Mother Nature is clearly in a snit. Although it’s obviously Spring – the calendar says so! – we’ve got another inch of snow mucking up the spring blossoming timetable.
This won’t do! I see only one possibility – we must cheer up Mother Nature and encourage her to by creating our own version of Spring.
Although they’re not predicting peak blossoming until April 8th this year, Washington DC is in the midst of their annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Which is the quintessential Spring delight in my book.
The cherry trees around here probably won’t be blossoming until July at this rate, so I’ve had to take things into my own hands.
Through the alchemy of magic let me present to you my own Cherry Blossom festival.
This beauty is courtesy of a vintage find – a Magic Cherry Tree novelty from the 1960s! I literally swooned when I found it. I remember as a kid growing “crystals” on a bit of string hung in a cup that was filled with a saline solution saturate. There was probably more to it than that, but my inner mini-me still squirms with delight remembering how awesome it was. And so I suspected this Magic Cherry Tree would be equally wonderful, and yes, I believe it is.
You stick the cardboard tree in a little container with water and a bit of solution and in a few hours the coated tips of the branches grow crystals. How fun is that?!
Konohana Sakuya Hime is the Japanese goddess associated with cherry blossoms (sakura), and cherry blossoms themselves symbolize the transience of life with its ephemeral nature. Which seems like to perfect reminder to celebrate all the magic around us. So perhaps I’ll spend a few minutes appreciating this newest addition of snow AND enjoy my faux cherry blossoms AND remember that the joy of the actual blossoms is something to look forward to.
What about you? Has Spring (or autumn) planted itself firmly in your part of the world or is there still some scurrying back and forth happening? Ever been to a Cherry Blossom Festival? Is there a penultimate sign Spring has arrived for you? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Is that a photo of what you created? If it is, it SO looks like cherry blossoms! How cool!
Thank you for bringing us this little dose of Spring. We all need it. Energetically it is always most difficult right at the end before something breaks into the next thing. We are so so ready.
I know – it’s marvelous isn’t it?! I don’t know how long it will last, but like real cherry blossoms I’m soaking up all the delight I can.
SO glad to be back here in Deborah land. Yes, today it is pouring with rain after we got brilliant sunshine yesterday. I found myself popping into the local store after my soggy dogwalk. Guess what I picked up? Tulips! Just had to have some Spring inside. Outside my Magnolia tree is coming into bud and I noticed a few buds on the peach tree. Yeah!!!!! Sending blooming thoughts to your Magic Cherry Tree.
I’m pretty sure a bunch of tulips can fix just about anything. And how wonderful you’ve got buds popping. Magnolias and peaches – swoon!
I’ve never been to a Cherry Blossom Festival, but I would *love* to go to one! But your personal festival here is a riot. I love that cherry blossom novelty tree. I’d never heard of one before, but I can see how delightful it would be! Let us know how long it lasts. I’m so curious!
Oh I do hope you get to go to a Cherry Blossom Festival as some point Harmony. But in the meantime you’re invited to my faux-tree-of-one festival. It’s holding up well, although there has been a slight shedding of some of the blossoms/crystals. You can thank my clumsiness for that – I knocked the poor thing over while peering in delight at it. The trouble with a cardboard trunk is that it doesn’t have those stabilizing root a real tree does. 🙂
I guess spring is here, although it is chillier than what looking out the window would suggest. The apricot tree is starting to leaf out, and the navel orange tree is covered with sweet-smelling blossoms. And the light! Love when it’s so light into the evening. Good luck with cheering Mother Nature along. While you’re at it, could you ask her to send us a bit of rain?
Oh yum – the scent (and sight) of orange blossoms! Wishing you the rain you need. We’re having some here ourselves – although it’s mixed in with flakes of snow so it’s not seeming all that Spring-like if you ask me. 🙂
Love your little ‘cherry blossom’ tree….how perfect! We spend our winters in a slightly warmer climate…..this year we are in Florida. No snow, but certainly a lot of rain, gloom, and cooler temps then normal. At this point…..I just want to see some ‘extended’ sunshine, feel a warm breeze on my face, and put my toes in sand warmed by the sun!
Oh dear – wishing you a bit more warmth indeed. The idea of sticking your toes in chilly sand sounds a bit like having snow fall into your boots – not all the wonderful. 🙂
I love your magic cherry tree! It reminds me of a young someone playing dress-up, and wearing all the rings possible at one time. Delight.
LOL – that’s perfect Janet!
Altho the snow has finally melted…we’re not seeing many signs of spring just yet. Love your magical cherry tree. It gives me hope!
What a popping it will be when it finally arrives!
Winter was December. Spring was January-last week. WInter is back with cold rain and snow predicted for Tuesday. The plants are beginning to bud and spread. All shall be well and all shall be well and summer will come eventually. I think…
LOL. I guess we’ll have to keep the faith. That and our scarves and mittens handy.
Well, we might just have Spring here in the UK… at least, there is the occasional spot of ‘blue sky’ when the grey clouds part.
I used to live near D.C. and have seen the cherry blossoms… BEAUTIFUL! But to celebrate any season other than Winter here in the UK, my husband brings me flowers and I have a place where I can see them and they bring me great cheer and delight. The finches in our front room sing and play and are so busy… I can’t help but smile with their antics.
So Spring and Summer are celebrated inside as we wait for the seasons to sort themselves out, outside and bring us all good cheer and a reason to celebrate! Much love to you, Deborah! ♥
Oh Jean – what a perfectly delightful way to welcome the seasons – I love it!
Technically, the calendar says we have spring….but it doesn’t look like it in my world of still having 3 or more feet of snow in the yard. Although, I am beginning to experience the intensity of the sunshine associated with spring. I’ll take what I can get.:)
I love the cherry blossom. I think that is so cool!! And, I’ve always want to experience the Cherry Blossom festival, but have not as of yet. It is on my to do list.
I feel for you Kelli. Our piles of snow just melted last week but we still have a small patch in our back yard that refuses to retreat. Stubborn snow! Hope you make it to a cherry blossom festival some day – that’s a great thing to have on your bucket list.