Under the cherry blossoms / None are / Utter strangers. — Issa
Submit your cherry blossom haiku to the VCBF haiku Invitational.
Under the cherry blossoms / None are / Utter strangers. — Issa
Submit your cherry blossom haiku to the VCBF haiku Invitational.
As I expected, / Storm, and rain, — / At the time of cherry blossoms. — Shinkei.
Submit your cherry blossom haiku to the VCBF haiku Invitational.
Submit your cherry blossom haiku to the VCBF haiku Invitational.
Making us wait so long, / Yet falling so soon, — / The soul of the cherry blossoms! — Sogi
Submit your cherry blossom haiku to the VCBF Haiku Invitational.
Today’s cherry blossoms / Were buds / until yesterday. — Sein
Sakura Days Japan Fair took place at VanDusen Botanical Garden on April 6-7 2013. It’s a fun festival that celebrates Japanese culture and cherry blossoms. The weeping cherry tree were so beautiful and there were so many activities. Two days were definitely not enough.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival table.
Vendors booths.
Ikebana workshop.
Paper art workshop.
Live calligraphy (featuring the character for sakura, cherry blossoms) by Essence of Shodo.
Tree talk and walk with Anne Eng.
Haiku Rock (in the cherry grove).
Anime Revolution.
Cherry blossom viewing.
Many haiku activities took place in the glasshouse during Sakura Days Japan Fair.
At 12:00, Terry Ann Carter showed us how to make different kinds of books using collage, photo, text, and beautiful Japanese paper.
Her handmade books (accordion, flutter, origami fold) are absolutely gorgeous!
At 13:00, Michael Dylan Welch gave a haiku workshop.
Our haiku minstrels Vicki McCullough and James Mulling were reading haiku and playing flute to entertain visitors in the garden.
Visitors were able to test their haiku IQ here!
Stop by the glasshouse to learn about haiku this Sunday at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden.
Workshops and activities on Sunday April 7, 2013 include:
12.00 Haiku and small book demonstration
13.00 Learn haiku workshop
14.30 Haiku reading on the cherry stage
15.00 Haiku walk
Last week-end, when I visited the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden in Vancouver, there were only a few Autumnalis Rosea left on the tree by the entrance (on the higher branches). This lonely flower reminded my of this haiku:
Late spring,
this cherry blossom tree
one flower from darkness
Glen Fletcher
Maldon, AustraliaVancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2012 (Sakura Award)
This haiku could have many interpretations. You can imagine that evening is falling and only one blossom remains visible in the darkness. But when I read it, I see a deeper level to it.
“This cherry blossom tree / one flower from darkness” could mean that once the last flower is gone, the tree will fall into darkness (oblivion). This haiku celebrates the fleeting life of cherry blossoms.
At the Burrard skytrain station, lots of people came to the Cherry Jam concert today. Some of the performers included: World Umbrella Dancers, taiko drummers, Japanese dancers, and a ukulele ensemble playing Sakura Sakura.
The Haiku Tracking balloons (an innovative project by Bing Thom Architects) added a nice touch of color and interactivity.
People of all ages were having a good time carrying the balloons around. When a young girl’s balloon got caught in a lower branch, she was showered with petals and everybody laughed.
The cherry petals were falling quickly due to the persistent rain. How quicky? Take a look at this video:
This yummy Sakurab bento box received some complimentary petals!
A closer look at the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Invitational 2012 Winners. The poster should be in the Translink Skytrains and buses soon.
If you took a balloon home, you will find a little haiku inside the paper. You can write your own haiku and publish it on the haikutracking.com website.
Take a look at the haikutracking.com website to see where the balloons went and read some haiku.
Cherry blossom viewing tip: you should never shy away from the rain. This picture was taken today at the Burrard station. You could never take that on a sunny day, that’s for sure! Buy the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival umbrella to keep you dry and get out there! Visit the Burrard station location within 2-3 days to be showered with petals. Hurry up! (Umbrellas are for sale at Urban Tea Merchant, just one block away from Burrard station).