Send Us More Photos from JFG Cherry Blossom Festival

We are happy to share photos from the Cherry Blossom Festival, but to be honest, we could use a few more.

By the end of the last day of the three-day festival, we can share at least a few pictures showing our Temple’s participation. Held annually at the Japanesee Friendship Garden, the festival this year had BTSD representation with our Information Booth all three days, and by Taiko and Odori performances on Saturday, March 11.

BTSD’s Odori Dancers

Here are some of our first images, we believe taken by Efton Woodford, of our Odori dancers. Their performance was on Saturday, March 11.

BTSD Taiko Troupe takes the Stage

In the following snap taken by Efton Woodford, here are the drummers and the drums of our Taiko group.

Cherry Blossoms Survived the Rain

While the first two days of the festival included hours of rain, on the final day (Sunday, March 12), the blossoms were holding up well and had not been stripped from the trees. Here’s a photo taken from outside the park looking down into the lower garden, and you can see the pink of the distant trees. Photo by Bill Teague.

Dharma Message from Sunday, March 12

Arturo Rubio built his Dharma message on Sunday, March 12, around the cherry tree and, included these photos from various sources.

The above photo is of the renowned Jindai-Zakura, said to be the oldest Cherry Tree in Japan, with an estimated age between 1800 and 2000 years. As you can see, the tree still blooms each year.

In his Dharma Talk, Arturo linked the Cherry Blossoms both to the Buddhist themes of impermanence (see above photo of fallen blossoms) and interdependence. On the latter theme he likened the cherry tree to a family tree, with the blossoms representing all our ancestors who helped us become who we are.

To see the March 12 service, including messages from MA Arturo Rubio and MA Yukari Williams, watch the unedited livestream here.