Cherry Blossoms

Picnicking under Cherry Blossoms

I always wanted to see Cherry Blossoms, or in Asia what we call Sakura, a Japanese term to describe the blossoms. For the residents in Asia, enjoying the flowers means taking a trip to Japan in Spring. I was thus delightfully surprised when I saw that I did not have to travel to Japan to enjoy these blossoms. Hanami, a Japanese term for viewing the blossoms with friends and families,  is organised by a Japanese association in Parc de Sceaux every April.

More Cherry Blossoms.
More Cherry Blossoms.

It was a fine day out for enjoying the Cherry Blossoms. There were both white and red Cherry Blossoms, however, it was the red ones that were the greatest attention grabber. An area was dedicated to rows and rows of the red flowers, and all the trees were in full bloom. By the time we got there, in the late morning, the shady spots under the trees were already taken.

Other than the appreciation of the Cherry Blossoms, there was also a traditional Japanese drum performance. Aligning with the Japanese theme, we saw some people dressed up in kimonos, while others as manga characters.

Play of light on the trees in Parc de Sceaux
Play of light on the trees in Parc de Sceaux

We had been to Parc de Sceaux two times when we ran through it as part of the Coulée Verte route to Paris from Orsay (about 20km). It’s a pedestrian and cycling route that links Massy Palaiseau, a southern city to Paris. We never had had an opportunity to explore this park. This time gave us an opportunity to leisurely explore this big park.

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