South African Garden and Home – September 2019

110 SEPTEMBER 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

DESTINATIONS

TEXT

JENNY HANDLEY

PHOTOGRAPHS

JENNY HANDLEY

AND

BAGUS PANGESTU FROM PEXELS

T

here are many reasons for

putting Japan on your bucket

list – this year the Rugby World

Cup, next year the Olympics –

but the beauty of the blossoms and the

Jenny Handley set off to Japan to enjoy the cherry blossoms and experience

Japanese cuisine, but it was the gardens that fed her soul

TEMPLES

and blossoms

magnificent gardens are reasons enough

to visit this enigmatic country.

In spring, thousands flock to see the

sakura zensen, the cherry blossom show

that stretches from the north to the

south. Although difficult to predict when

it will occur, I was hoping to see the last

of it. The blossom is a revered symbol

and reminder that all is transient and

should be appreciated. During blossom