As Spring sneaks up on us, the cherry blossoms in Nashville are gearing up to steal the show. Downtown Nashville's cherry blossom trees currently display about 15% bloom, with expectations to explode into full bloom by next week, as reported by WKRN. This anticipated spectacle is thanks in part to downtown's warmer microclimate, which makes these beauties bloom quicker than their countryside counterparts.
The city's impending burst of white and pink blooms owes its diversity to two main types of cherry trees, the Yoshino and Okame, as horticulturist Austin Lohin from Bate’s Nursery enlightened an interview with WKRN. While the city celebrates these flowery trees, it's worth noting that only the fruiting ones bear the cherries fit to eat. However, Middle Tennessee seems to prefer their ornamental cousins for urban beautification. Lohin notes that "fruiting cherry trees do better where winters get colder," implying that Nashville’s mild winters are more suited to the flowering varieties.
Looking to bring some cherry blossom magic to your own backyard? It's not too late. Lohin advises, "when planting the tree make sure it is firmly in the ground—you don’t have to be gentle," emphasizing the importance of mixing existing soil with fertilizer and thoroughly watering the new plant. This comes on the heels of an exciting announcement for the 2024 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. According to their Facebook page, the Sister Cities of Nashville will be hosting the Cherry Blossom Walk on April 13th, offering a perfect moment to appreciate the blooms if they are ready.
Cherry blossom festivals are a tradition that has graced the United States since 1935, starting in Washington, D.C. National Geographic recounts how these events not only cement the ties of international peace and friendship but also evoke the same communal spirit found in Japan’s centuries-old hanami celebrations. The fleeting cherry blossoms urge us to pause and luxuriate in the now, a tradition that is more than just aesthetic, it's a cultural pivot into the warmth and rebirth of Spring.
