Cherry Blossoms

Introduction

Emblematic figure of the country of the Rising Sun, cherry is a majestic tree that is often represented as a symbol of ephemeral beauty. Sakura is a Japanese term that refers to a type of tree symbolism (Ohnuki, pp. 122). Species of the Rosaceae family, the sakura (also called “prunus serrulata”, “Japanese cherry” or “Oriental cherry”), is actually native to the Japanese archipelago, where it plays a very important, especially in the manufacture of green space (Seligson, 55-61).

One of the fastest growing and popular flowering trees in U.S.A is cherry blossom. Much of the domination in the landscape of the nation's capitol is the multicolored variety of the Yoshino cherry and Kwanzan cherry (Say, pp. 43). In Washington Dc, the Kwanzan of the Japanese Flowering cherry was planted as a token of gratitude from the Japanese people to USA. It was made possible through the efforts of the wife of the president Taft (McClellan, pp. 12). Beside these origins, thousand others genres of cherry blossoms have been planted in U.S.A and many tourists visit the capital in the spring to experience the extravaganza (McCaughrean, pp. 56). There are numerous festivals of cherry blossom that are held annually in cities across the country during the spring season (Romanov, pp. 44). Some years ago, the cultivation of cherry fruit was a very relevant in the Chilean fruit production, which was manifested in the area planted in 1999, which showed only 25% of the area fruit of the country and exports of fresh fruits, which did not exceed 0.6% of total exports (Seligson, pp. 55). This situation has been changing in recent years, according to cadastral information CIREN-PASO, the which indicates a significant increase in planted area reached 7,200 hectares in 2002, concentrating the surface of industrial orchards of cherry trees between regions VI and VII (5739 ha) (Seligson, pp. 55). The increase in the surface may be due mainly to the expectations that are put at the opening of markets like Japan and the low tariff after the FTA with the EU and U.S. Even. Today, Chile has established itself as the largest exporter of cherries in the southern hemisphere counter season (Stilton, pp. 32).

Characteristics and culture

The Japanese cherry tree is relatively small. Indeed, it is only 8 to 12m maximum (McClellan, pp. 15). In return, it has a crown (branches, twigs and leaves) very dense, particularly at the foliage once flourished, is filling small pink petals (sometimes reaching a dark, pulling fuchsia). This flowering is abundant from the first heat of April and disappears quickly in mid-May (Say, pp. 43). This is the end of autumn the leaves of the cherry tree, usually green, are tinted with a color between red and orange. Its fruit, meanwhile, is a small drupe (stone fruit of “cherry” or “fishing”) black (Ohnuki-Tierney, 122-30).

In Japan the cherry tree is traditionally planted in autumn or in spring, preferably in an ordinary soil and humid, prone to sun but sheltered from the wind, to protect its leaves ...