Friday, April 27, 2012

The Ones That Weep



Every year I post the weeping cherry trees. This years are so graceful and beautiful, yet have a very sad history. I told this story last year and will tell it again now. They are native to Japan, where they are held in very high esteem. During world War ll, their blossoms were used to motivate the Japanese people. Japanese pilots would paint them on the sides of their planes before going on a suicide mission, and sometimes even take the branches with them. They symbolized the fleeting intensity of life. The falling cherry petals came to represent the sacrifice of the Japanese youth to honor the emperor. 

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps."   Psalm 137

30 comments:

Joanne said...

I love it when the trees look like that in the spring. It almost feels like they should be in a fairy tale book. I love the pictures.
Blessings, Joanne

Anonymous said...

Beautiful trees and lovely pictures.
Have a lovely Saturday.

Eva

SquirrelQueen said...

Ginny, those are the most beautiful trees. Even though it's been raining here when I look at your photos it feels like spring.

MadSnapper said...

on judy's blog today she had a quote about how awful our planet would be without flowers. i commented that i can't imagine a world without flowers and these awesome and stunning weeping flowers prove my point. imagine never seeing these, and i have not. thanks for showing them to me. sooo beautiful

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I love these beautiful trees...but it is a sad story.

Arti said...

I remember you posted them the last year too!! Very beautiful and an interesting story to go with it too!!
Have a nice weekend Ginny:)

Mary Bergfeld said...

They really are beautiful when they are in full bloom. The photos are wonderful, Ginny. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...Mary

Tanna said...

Such a bittersweet story. They are so beautiful. Thank you, Ginny. blessings ~ Tanna

Stephanie V said...

So beautiful, Ginny. And those cascades of pink - amazing!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Such beautiful trees, Ginny!

Linda said...

Gorgeous trees, Ginny. I love your blog.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

They are gorgeous tress, Ginny. I can see how they would remind the Japanese the beauty and brevity of life.

Annie Jeffries said...

So beautiful, Ginny, and your scripture citation a somber reflection of the symbolism your describe here.

Karin said...

Those spring blossoms are so stunning! Here in Canada Vancouver has a Cherry Blossom festival. Interesting that the ornamental trees are not fruit bearing! The fragrance of so many trees has to be intoxicating - lovely places for a picnic!!

FilipBlog said...

The cherry blossom is indeed very popular in Japan, lovely tree.

Greetings,
Filip

Lynn said...

The "weeping" trees seem to say Spring like not else can, don't they? Spring, like the trees fleeting beauty never lasts long enough. On my post, not sure if they are petuna's or not. Perhaps a variation of them. There are so many variations of flowers, I cannot keep up with them. When the petals are purple, I tend to forget everything else! hehe. Blessings.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Sad story!
Beautiful trees!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Despite their sad story,they are gorgeous.I love the picture with the house that has the purple decorations on it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gorgeous photos of the Weeping Cherry trees, Ginny. The flowering trees and flowers have been absolutely gorgeous this spring...

Have a blessed Sunday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Ginny these are beautiful shots of the weeping cherry....

Chatty Crone said...

Ginny I didn't know all that history - but I have to tell you the first pictures is just so beautiful. sandie

S. Etole said...

Such a sad story for these lovely trees.

Shanda said...

So beautiful. We dont' have cherry trees in CA

Ann said...

I've always loved the look of weeping trees and these are beautiful

DawnTreader said...

These are wonderful. I discovered yesterday that ours have started to blossom now as well!

LC said...

My goodness, even through photos only, these take my breath away. I can only imagine what an impact they would have if I ever saw them in person. Yes, a sad history, but also a reminder to me of God's beautiful world!

Anonymous said...

These blossoms are so very pretty. Looks like many folks around your town love them. I did not know the story. We had one at the last house and it grew so well and we looked forward to it each Spring.

Rose said...

I tend to love trees that weep...but did not know the history of this particular tree. They are beautiful.

Jana said...

simply fantastic!

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