2 minute read
Jeepney Press March-April 2023
by Mae Grace
AMAZINGgrace!
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The Forest of the Emperor
Somewhere at the foot of Mt. Takao in Hachioji, Tokyo, is a wide expanse of Sakura preservation forest known as the Tama Forest Science Garden.
Designated in 1966 as the preservation forest of genes of famous cherry trees collected nationwide.
The area is an 8 hectares of owering cherries and can be considered a living encyclopedia of Japanese cherry trees. More than 20 thousand visitors come here during April to see 500 beautiful kinds of sakuras in bloom.
All numbered trees of this research forest institute have already undergone DNA sequencing to study their traits. Cultivated owering cherries have their lifespan of 50 to 100 years and replacing decaying trees must be with trees of the same DNA, that is, with their clones!
Cloning is not easy for many of these trees. But Emperor Hirohito, who was famous as a botanist wanted to make sure that the Japanese cherries will be enjoyed by his people for many generations to come! Please come and visit the “garden” in Hachioji and you wouldn’t know that the beauty that you see is certainly all in a highly scientifically controlled environment. The Forest of the Emperor, indeed!
Enjoy these photos I took from the Tama Forest Science Garden and from other sites as well! It’s April! It’s HANAMI Time!!!
