Ruud Kleinpaste: Famous Cherry Blossoms

Over the last few days, I simply couldn’t help but visit the various botanical highlights where flowering trees attract loads of people for a walk.  

Years ago, I worked in Japan on a regular basis, where the Cherry Blossoms traditionally attract millions of people having lunch under those magnificent trees.  

Once you’ve seen that spectacle, you won’t forget it in a hurry!  

This year is a brilliant one, especially in Christchurch (and the surrounding towns). Not just the botanic garden, where displays are always unique, but also the classic Cantabrian private gardens.  

Blossoms on an apple tree in Lincoln. Photo / Supplied 

It’s a busy week at the Halswell Quarry, where parking is at a premium, especially on the weekend.  

For the past few decades, the development of the old quarry environment has not only focused on our native vegetation, trees and shrubs and useful Ornithological sites, but also on magnificent varieties of Cherry Blossom, grown in traditional ways.  

Different Cherry varieties. Photo / Supplied 

It may not come as a surprise that the Halswell Quarry has some botanical areas of international origin. The sister city connections show Kurashiki (Japan), Gansu Province (China), and Songpa-Gu from Korea. And they all have their own specific species and varieties that will attract gardeners.  

What I really enjoy about this time of the year is that many new sub-divisions around the Christchurch and general Canterbury area show gardeners the value of planting these lovely trees that attract pollinators, birds, and heaps of native insects in your garden.  

A wild Lincoln blossom tree. Photo / Supplied 

There are some great companies that support a wide variety of Cherry Blossoms – have a look at what’s brilliant in your neck of the woods and pick what lights up your garden!   

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