If you’re in Indy and love cherry blossoms (called “sakura” in Japanese), make your way down ASAP to the first blooming of the White River Cherry Blossom Promenade that my husband and I helped plant with Japan-America Society of Indiana and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. last spring! They’re in full bloom, but won’t be around for long with all of the rain and wind we’ll be getting.
These cherry blossoms have a special meaning for me. Five years ago, only a week before my husband (my boyfriend back then) left to study in Sapporo, JASI announced that Indy had received several Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom trees in honor of the 100th anniversary of Washington D.C. receiving its famous blossoms from Japan. Needless to say, we were ecstatic!Three years later, he planned to propose to me under one of the Indy trees for our 5-year anniversary–that is, until we found out that the tree planting was delayed another year. Thankfully, we found some cherry blossoms at the Chicago Botanic Garden instead and, well, you know the rest. 😉 Fast forward to last April, when we planted 4 of the 50ish sakura trees that now line the White River like puffy white clouds.
It’s only been 5 years in the making, but we finally enjoyed our own “hanami” (cherry blossom viewing) last night, a little sunset reunion with the trees we planted. Can’t wait to make this an annual tradition (hopefully with bento and a picnic blanket next time!).
It’s only been 5 years in the making, but we finally enjoyed our own “hanami” (cherry blossom viewing) last night, a little sunset reunion with the trees we planted. Can’t wait to make this an annual tradition (hopefully with bento and a picnic blanket next time!).
