Sakura Project marks the season with tree plantings in North Park and donations to aid Japanese disaster victims
-
Closeup taken last spring of cherry blooms on trees planted by the Sakura Project in North Park. -
Cherry trees planted by the Sakura Project bloom last spring in front of an old stand of white pine trees in North Park. -
'Accolade' cherry tree, planted in North Park by Sakura Project. -
'Accolade' cherry trees planted in North Park by members of The Sakura Project. -
The view last fall of the boathouse at North Park through a grove of 'Accolade' cherry trees planted by the Sakura Project.
Share with others:
In the 1920s, when Allegheny County workers built and planted North Park, they included a few cherry trees among the stands of pines, oaks and maples. But nothing like what the Sakura Project has done.
In three years, the nonprofit group whose name is Japanese for "cherry blossom" has planted 121 trees in a 25-acre area near the historic boathouse on the lake. More than half are cherry -- 'Accolade,' 'Autumnalis,' 'Pink Flair,' 'Pendula' (weeping) and the oldest cultivar, Yoshino. The rest are larger shade trees, including hawthorn, bald cypress, London plane, horsechestnut, red and white oak, sugar maple and elm.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, hundreds of volunteers will put in 50 more trees during the group's third annual tree planting. The event, which is free and open to the public (wear your garden clothes), is timed to coincide with the opening of the distinctive pink and white flowers whose brief but beautiful life is celebrated each spring in Japan.
"We could really use help because we're planting so many this time," said Rick Mercer, one of three designers on the project.
This year's event is a little different, and not just because unusually cold temperatures have delayed the bloom. Organizers have chosen a more somber tone in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Donations will be accepted to aid the disaster's victims and reconstruction. Yet it is also a celebration, with Japanese games, music, even a formal tea ceremony. The quiet pride of the group's members is evident in the work ethic of one of its founders, Fumio Yasuzawa, owner of Chaya Japanese Cuisine in Squirrel Hill. While commuting from his home in Cranberry -- where he has planted 15 Japanese cherry trees -- he often stops by North Park.
"During summertime, I'm doing watering and checking the deer [fence]," he said.
The project began in May 2007 when the Japan Association of Greater Pittsburgh approached Allegheny County parks officials about adding Japanese cherry trees to the mature woodland. By the time the first 40 trees were planted in April 2009, other groups and corporations had joined the effort.
The project's designers are Ron Block of Mt. Lebanon, Kary Arimoto-Mercer of Shadyside and her husband, her partner in Arimoto+Mercer LLC. The three met while working toward landscape architecture degrees at Chatham University in 2006. When the Japan Association asked Chatham for help, Mr. Block volunteered and asked the Mercers to join the collaboration.
First Published April 9, 2011 12:00 am
