Somei Yoshino x Yaezakura

Somei Yoshino are the variety of cherry blossoms that cause a frenzy in Japan. They are the 'main' type that have dedicated forecast calendars and get reported on daily on the news. The ones you see all over social media. When they are in bloom that is what is called the "sakura season". And when they turn green, the news channels and press stop reporting on cherry blossoms for the year (for the most part).

However, there are many other varieties of cherry blossoms. Including my personal favorite: yaezakura. Yaezakura are what are described as late blooming varieties of cherry blossoms. They are double flowered, which means they have much more volume on them. They also grow with leaves, which somei yoshino don't do.

More often than not, in Saitama Prefecture where I live, the yaezakura bloom after the somei yoshino cherry blossoms have turned to green. There are a couple of yaezakura varieties that do actually overlap for a few days, but they are white. The pink ones, in the photo in this post, usually don't bloom at the same time as the Somei Yoshino. 

However, I went to see some yaezakura today and was delighted to find that some of the Somei Yoshino at the location were still in bloom. I love the combination: of the two together and it was a rare treat to see somei yoshino and yaezakura blooming side by side. Have you seen somei yoshino cherry blossoms and yaezakura bloom together this year?