Japanese Plum Blossoms – 梅 (ume)

こんにちは〜 \(◕ω◕)/♥

Cherry Blossoms (桜 – sakura) are very popular in Japan. But do you know about Japanese plum blossoms (梅 – ume)?

Japanese plum blossoms (梅 – ume) are the first sign of Spring in Japan. They usually start blossoming in February and bloom through March.

Sakura, on the other hand, don’t start blooming until late March or April in most regions in Japan.

Ume come in many different colors ranging from white to pink to yellow. The variety of colors and types of plum trees is one of the things that makes them so beautiful.

We talked about 花見 (hanami – flower viewing) last year. Nowadays, Hanami usually refers to Cherry blossom viewing. However, the practice of flower viewing is actually thought to have begun in the Nara Period (years 710–794) with Plum blossoms.

It wasn’t until the Heian Period that Hanami came to be associated with Sakura.

Ume are often planted outside of Japanese shrines and temples.

Although they are not as popular as Sakura, Japanese Plum blossoms are very beautiful!

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