During this time, people gather together to celebrate the plum festival, ume matsuri.
Plum trees can survive dry conditions and drought, but they do best in moist soil. Unlike other plants, plum trees actually use the cold to produce fruit and would not be able to in warmer weather.
Like humans, plants can also get sick. Plum trees can get diseases that damage their leaves or cause their fruits to discolor. Some insects can also destroy its fruits. However, since most of these trees are at parks or gardens, someone usually checks them to make sure they are healthy.
