Cherry Blossom Season Ending

Posted on April 22, 2022 by vanbraman

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

Cherry Blossoms, Tokyo, blossoms, canal, treesThere have been a few times through the years that I have been in Japan at the height of the season.

Tokyo New National Stadium, Cherry blossoms, Spring in TokyoJust like California, blossoms start appearing in the south and slowly move northward.

Cherry Trees, Cherry Blossoms, Shinjuku Gyoen, Park, GardensThere 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.

Ueno, Japan - Cherry Blossoms - Japan - Blossoms - Beautiful Cherry BlossomsIn 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.

Cherry Blossoms - Tokyo Cherry Blossoms - Old Cherry Trees - Cherry Blossom TimeIn 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

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UK National Tea Day

Posted on April 21, 2022 by vanbraman

Today was National Tea Day in the UK.

T2, Tea, Macquarie Shopping Centre, North Ryde, Australia, Oolong TeaThis brought back many tea memories.

Sophia Blend Tea, Jolie Tea, Sophia Peabody, Bergamot OilWhen I think of tea in the UK I usually think about black tea. I remember teaching classes there where we would have our afternoon tea breaks. Usually a black tea with milk along with some biscuits.

Black Tea, Breakfast Tea, British Brunch, Smith TeamakerI have some good black teas at home that I will usually drink straight up, but will also sometimes drink them with milk and cream.

Daintree tea, tea leaves, black teaI have some black teas from around the world, including a nice tea from the Daintree tea plantations in Australia.

Steve Smith Teamaster, brahmin tea, loose tea, black teaMy favorite black tea (Brahmin) is no longer available with the original name. The same blend is now sold as British Brunch. This tea has some good memories tied to it.

Steven

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