Downspike
Kendama Entertainment Network

A community for the balanced lifestyle.

#DSGS - Cherry Blossom

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Dæmon, Mar 20, 2019.

  1. Dæmon

    Dæmon Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2016
    Location:
    The Ether
    It's been TOO LONG since we gave away some free swag, so we're back!

    Spring has sprung, and to celebrate playing outside again, we're asking you to show us your blossoms.

    POST A PHOTO of any kendama near a cherry blossom (or any other springtime nature) to be entered to win! We'll pick our favorite on MARCH 31st.

    Winner gets this one of a kind PINEAPPLE / @KendamaUSA mash up.
    It's a maple Kaizen 2.0 that is honed for lunars with cherry red stripe pineapple tama.
    Go!
    contest open to active DS users worldwide, void where prohibited.
    DS cherry copy.png
     
    Mar 20, 2019
    5kwid, Jedi_man, James Hoang and 3 others like this.
  2. Dæmon

    Dæmon Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2016
    Location:
    The Ether
    HERE ARE SOME CHERRY BLOSSOM FACTS:

    -Cherry blossom ice cream is a real thing.

    GETTY IMAGES
    The Japanese love cherry blossoms so much, they've turned them into an ice cream flavor.


    -Picnicking beneath cherry blossom trees is a Japanese tradition.

    GETTY IMAGES
    The century-old custom is known as "hanami," which means flower viewing. Early scripture hints that the tradition began with emperors and members of the Imperial Palace.

    -Peak bloom is usually around April 4.

    GETTY IMAGES
    Defined as the day when 70 percent of Toshino cherry trees are open, peak bloom varies each year with the mean date April 4 in Washington, D.C. The blooming period can lasto 14 days.
    7Cherry trees can be huge.

    GETTY IMAGES
    An average Japanese cherry tree is around 25 feet tall, while some can grow to 50 feet tall with a 40-foot wide canopy. With some TLC, these trees can reach 75 feet in their native habitat.

    -"Hanami" picnics are arguably more spectacular at night.

    GETTY IMAGES
    For these late-night picnics, known as "yozakura," the Japanese hang paper lanterns in cherry blossom trees to illuminate them.

    -Cherry blossom festivals celebrate more than just spring.

    GETTY IMAGES
    It's likely that you've been to a cherry blossom festival before. According to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C., the flower is celebrated as a symbol for the friendship between Japan and the U.S.

    -U.S. cherry blossom trees date back to 1912.

    Japan sent the trees to the U.S. to represent friendship and goodwill. In 1915, we reciprocated by sending flowering dogwood trees to Japan.

    -Japan had tried to send over cherry blossoms once before.

    In 1910, U.S. inspectors from the Department of Agriculture recommended burning this gift from the Japanese after finding insects and diseases in the trees. According to Washingtonian, this nearly caused a diplomatic crisis.

    -Bloom predictions can't be made too far in advance.

    Want to catch cherry blossoms in all their glory? You'll want to wait until March, when bloom predictions are made, to plan your trip.

    -They make up the best-selling fragrance in the U.S.

    The top perfume in the U.S. at one point was Bath and Body Works' Japanese Cherry Blossom. Thirty million units of the mixture of cherry blossoms, crisp pears, mimosa petals, and sweet sandalwood are sold each year.

    -In Japan, this is the most iconic view of cherry blossoms.

    The image, cherry blossoms framing Mount Fuji, is a common postcard view, thanks to its lake-surrounded location.

    In the U.S., we most often associate cherry blossoms with our nation's capital.

    National landmarks surrounded by spring flowers attract visitors to Washington, D.C.'s Tidal Basin each spring.

    -Neither D.C. nor Japan hold the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World."

    GETTY IMAGES
    Rather, it's Macon, Georgia, which is home to 300,000-plus Yoshino cherry blossom trees. While these trees obviously are not native to the South, William A. Fickling Sr., a local realtor, discovered one in his own backyard in 1949. On a business trip to Washington, D.C., he learned more about cherry blossoms and sought to bring more to his hometown.

    -Cherry blossoms are said to be native to the Himalayas.

    According to the Huffington Post, these flowers likely originated somewhere in Eurasia before migrating to Japan.

    -There are 200 different varieties of cherry blossom.

    In Japan, the most popular variety is "Somei Yoshino." In the U.S., mainly Yoshino hybrids line the Tidal Basin, National Mall, and Potomac waterfront.

    They aren't always pink.

    The Takesimensis variety, known for its white flowers, is actually more common than you might think in the U.S. Other blossoms change colors throughout the blooming period, such as Ukon, which go from greenish yellow to white before turning pink.

    Each tree may only bloom for up to a week.

    While cherry blossom season usually lasts about a month, from the time the first to the last tree blooms, each individual tree may only flower for about a week. Trees usually live for 30 to 40 years.
     
    Mar 20, 2019
    Jedi_man, 5kwid, James Hoang and 3 others like this.
  3. Madeline Anderson

    Madeline Anderson n00b

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2019
    125ED5F9-1A29-454D-8092-73413F70EED6.jpeg
     
    Mar 20, 2019
    Dæmon, JayPoir, Jedi_man and 5 others like this.
  4. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    Just for reference, not part of the contest. It's from last year at the Tama River.

     
    Mar 20, 2019
    Jedi_man, 5kwid, James Hoang and 3 others like this.
  5. Djoul

    Djoul Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2017
    Location:
    Soultzmatt, France
    No cherry blossom available yet but my Japanese apple tree should make the job:

     
    Mar 21, 2019
    Spælling, Jedi_man, 5kwid and 4 others like this.
  6. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
    One entry per person?
     
    Mar 22, 2019
  7. 5kwid

    5kwid Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2019
    Location:
    Lakewood, CO
    The flowers and trees in my area still haven't blossom yet....... so is improvising okay?
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 23, 2019
    Mar 23, 2019
  8. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
  9. Dæmon

    Dæmon Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2016
    Location:
    The Ether
    three entries!?
     
    Mar 29, 2019
    Emil Apostol and JHard502710 like this.
  10. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    Maybe they're waiting for some inspiration. The Sakura just opened up a couple days ago here. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
    Mar 29, 2019
  11. JHard502710

    JHard502710 Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Things are JuSt starting to bloom here so.. hoping to get a pic next day or so. Spring just sprung March 21 I think a wk ago so prob same issues for others in not as warm areas
     
    Mar 29, 2019
  12. 5kwid

    5kwid Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2019
    Location:
    Lakewood, CO
    I saw some entry posts on Instagram with #dsgs
     
    Mar 29, 2019
    goenKendama likes this.
  13. slothymane

    slothymane Slayer

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Location:
    Austria
    It snowed here two days ago lol
    still waiting for spring
     
    Mar 29, 2019
  14. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
    When you live in San Jose and sakura trees aren't really all that common, you gotta resort to whatever you can get your hands on.
     
    Mar 29, 2019
    5kwid likes this.
  15. JHard502710

    JHard502710 Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    78C71E4C-40B2-48A0-BC3A-2514DB717A85.jpeg Sorry my hand is in the shot..! Saw this tree blossoming while walking my pup today. Not sure what it is honestly
     
    Mar 29, 2019
    5kwid, slothymane and James Hoang like this.
  16. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
    Also I feel like the 2.0 Shape got powercrept by the Pineapple Tropic Shape and Kaizen Shifts...still dig the 2.0 tho. It's one of my most balanced ken shapes in terms of slingability and lunar balance.
     
    Mar 29, 2019
    5kwid likes this.
  17. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines



     
    Mar 29, 2019
    5kwid and James Hoang like this.
  18. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
    Welp that's six entries so far.
     
    Mar 29, 2019
  19. Matty g

    Matty g Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2016
    Was tending to my crops on this lovely spring day , and found these . Forgot I scattered some heirloom dama seeds a while ago.a truly bountiful harvest 20190330_131855.jpg
     
    Mar 30, 2019
  20. JHard502710

    JHard502710 Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    That one closest to us looks like it must have been a hybrid of some sorts..!
     
    Mar 30, 2019
    James Hoang and Dæmon like this.