Cherry Blossoms Magic...

-

     ...Splashes of delicate pinks and white were everywhere as I drove into my old hometown.  Early May is Cherry Blossom Festival time and it was barely a week away for the Magic city's annual celebration of springtime beauty.  All around the center of Barberton ruffly blossoms exploding on all the trees signaled that spring had indeed arrived in  the Magic City.  Lake Anna looked like a scene from nearly a century ago with it's decorative blossoming trees reminding one of the lacy ruffles of cotillion gowns from the 1920's.  The song's refrain of "Cherry pink and apple blossom white..." crept through my thoughts as I took in natures beautiful offering to Barberton.  Church bells chimed old favorite hymns helping to transport me back to simpler times.  This was the Barberton I had always remembered.  In another time ladies in long skirts and carrying parasols accompanied by gents with Sunday-go-to-meeting attire strolled around Barberton and Lake Anna for relaxation on warm evenings.  Some things don't change, and that's a good thing.  As a kid of the 50's, I grew up with Lake Anna with its glorious cherry blossom trees.  It always announced to everyone that winter was finally over.  The whole town seemed to come out of winter hibernation to stroll around the lake. Then as now, warm air gently blew across Lake Anna carrying with it the intoxicating perfume from the flowering trees.  I have always wondered why Barberton never pursued anything abut Japanese culture during the festival.  The original cherry trees were cuttings from the Japanese trees given as a gesture of friendship from Japan to the U.S. Barberton supplied fresh cuttings to Washing when their original trees were in danger of dying out.  So, how 'bout a little Kabuki theatre, Barberton?  Or maybe some sushi at least...    O well, it never happened and probably never will.  But thanks for the memories just the same, Barberton.  I was needing to touch base to reset my personal gyroscope.  Walking around Lake Anna is a step back in time that anyone can appreciate.  Stopping the frantic pace of the day by watching the swans gliding across rippling water is a remedy for anything that ails you. So, make time to visit Lake Anna, and let Barberton work its magic on your imagination.  I know that I came away feeling like a kid again.  And who of us wouldn't like to turn back the clock for a little while now and then?...


















Comments

  1. xMeimiJuly 12, 2013 at 11:16 AM

    I feel the same way. I wish there was something for Japanese culture when Spring arrives and the blossoms bloom, but I feel like no one even knows that Cherry Blossoms come from Japan. Let alone that the trees were offered from Japan.

    You probably saw me jogging, fishing, or just enjoying the trees. :)
    I can never get enough of them.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Winds of spring...

-
Image
    ...Small tender blades of chive were poking their sturdy heads up in the pot I had left outside all winter.  Reluctantly spring was about to see the first of my herbs come to life after such a strange winter.  The bitter cold hadn't fazed them as they began to grow.  It was time.  I have even seen a dandelion hiding under the gray-green grass tufts that were beginning to green up. Le Petit Jardin was letting me know that it was time for spring attention.  A friend had already helped me by drilling some drainage holes in a metal container that I have planned to use for spring planting.  Hadn't it just snowed a few days ago?  But the good news is that nothing stuck or stacked up.  The ground had unfrozen, so snow was not going to make a difference.  Today was warmer, in the 50's, but gray.  I am still not quite ready to begin my gardening rituals.  My thymes and lavender have not returned to life yet.  I will have to rethink my gardening plans since my downstairs neighbor
Read more

Clancey's Gift...

-
Image
    ...The air was warm and inviting.  Colors of gold and orange blazoned everywhere.  Loading up all the essential equipment to help me to immerse myself into the hiking experience, I set out for Silver Creek Park.  It was a trail I had not walked in many years.  Too many of my hiking friends now no longer could make the trek, but I was determined to experience that trail  more time.  For the first time in years I dug out my walking staff to help me along the way.  Strapping my fanny pack around my middle I now had some inspirational music to listen to as I walked along taking in all the sensory experiences of the trail.  The sun was bright, the air was clear.  It was peak weekend for the fall foliage and there were many families taking advantage of this season of leaf peeping.      Armed with my trusty camera I walked with a slower pace than others around me as I stopped frequently to capture the various sights along the way.  Wild asters were still b
Read more

New Year Tea and Cookies

-
Image
     ...Here we are i the new year.  Christmas weekend was a rough one this past season.  Barberton virtually disappeared in the blizzard that had the area.  For all the high winds of 40 to 60 mph, we eventually had only 3 inches of snow.  But the subzero temperatures were brutal.  Though many around me lost power for a time, I was blessed to have power through the storm.  It pays to pray!  Only now am I thinking about the garden for this spring.  I know it seems crazy, but we currently have spring rains and temperatures in the mid-60's.  At the moment, the snows are only a memory.  This being Ohio, that could change any moment.  But it is nice to have a respite from the extreme cold...     Sunshine happily beamed through my windows. letting me know that a bit of earl spring cleaning couldn't hurt.  Nose prints of my three kitties have graced the chosen window spots making the windows almost frosted at first glance.  They are really going to love it when those panes are clear
Read more