L L B C (10) Japanese plum tree

 Japanese plum tree

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Early March is the season when Japanese plum blossoms are in full bloom. The flowers are graceful, elegant and pretty. 

But having said that, I think Japanese cherry blossoms are more popular. Once they begin to bloom, the atmosphere changes and everybody focuses on them. On the contrary, Japanese plum blossoms are a little less popular. Even among Japanese people, the flowering of plum blossoms is not so much passionately accepted. 

The information about the flowering is treated like local news. In a news show, if there is a big news, it will be omitted sometimes. Even though, you should visit Japanese plum trees' gardens. 

By the way, the Wikipedia tells something:

"Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The tree's flowering in late winter and early spring is highly regarded as a seasonal symbol. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting and poetry of Sinospheric countries is usually called plum blossom."

And also said:

"Plum blossoms have bee well loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere. They are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku (俳句) or renga (連歌), they are a kigo (季語) or season word for early spring."

In my opinion, haiku is still doing pretty well but renga is not the culture popular nowadays. And if the writer mentioned 'haiku' and 'renga', why he didn't come up with 'tanka (短歌) ?

"The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (花札) (Japanese playing cards). Plum blossoms were favored during the Nara (奈良) period (710-794) until the emergence of the Heian (平安) period (794-1185) in which the cherry blossom was preferred."

The Japanese bush warbler is one of popular birds in Japan. So, I think it's a good point he mentioned the relationship between plum blossom and Japanese bush warbler. However, in my opinion, hanafuda is also not popular now.