Each spring I think about the cherry blossom season in Japan.

There have been a few times through the years that I have been in Japan at the height of the season.

Just like California, blossoms start appearing in the south and slowly move northward.

There are websites in Japan that give forecasts of when the blooms will be at peak. There are also websites in the US that will forecast when fall foliage will be at peak. Forecasts like this definitely helps drive tourism in different parts of the World.

In Japan this year the season is almost over. Only in the far north of the country are there still blossoms. The rest of Japan already has trees with green leaves.

In the US the Washington D.C. cherry blossom season is also tracked. It was at peak a month ago, which was about 10 days ahead of average.

I am also thinking back to my rural roots. The wheat harvest would start in Texas each summer and the combine crews would work their way north toward Canada as they followed the harvest.

Steven