On Qing Ming, Tomb Sweeping Day, a day meant for families to honor their ancestors, the branches and leaves of the willow are used to make a garland to be hung from roofs. Traditionally, the garland is said to ward off ghosts.
On the other hand, there are the cherry blossoms, which give me a brighter, happier feeling. They show signs that spring is here and it is time for a fresh start.
The Chinese willow is native to northeastern China. Cherry blossom trees are found in many different countries including China and the nearby countries of Japan, Nepal, India, Taiwan and Korea. Since people enjoy these trees so much for their calming beauty, they are often grown in gardens, parks and other decorative environments.
The willow trees are mostly seen close to river banks because they are able to draw in a lot of water with their roots. Cherry blossom plants are pretty hardy trees that can adapt to the biting cold of winter in order to bloom in the spring.
Some types of insects or diseases can harm these plants, but I do not think that it is a problem here. Since people care a lot about these trees, they are well taken care of.
