Japanese cherry
When TV programs talk about this country, they always show a video or photo of cherry blossoms. Delicate white and pink flowers attract attention, exude a light aroma and are a delightful sight. If you've never seen Japanese cherry blossoms, it's definitely worth a look! It's just a fairy tale. In many parks, along roads, near some offices or cafes in Japan, entire alleys of magnificent trees are planted.
Diseases and pests of Japanese flowers
The main pests of Japanese flowers are:
- Spider mites and scale insects are combated by wiping plants with soapy water. To prevent spider mites, the Japanese umbrella is irrigated daily with a spray bottle to increase humidity.
- Root or gray rot. Replacing the soil, pruning diseased roots and treating them with potassium permanganate helps here.
- Fungal diseases. Treatment with fungicides helps against them.
If you really want to, you can create a little Japan at home by growing flowers and enjoying their beauty. But in order for everything to go without a hitch, you should keep in mind the features of cultivation and care described above.
What does sakura symbolize?
The sakura branch represents various interesting moments, I’ll tell you more about this.
- Human life.
Sakura blooms for a certain period, from March to April (depending on the area), it does not last long, thereby showing how fleeting, but at the same time beautiful our life is. Everything in it is natural: birth, life, withering and death.
- Prosperity. During cherry blossoms, religious holidays also take place, part of which includes prayers asking for a good harvest.
- Purity and beauty. The Japanese associate cherry blossom petals with their women. They are also pure and beautiful. There is even a Japanese name for girls - “Sakura”, the personification of these qualities.
- Waiting for something new. It is said that the appearance of pink flowers coincides with the time when Japan used to celebrate the New Year. We all know that every year is marked by the expectation of magic, new achievements and positive changes.
Sakura flowers are used in everyday life. Images of amazing flowers adorn clothing, household items, writing paper and other things surrounding the Japanese.
Main Attraction: Mount Fuji
In addition to the living attributes of Japan, various natural objects are also revered in the country. Mount Fuji is an extinct volcano on the island of Honshu. In 663, the first ascent of the beautiful mountain was recorded, about which poems, odes and legends are composed. It was performed by simple monks. For a long period, women were forbidden to even approach the sacred mountain.
Mount Fuji in Japan
On the slopes of this volcano there is a Shinto shrine. And climbing this mountain is equivalent to gaining immortality. But what makes this mountain so unique?
It's all about its incredible symmetry. And also in the blooming cherry blossom gardens on its slopes. The legend about this mountain says that it was formed, as if by magic, in just one night. Its views are truly amazing and magnificent. And the atmosphere there seems authentic and pristine.
Bloom Day
The main spring event is “hanami” (花見・“hana” is a flower, and “mi” is to look, admire). This is an ancient Japanese tradition of celebrating cherry blossom days; it has existed for centuries. Although it is not officially celebrated, and there are no specific days off for this, it is infinitely important for all Japanese. People gather in families and couples in squares and parks where cherries grow.
They take bento (packed lunch boxes) with them and eat in nature, admiring the luxurious view. Often during such holidays, girls and children wear yukata (national costume), music plays, and there are tents selling various goodies.
It can be fried hot noodles with meat and vegetables in sauce (“yaki soba”), corn cooked on the grill (I probably love it the most), donut-like pastries (“baby castela”) and many other tasty things.
There is a mobile shooting range for children, catching goldfish with a special paper net (a popular Japanese pastime - goldfish swim in a wide “basin”. You pay money, they give you a net, how many fish you catch before the net breaks, you can take home so many, i.e. e. take it to your aquarium). Sometimes it happens that not one is caught, but there are also professionals :-).
Official symbols of Japan
"Hi no Mura" is the "sun circle" or official flag of Japan. It depicts the rising sun on an azure background. The history of the flag is connected with Japan's entry into the ranks of the world community in the 19th century.
Japan flag
The national anthem of this state is the tanka pentad. It glorifies the emperor, and wishes for his long reign are heard. Everything in this hymn is allegorical and metaphorical.
The imperial seal has an imprint in the form of a chrysanthemum flower. Previously, this symbol was prohibited from being used by anyone except the imperial family. Today this ban has been lifted. And similar drawings can be found in parliament and diplomatic institutions.
Chrysanthemum - a symbol of the Empire
Now this bright flower, imported from China, is revered in Japan as a symbol of the Sun. There is a belief that in ancient times one of the Japanese emperors, who was partial to the chrysanthemum, made its image with his seal. So, over time, the flower turned into the coat of arms of the imperial family. And subsequently, it grew into a symbol of the entire Japanese Empire.
Now the flower and the sun merge into one whole in the minds of the people of Japan, the words even have the same sound and hieroglyph. And the highest award in this country, as you probably already guessed, is the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Japanese coins also did not stand aside, for example, on 50 yen, there is an image of this sunny flower.
Caring for Japanese flowers
The natural growing conditions for Japanese flowers are a warm, mild climate and sufficient moisture. To grow any flower native to Japan at home, you need to make some effort. The general requirement for them is no direct sunlight, sufficient soil moisture with an acidic or neutral pH.
Growing camellia japonica
One of these capricious flowers in terms of care is the Japanese camellia. It should be grown in tubs or large flowerpots. The plant is very demanding of light and should be illuminated for about 14 hours a day, but it is contraindicated to place camellias in the sun, as its leaves will get burned. The soil for planting needs to be loose and acidic. The soil is suitable for azaleas, conifers and rhododendrons; the presence of drainage is a prerequisite. For irrigation use melted or settled water.
Important! During budding and flowering, the camellia should not be touched, because the plant may drop all its flowers.
After 2-3 weeks of flowering, a dormant period begins. At this time, watering and fertilizing stop. This is the best time to replant the plant. The procedure is carried out by transferring from one pot to another with the addition of fresh soil. When replanting, it is advisable to pinch out young shoots, which will lead to denser foliage in the future.
Feed camellia once a month, and during the flowering period once every 10-15 days. Camellia is propagated by cuttings. A young shoot containing at least 5 leaves is cut off, treated with a root former and placed in a peat mixture under a glass or plastic cap for 50 days. After a year, transplantation into a larger container is possible.
Additional Information! Camellia is a poisonous plant. All manipulations should be carried out with gloves.
Growing Japanese Umbrella
The Japanese umbrella is mistakenly called a palm tree because only one dissected leaf grows from the tuber, widening towards the bottom and similar to a trunk. The Japanese umbrella, or amorphophallus, is not difficult to grow at home, but not everyone is familiar with the plant’s ability to hibernate and then wake up and grow again. The dormant period lasts about 5-6 months in winter. To grow a Japanese umbrella you need:
- diffused light;
- northern, eastern or western window sills
Important! Direct sunlight causes burns on the leaves of the Japanese umbrella.
In spring and summer, complex or phosphorus fertilizers are applied regularly (every 10-15 days). Abundant watering is carried out as the earthen clod dries, waiting until the water seeps into the pan. After the upper part of the plant dies, the tubers are removed from the pot, inspected and stored in cardboard boxes in a cool place.
At the beginning of spring, sprouts appear on the surface of the tubers, which is a signal for planting. Prepare a mixture consisting of leaf soil, humus, peat and sand (1: 1: 1: 0.5). Either coarse sand or expanded clay is poured down the pot to 1/3 of the height, then soil up to half the pot, into which the tuber is immersed, leaving part of the sprout above the surface. It is necessary to periodically add soil to the plant, since daughter tubers form at the top of the mother tuber. Due to these children, the plant reproduces.
Growing Fatsia japonica
Of the variety of fatsia species, only Japanese fatsia (aralia) is bred at home. It is used to decorate the interiors of large rooms, as it grows up to 1.5 m in height.
After purchasing a flower in a store, after 2 weeks you need to replant it, shaking off the entire earthen lump from the roots, and at the same time inspect the roots for rotting. They prepare the soil themselves, using equal parts turf and leaf soil and sand, or buy it in a store. The plant loves either slightly acidic or neutral soil. Fatsia is fed 2 times a month with a complex of fertilizers for flowers.
An adult plant is replanted once a year if the roots have filled all the space inside the container. First, drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot. It could be:
- broken brick;
- fragments of an old clay pot;
- expanded clay
- trim rotten and old roots;
- the earth is shaken off from them;
- the pot is half filled with soil;
- a plant is planted;
- roots are covered with soil;
- watered abundantly.
Note! Fatsia juice can cause burns and allergies. The transplant should be carried out with gloves, and hands should be washed thoroughly after all manipulations.
Watering in summer is plentiful, in winter - moderate.
Aralia propagation occurs in 2 ways:
The plant is propagated by layering if there is no foliage on the lower part of the trunk. An incision is made on the shoot, wet moss is placed in the wound and wrapped with cellophane on top. You can impregnate moss with root formers or phytohormones. After 1.2 months, roots will appear, the plant is cut just below the new roots and planted in a pot.
To propagate by cuttings, cut off the top of the shoot and root it in a damp mixture of sand and peat, covering it with a glass dome on top. After 1.2 months the plant will take root completely.
Caring for Hostas
Hostas do not like open sun. It is in the shade and partial shade that they show their true colors; they like to grow near bodies of water on loamy soil. Fertilize hosts 3 times per season. In the spring they give complex fertilizers, during the flowering period - phosphorus and potassium, before autumn they feed with potassium sulfate. Hosta is best propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, it is dug up and divided into several parts with a sharp shovel, so that the divisions have 5-6 leaves.
What does it symbolize
But at the same time, unlike sakura, chrysanthemum has a slightly different meaning. It is considered a more formal flower, often used in ritual services. For example, relatives and friends, visiting the graves of dear people, bring chrysanthemum flowers with them.
Chrysanthemum is a multifaceted flower symbolizing “nobility”, “purity”, “faith”, “love”.
If we consider what the colors of chrysanthemums mean, we get the following:
- Red - love
- Yellow - virtue, emerging feelings - a little love
- White - honesty, truth
- Dark - calls for trust, thereby saying that the giver can open up
As a rule, these flowers are not given to young people, but sometimes chrysanthemum is included in some bouquets.
Delicious national symbol: Japanese cuisine
The cuisine in Japan has many peculiarities. In every province of this amazing country you can find something unusual. But world-famous Japanese dishes have become true unofficial symbols of this state.
Sushi or “sushi” in Japanese came to this country from South Asia. They were originally made from seafood, but in the 18th century they began to be made with the addition of rice.
Sushi
This dish requires strict adherence to cooking technology. Authentic Japanese sushi is prepared only from fresh ingredients according to ancient recipes. Their various variations are modern culinary trends that are not related to Japanese dishes.
Unagi can also be considered a traditional Japanese dish. Fried eel, seasoned with sauce, is served in traditional restaurants and is considered a real delicacy.
Another original Japanese dish is Soba. Buckwheat noodles, served with broth and soy sauce, are an everyday dish. This recipe originated in the mountainous regions of Japan, and today is popular throughout the state.
Soba is a national Japanese dish in the form of long brown-gray noodles made from buckwheat flour.
Buckwheat noodles "Soba"
Yakitori is a variation of chicken kebab. Chicken giblets and meat are fried only on charcoal and consumed with tare sauce. After the opening of borders in Japan, new recipes appeared that can be classified as a mixture of European and Asian cuisines, but yakitori, soba, unagi and sushi are considered the national dishes of Japan.
Yakitori dish
Chrysanthemum Festival
In the ninth lunar month, just on the day of the autumn equinox, the Chrysanthemum Festival is celebrated. Special services are held in Buddhist temples, cars decorated with chrysanthemums drive through the cities, and cafes offer dishes with the addition of petals from the “second sun of Japan.” When the chrysanthemum flowering comes to an end and autumn approaches, an unusual exhibition is held in Japan. Living chrysanthemums are used to create images of people. The result is unique dolls whose figures are formed from bright colors.
Who would have thought, but the Japanese eat yellow flowers. They developed a special vegetable variety. The leaves of this chrysanthemum are similar to carrots, and the flowers are a little reminiscent of chamomile. They eat only young leaves and flowers. They have a pleasant smell and unusual taste. Chrysanthemum is added to salads, meat and fish, and sometimes to desserts. True, in very small quantities. It is believed that eating this plant is beneficial; it helps in strengthening physical and mental health. But in any case, there will definitely be no harm from this!
We can talk endlessly about Japan, its uniqueness and traditions. Today we have only touched on the characteristics of this country. I promise we'll talk about her again. Thank you for taking a little journey with me today and learning about Japanese flower symbolism! If you subscribe to blog updates, you will learn more. I would be glad if you recommend my page to your friends from social networks. Have a magical day! And all the best!
Lika Raido
The most beautiful flowers in the world
Many gardeners give first place in terms of flower beauty to the chrysanthemum. No matter how surprising it may sound, the Japanese themselves are also very fond of this plant. At the same time, chrysanthemums are grown in Japan not only in late summer and autumn, but from the beginning of spring. This asteraceous plant is so diverse and beautiful that the beautiful roses familiar to many can only envy the coloring of chrysanthemums, the fullness of their buds and the number of varieties. The best poets of Japan very often praise the chrysanthemum in their poems. The Japanese not only admire these flowers, but also often add them as additives to a variety of dishes or drinks, such as teas.
The chrysanthemum in the land of the rising sun is not only praised, but exhibitions dedicated to it are also often organized, and incredible compositions are created from flowers that an ordinary person cannot even imagine.
The second most beautiful and majestic Japanese flower is, of course, sakura. It is with this that the Japanese most often associate the tradition of admiring hanami flowers, because shortly before the cherry blossoms begin, even on TV they make forecasts for the flowering of trees in a particular area, so that local residents and guests of the country can enjoy the beauty of the flowers, their grandeur and luxury. Almost everywhere you can find gardens and parks with sakura, which during flowering will make any area especially beautiful, peaceful and suitable for spending time.
Among the unusual but very important plants in Japan, we should note the mythical benibana, which on the mainland is often called the scarlet flower. The color of this flower is very unusual - orange with a mixture of crimson. Benibana blooms in the summer, when all the mountains are covered with scarlet carpets. The flower itself belongs to the chrysanthemum genus and is very similar to the domestic thistle.
Cherry blossom dates in Japan
Sakura is a cherry tree. The tree remains in bloom for a maximum of 10 days, but this period very much depends on the weather. In calm, sunny weather, flowers on trees can last up to two weeks. If during the flowering period it often rains and strong winds blow, then all the petals may fly off on the fifth day. On average, Japan is dressed in delicate flowers for 7-10 days.
Sakura flowers do not bloom simultaneously throughout the country. At the end of February, the south of Japan begins to bloom, and in mid-May the wave reaches the northern parks of Hokkaido. Previously, the wealthiest Japanese families made an entire journey following the blooming flower, thus prolonging their aesthetic pleasure.
Nowadays, every year meteorologists make weather forecasts and help calculate the exact dates for the beginning of flowering of decorative cherries in each area. And large parks are made up of entire alleys of sakura of different varieties, which differ not only in appearance, the shade of the petals, but also in the timing of flowering. Thanks to this, in one area the flowering of these trees can be observed almost the entire season - from late February to mid-May.
