I took my son to go cherry blossom viewing here are some of the pics. We had a spectacular time.

Then a hop over to see what was going on over in China.

Thank you for sharing! Nice photos!

Good time. We went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis. HUGH place. The koi loved my kiddo. There was a white and gold one that was as big as him and followed us all the way around the lake!

How beautiful. It looks so big!! It looks like you had so much fun.
Actually, I had my first hanami on Thursday last week *is in Japan*. The sakura are starting to fade here though (they lasted just over 2 weeks in full bloom, which is a really long time!!)

The Japanese garden itself is over 40 acres. The whole place is over 70 acres. The blossoms do last longer here than in Japan. Something to do with the difference in climate of an island and a landlocked river town. All the trees did however come from Japan. There is even one that the Japanese prime minister (1977) planted. He even brought over an ancient teahouse and had it rebuilt in the garden. Last but not least he brought over a Shinto priest to bless the garden. The blessing is still there, you can feel it. Great place.

Watching cherryblossoms gives me always a delighted feeling.
Sitting down under them and enjoying their spirit.

Here some lines I worte while watching them:

Cherryblossoms
their grace just before
the moment of the fall



the sakura
long gone
scenes reapear
in my mind



evening twilight
the wind carries
fallen blossoms

I can't wait for the Chinese heritage festival next month. Then the Japanese summer festival. They will actually open Tortoise Island in the garden. Then my son and I can have tea in the tea house. Who knows what famous person had tea under the same roof? ...I'm excited...can you tell? I am also almost done with most of my smithing projects, and the trip to the gardens has inspired me to do a yanagi.