Tree stories: Flurry of petals from my Yoshino Cherry

by Vivian Le, North Quincy High School, for the Quincy Tree Alliance. Published in The Quincy Sun.

For as long as I’ve lived in Quincy, my yard has been full of many species of trees. Some of them bloomed beautifully, in hues of scarlet red and gentle pink. But for me, one tree stood out from the rest. 

The Yoshino cherry tree is a cherry blossom tree that has been living in my front yard for as long as I can remember. According to my dad, the tree is only two years younger than me, planted around 2012. Its resistance to abnormal weather is admirable: Even as a very young tree, it managed to survive the snowstorms of early 2015, bursting back to life that spring despite having been buried beneath many feet of snow; then, last summer, it weathered one of the worst droughts in decades. Despite those obstacles, the tree has bloomed every year without fail. 

The brilliant petals that bloom on our cherry blossom tree every year are a reminder of its vibrant history. 

The Yoshino cherry blossom tree originated in Japan but was later planted internationally, including in America. In fact, back in 1912 — one hundred years before the tree in my own yard was planted — a Japanese chemist named Dr. Jokichi Takamine arranged a gift of some 3,000 Yoshino and other cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the United States. That gift sparked the blooming idea of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. 

The annual festival celebrates the fleeting beauty of nature and the Yoshino cherry tree. Similar to the traditional cherry blossoms in Japan, it is one of the first cherry trees to bloom in the spring, bursting with blossoms from late March into early April. Every year, it blooms with a gorgeous gradient of snow white and sakura pink petals. The blossoms exude a sweet flowery perfume that attracts various birds and butterflies. Small Yoshino cherries are often found on its branches, but are much too bitter for humans to eat. In early summer, glossy emerald leaves emerge from the bare branches, and in autumn, the leaves migrate to dusty yellow, red, and orange. The Yoshino cherry blossom tree is breathtaking to anyone who sets their sights upon it, but it is also personally meaningful to me. 

In 2010, when we moved into my current house, the past owners had left it in disarray, with poison ivy in the backyard and plenty of overgrown plants and trees. My parents worked from the ground up to renovate the house and make it a suitable place for me and my brother to live our childhoods. It was during that process that they planted the Yoshino cherry tree in the front yard. I was just a toddler, but I distinctly remember placing down a scoopful of dirt to cover the mess of roots, and watering the budding petals. When I stepped back to admire the sight, I was entranced by the idea that it would grow up with me. I could often tell the seasons just by looking at the tree, which I liked to do every time I came home from school. In spring, the white-pink petals, emerging bit by bit every time I looked, were a reassuring sight, taking me back to my memories of the tree since that first day. 

A few years ago, the city had to remove a larger cherry blossom tree near the Yoshino cherry tree, as it was blocking a nearby traffic-light camera. At that time, I was upset because that tree had been there even longer than I had been living in the house. Whenever I look at the Yoshino tree, I am reminded of the old tree — and it's comforting to know the Yoshino cherry blossom tree is still blooming for spring in front of my eyes.

I’m not the only one in my family comforted by the tree’s beautiful blossoms and foliage. My mom lived in Japan during high school, and said the Yoshino cherry tree reminded her of those years. It’s given me a touch of insight to her experiences in a far-off country. 

The Yoshino cherry tree has a long and brilliant history enriched with traditions around new beginnings. But it’s also salient to me personally, as it reminds me of the seasons passing and the start of my own home in a new place. 

Is there a special tree in Quincy that means a lot to you? Submit your 600-word Tree Story to quincytreealliance@gmail.com.