Supervisor: Agnieszka Kościelak, M.Sc.

General data: number of taxa about 50.
Area: 0.360 ha

 

Reiwa Cherry Garden (Reiwa Sakura Teien, 令和桜庭園)

The collection was established in 2019 on the anniversary of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Polish-Japanese relations (March 22) and is still being developed. It is part of the Dendrological Collection Complex. On an area of 0.360 hectares there are about 50 different taxa, including 50 trees of Japanese cherry species in the following varieties: ball cherry (Prunus serrulata) 'Kiku-shidare-zakura', 'Kanzan', 'Shimidsu', 'Fugenzo', pink cherry (Prunus ×subhirtella) 'Pendula Plena Rosea', 'Fukubana', 'Autumnalis Rosea', the Yedonia cherry (Prunus ×yedoensis) 'Ivensii', 'Shidare Yoshino', hanging cherry (Prunus pendula) 'Beni-shidare', 'Snow Fountains.

The creation of the garden was solemnly initiated on April 28, 2019, during Japan Month celebrated for the third time at the Powsin Botanical Garden, with the participation of His Excellency Ambassador of Japan Tsukas Kawada, who planted his cherry tree together with Vice President of the Polish Academy of Sciences Prof. Romuald Zabielski - the originator of Japan Month and the Reiwa Cherry Garden. The planting of the first cherry trees was also attended by members of the Ursynów District Council and many friends of the Powsin Botanical Garden.

His Excellency Ambassador of Japan Tsukasa Kawada together with Vice President of the Polish Academy of Sciences Prof. Romuald Zabielski and staff and friends of the Botanical Garden.

 

His Excellency Ambassador of Japan Tsukasa Kawada with invited guests during the planting of one of the first cherry trees.

In July of the same year, the Botanical Garden hosted His Imperial Highness the Successor to the Throne Prince Akishino and his wife Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko, who visited Poland to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Polish-Japanese diplomatic relations. The Royal Couple planted a cherry tree 'Autumnalis Rosea' (Prunus ×subhirtella) - one of the most beautiful varieties of cherry trees in our country, which impresses with pink and later white flowers in spring, looking beautiful in autumn as well.

 

His Imperial Highness the Heir to the Throne Prince Akishino and his wife Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko plant a cherry tree of the 'Autumnalis Rosea' variety.

 

His Excellency Ambassador of Japan Tsukasa Kawada, together with President of the Polish Academy of Sciences Prof. Jerzy Duszynski, unveil an obelisk in Reiwa Sakura Teien.

The collection also includes a ball cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) - variety 'Kiku-shidare-zakura' - planted in September 2019 by members of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association and The Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for International Peace.

 

Ball cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) - variety 'Kiku-shidare-zakura' - planted in September 2019 by members of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association and The Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for International Peace.

In addition to cherry trees, the garden also features Japanese species and varieties of bamboo in various forms and uses, such as Tsuboi's sasa (Sasa tsuboiana), phyllostachys golden-brown (Phyllostachys aureosulcata f.spectabilis), Veitch's sasa (Sasa veitchii), Japanese pseudosasa (Pseudosasa japonica), shibujaan pleoblast (Pleioblastus shibuyanus) 'Tsuboi', silver pleoblast (Pleioblastus argenteostriatus) 'Pumilis', Masamunego sasella (Sasaella masamuneana) 'Albostriata', umbrella phargesia (Fargesia murielae).

Complementing the composition are ornamental perennials derived from the Far East, for example: flat-stemmed convalescent (Ophiopogon planiscapus) 'Niger', common anemone (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) 'Gentian Blue', Morrow's sedge (Carex morrowii) 'Variegata', oszima sedge (Carex oshimensis) 'Evergold', slender hackonechloa (Hakonechloa macra ) 'All Gold', blue-eyed fungia (Hosta sieboldiana) 'Elegans', hupehen anemone (Anemone hupehensis) 'Rose Shade', crancotenella (×Heucherella) 'Kimono', large-flowered epimedium (Epimedium grandiflorum).

 Reiwa Sakura Teien is:

  1. The word "Reiwa" is made up of two characters, 令 and 和, the former meaning "beauty" and the latter meaning "harmony." According to an official announcement from the Japanese Embassy in April 2019, the meaning of the word "Reiwa" is as follows: "Culture is born and flourishes when human hearts come together in a beautiful way". Reiwa is also the name of Emperor Naruhito's new era of rule, which began on May 1, 2019.
  2. The word "Sakura", 桜, means cherry tree and also cherry blossom - a Japanese symbol of transient beauty that is well known in our country. In Polish, referring to Japan as the "Land of the Cherry Blossom" is more commonly used than the popular term in the world "Land of the Rising Sun" having its origin in the symbolism of the Japanese flag.

Associated with the short period of sakura bloom is hanami (花見), the custom of observing and contemplating the cherry blossoms. Hanami is also a time to gather with family, friends, and co-workers under the blooming cherry blossom trees, talking together, drinking and eating traditional foods decorated with cherry blossom petals.

  1. The word Teien, 庭園, means garden, any garden, not just a Japanese garden. Reiwa Sakura Teien, for now, does not yet have the character of a Japanese-style garden, although it already possesses its three main characteristics of simplicity, harmony and elegance.

Our Reiwa Cherry Garden was realized with the idea of creating a space to fully appreciate the beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms. Therefore, the lawn within the garden is available to anyone who would like to feel a substitute for the climate of Japan and spend a pleasant time contemplating the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms.

 Photo author:

Jaroslaw Deluga