LOOK: Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Baguio City

(SPOT.ph) Planning on visiting Japan for the sakura season? Well, you might not have to travel all the way there just to have your own hanami moment.

A bunch of Cherry Blossom trees have begun to bloom in Baguio City, specifically at the Baguio Country Club. In a post on its social media platforms, the five-star resort confirmed that, after seven years of caretaking, the sakura have blossomed, revealing a cluster of pink-petaled flora decorating its gardens.

"Sakura trees are known to take years before flowering, making this first bloom a true testament to patience, nature, and time. A fleeting yet beautiful reminder that some of the most rewarding sights are worth the wait," reads Baguio Country Club's post.

The trees in question were donated to the country club by Japanese nationals Mr. Shinji Okomora and Mr. Shingeru Tsunashima, together with BCC member Mr. Paz Suzuki, in June 2018 and May 2019.

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Although Cherry Blossoms are most commonly associated with Japan, they're not the only place you can find these beautiful blooms. There are approximately fifty to sixty species of cherry blossoms worldwide, primarily distributed in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, particularly in the cool temperate zone, but most of them are found in East Asia, i.e., Japan, China, South Korea, etc. As a tropical country, Cherry Blossoms aren't naturally found here. Although there are very similar trees like the Balayong and the Salinggogon, often touted as "Philippine Cherry Blossoms," they're not exactly related botanically.

While we can't say for sure which sakura varieties are planted at the Baguio Country Club, we wouldn't be surprised if those planted there are, in fact, similar to those in temperate regions. Baguio's current temperatures are quite cool, creating the kind of conditions cherry blossoms need to bloom. Sakura trees typically thrive in temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celcius, but as soon as the weather gets warmer, the bloom quickly fades, which is exactly what makes them so coveted. There's something undeniably poetic about it: how can something so beautiful disappear as soon as it arrives?

Dramatics aside, there is one caveat: you can't just rush over to the Baguio Country Club and have your own hanami moment. Unfortunately, the Baguio Country Club is a member's only resort. This means you need to become a club member or have a sponsored visit courtesy of a member. So if you want to see these fleeting blooms for yourself, start asking people you know if they have a membership at one of the oldest and most historic country clubs in the country. Otherwise, let's just keep our fingers crossed, someone propagates these blooms in a public space, Baguio Botanical Gardens, when

For more information, visit Baguio Country Club's Facebook page.

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