. This is the place to be in the springtime for a little bit of peace and quiet amid the city if you are in the area.

#06. WAIMEA CHERRY BLOSSOM HERITAGE FESTIVAL IN BIG ISLAND, Hawaii, USA

There are several events held on the Big Island about the Sakura tradition but Waimea has the largest collection of trees of all the islands, festival take place Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at 9 am – 3 pm.

#07. SAKURA DAYS JAPAN FAIR IN VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada

Canada also received the cherry trees that bloom every spring as gift, this time from the Mayors of Kobe and Yokohama. Vancouver houses no less than 500 cherry trees planted in Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Kitsilano Beach Park, and on West 22^nd Avenue. They hold one of the youngest cherry blossom festivals, starting to celebrate the sakura in 2005. The celebration includes a Cheery Jam, which is a downtown lunchtime concert.

Japan, it turns out, is very generous with its blossom gifts and gave the city of Vancouver a whopping 37,000 cherry trees. These tend to reach their peak in mid April and, since 2006, the city has celebrated with a Cherry Blossom Festival starting at the end of March. Art performances, film screenings and a haiku ( a kind of poem that has seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, and has its origins in Japan, it is generally focused on traditionally evoking images of the natural word that combine natural elements and sentiments) competition make up the entertainment and at night the trees are hung with paper lanterns and create a magnificent atmosphere.

IT’S SAKURA TIME IN THIS BLOOMING DAYS! Europe Edition

Hi boys and girls! Today’s post is dedicated to the most common of beauty that we can see in nature in these days: the cherry tree blooming! Many of us think that we can saw that magnificent landscapes only in Japan but this isn’t right! We can see the tree blooming also in Europe, North America and obviously in Far East especially in Japan but not only. I will made three posts about the principal areas where we can go to admire the cherry flower, in this one I will write the top places in Europe, in the next one the top places in North America and in the third the top places in Far East. After that I wil dedicate one post to the Hanami in Japan. In Europe I had personally see many of the listed location because I travelled a lot all along the Europe so I can grant that they are all goiods location for those that won’t or can’t go too far for time or logistics reason for example. Remember location is not in order of preference.

#01. PARIS, France (location visited)

• Near the Tour Eiffel in the Parc du Champs de Mars
• In the Notre Dame Cathedral 
• In the Tuileries Gardens near the Louvre
• And 30 minutes or so out of the city at the Japanese Garden Jardin Albert Kahn

#02. LONDON, United Kingdom (location visited)

• Kew Gardens one of the best locations in London but need an admission ticket.
• Kensington Gardens there’s no ticket and the garden have many species of cherry tree near the Albert memorial.
• Regent’s Park located at the end of the Avenue Gardens in the south of the park.
• And in the near area but a little bit out of London Greenwich Park from the rose garden on the hill near the observatory.

#03. BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom

• In Birmingham you can go to Oozells Square, outside the Ikon Gallery. There is a Japanese Zen Garden. The flowers of cherry trees are very nice.
• Also in Cannon Hills Park there are a lot of cherry trees in a nice park with a pond.

#04. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom

• Located in the Princes St. Gardens Edinburgh. they make the city really beautiful.
• A little bit out of the city in the Meadows there are cherry trees in Jawbone Walk just a few hundred yards from the city center.

#05. CARDIFF, Uinited Kingdom

• Cherry tree cn be admired also in the Alexandra Gardens that are rich in flowers and trees, placed between Edward VII Avenue and Museum Avenue.

#06. BONN, Germany (very recommended location that I visited)

• Here is one of the most famous street bordered with cherry trees, located on Nordstadt neighbourhood Heerstraße street also known as Cherry Blossom Avenue create a pink tunnel when in bloom every April. The trees were planted in the 1980’s and have become the focus of many photographs since that day. The street is a very near from Beethoven’s House so tourists heading there anyway and walking in this street is something you have to try.

#07. HAMBURG, Germany (location visited) 

• The Kirschblutenfest is a festival dedicated to Japan, it begins in May and the ticket is around €29. Hamburg was given hundred cherry trees in the 1960s. Fireworks and parties are organized in Japanese style.

#08. BERLIN, Germany (location visited)

• Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a green area in Berlin. Garten der Welt has theme gardens from the Orient, Asia and Europe.

#09. HASSELT, Belgium

• Here you have the largest Japanese Garden of Western Europe, built about 20 years ago, in Hasselt. Waterfalls, a temple small streams and cherry trees. A place of peace, calm and serenity.

#10. COPENHAGEN, Denmark

• Again another japan style festival, the Sakura Festival takes place in Copenhagen around April 26 to 27. Great opportunity to enjoy the asia culture in a cold northern city like the capital of Denmark.

#11. KAPOSVAR, Hungary

• Kaposvar is a nice city in spring and there are also magnolia trees blooming in addition to the cherry trees.

#12. STOCKHOLM, Sweden

• Kungsträdgården or ‘King’s Park’ is one of Stockholm’s most beautiful park thanks to the many cafees with their patios and its nice location in the city center. It’s also home to the city’s biggest collection of pink blossom trees – 63 lining two boulevards that bloom in a pink explosion of flowers and perfumes between mid-to-late April. On April 16th, Stockholm will celebrate its annual Cherry Blossom Day with a festival organised in partnership with the Japanese government to celebrate the official opening of spring

#13. AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands

• Cherry Blossom Park is a real gem of oriental beauty. There are many Japanese people who live Amstelveen. In 2000, the Japan Women’s Club donated 400 cherry blossom trees to the city, 200 with japanese females names and the other half with dutch females names. You can find them at Amsterdam Wood, a big park that borders the cities of Amstelveen and Amsterdam.

#14. MADRID, Spain (location visited)

• Also the hot and sunny Madrid has its own cherry trees so relax at El Parque de los Quintos which can offer to your eyes many cherry trees.

#15. ROME, Italy (location visited)

• You can see the cherry tree in bloom also in Italy if you go to Rome at the Parco Lago dell’EUR.

#16. PRAGUE, Czech Republic (location visited)

• On the Petrin Hill you can enjoy the full blooming cherries of Petrin Park is in spring blooming with thousands of trees.

So that’s all for now, next post will be dedicated to the location on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in North Americas cities. Hope you enjoy it.

THESE BLOOMING DAYS

THE DAWN OF SPRING 

Cool awakenig after
the ice of the dark winter:
the return of life.

When the sun’s shining
I’m happy, also if
it is start raining.

I have just woken.
Outside is all so lovely.
Bright. Colored. Nothing else.

Soon life will explode in a palette of colors,
all will be refilled with the vitality of a rebirth.

THE DUSK OF SUMMER

THE DUSK OF SUMMER

You are having a
great time, but the day is short,
and the summer too.

Smell of salt and sea,
white sand: hot under my feet,
a gleaming, pink shell.

The dry leaves whisper,
telling stories to themselves,
in a gust of winds…

Clear skies is silent, bright stars on it,
the moon is watching down on you.

 

GARDEN DECOR TIPS FROM A TERRACE IN MILAN

A 2012 survey by the National Gardening Association showed that home improvement shopping was on the rise, with households spending over $29 billion on lawn and garden supplies that year. As each new gardening season approaches, more homeowners look for fresh ways to liven up their outdoor spaces with decorations and flowers. By following some simple tips, shoppers can choose the right pieces to personalize their gardens with decor, and make the outdoors just as enjoyable as the indoors.

Add Colorful Accents
To avoid having bland, green space in the yard, shoppers can look for bright splashes of color to add to the design. Gardeners can situate colorful ceramic pots with overflowing flowers along pathways, or use decorations like brightly colored butterflies on metal rods that are easy to stick into the ground. Patio furniture is another great way for decorators to bring in pops of color, with patterned cushions and vibrant tables that balance the serenity of nature.

Choose the Right Flowers
Having the right flowers for a specific climate, as well as for a style of garden, is key to creating a harmonized outdoor space. Homeowners can speak with local garden centers or florists for tips and ideas, and they should learn about the different types of flowers and plants before purchasing them.

Annual vs. Perennial
Both annuals and perennials come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Annuals need replacing each year, while perennials need attention as each season passes. Gardeners can use an assortment of annual and perennial flowers in mixed styles and heights to give their garden visual interest. Before planting a variety of mixed flowers, homeowners should also consider the horizontal growth patterns of each variety. Some flowers spread more than others do, and can easily overtake a garden. Planning for vertical and horizontal growth ahead of time ensures that the garden has a cohesive and attractive look when the flowers bloom.

Embellish with Ornaments
Ornaments that might typically decorate the interior of a home also make attractive embellishment pieces for gardens. Shoppers can hang rustic antique lanterns trees, tuck unique benches into greenery, and attach ornamental picture frames to fences in order to decorate the garden. When carefully placed, these items give any outdoor space character, and allow homeowners to express their personal style.

Match the Interior Theme
Another great way to connect the home to the garden is to decorate it with pieces that reflect the home’s exterior. If a garden has a specific color of siding, homeowners can use interior furniture and decor items in that color. Alternatively, if the outside of the house has a rustic style, then shoppers can look for lighting, ceramic pots, and other embellishments that have the same theme. Stone pathways around the home can also continue through the garden space for a fluid traffic area, which works especially well during outdoor parties.

Use Lighting Well
A well-lit garden creates an inviting space that draws visitors in, while adding brightness and visibility. Homeowners can enjoy their gardens at night by using solar-powered lights that hang from trees and stick into the earth. If an electric outlet is nearby, gardeners can also use Christmas lights, lanterns, and decorative lighting pieces to bring dark spaces to life, especially around patio furniture.

Create a Garden Entrance
If the garden is a distance from the house, decorators can use the space to create an entrance for the garden. Metal archways shrouded in thick green plants, such as wisteria, give garden entrances a magical feeling, and small wooden gates attached to wooden fences are quaint and inviting. Decorators can go big with impressive iron arches and citrus trees, or small with simple pots that stand on either side of a pathway into the garden.