Pittsburgh Sakura Project
Cherry blossoms symbolize the friendship of the United States and Japan.
As of 4/16, some of the trees are in full bloom (shown to the left, is the Accolade grove between Pearce Mill Rd. and the Boathouse), while many others are just ready to open. This weekend should be a great time to visit. Remember to bring your camera! (Scroll down for the photo contest details.) Note that the bare trees in the foreground are not cherries.
Theme: “2013 North Park cherry blossoms, my best shot”
We seek photos showing the scenery in North Park that convey the beauty of the cherry trees the Pittsburgh Sakura Project has planted. Photos may also show people and pets enjoying the trees. To download this information in English and Japanese click: 2013 Pittsburgh Sakura Project Photo Contest.
Specifications regarding photos:
- Pictures of cherry trees must have been taken in North Park this year. Photos must show characteristics of the North Park scenery in the area of Sakura Project plantings, such as the boathouse, pond or pine trees.
- One photo submission per person, please.
- The Pittsburgh Sakura Project retains the rights to all photos submitted, for example, to use for publicity on our website.
How to submit:
Attach your photo to an email as a jpeg file and send to pgh_sakuraproject@msn.com. The subject line should read “North Park Sakura Photo Contest” and your name and contact information should be clearly stated in the body of the email.
Deadline: May 5, 2013
Prizes: 1st ~ 3rd place will receive gift certificates to Chaya Japanese Cuisine and Sakura goods.
Judging: Pittsburgh Sakura Project board members will judge the photos anonymously at our mid-may board meeting.
Announcement of Results: Winners will be posted on our website, www.pghsakuraproject.org, in mid-May, and notified directly by email.
Questions? Email pgh_sakuraproject@msn.com
4-12-2013 Autumnalis (most are not this open)
4-12-2013 Accolade, starting to open
As of Friday, April 12, the Accolade cherries (the pink ones between Pearce Mill Road and the boathouse) were just starting to bloom. With a few isolated exceptions, other groves were further behind. But with recent warm weather, they may catch up soon. The peak might be the week of April 15! [As of Thursday, April 4, the buds were still quite tightly closed. As of Sunday, March 24, there were firm buds on the trees.]
Please join us on the afternoon of Saturday, April 6, for the 2013 Spring Planting Day from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. This year’s event will include hanami (flower viewing, weather permitting) and learning about the trees, planting of approximately 7 trees, tea ceremony, music, and more. Click here to download a PDF of the flyer.
These autumnalis sakura trees bloom in fall too. Hawthorn berries were bright red. These pictures were taken on December 5.
“I joined the Planting Day for the first time in November 2012, looking forward to introducing more cherry blossoms and other flowering trees to Pittsburgh. There was an introduction to planting at 10 a.m., and the large group of volunteers separated into several groups around the Boat House and the tennis courts. The holes were already dug and the trees set, and our three-person group added the dirt, water, and mulch around “our” magnolia. We’re pretty confident it’ll survive, and we look forward to visiting in the spring to make sure, and to enjoy the color added to North Park by all of these young trees.”
-Brian Deutsch
As you see in the photo gallery, bucket watering really helped the volunteers muscle training because we had only one source of water outlet. However it is not the case in summer when we have to water heavily. Watering season will be in June and July. Please let me know if you think you can. I will add you in the watering crew list.
Yoko Motoyama
We express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers for spending a good part of Saturday to participate in our Fall Planting Day on November 10, 2012. Your love of trees and your support of the Pittsburgh Sakura Project are greatly appreciated.
We are extremely grateful for the extra work that Kary Arimoto-Mercer, Rick Mercer and Alexandra Sabine put in November 10 and 11 to replant a number of trees. This indicates the need to consistently train all volunteers. We will work hard to carry this out. We hope all the volunteers will come again next spring and fall to help plant and care for the trees.
We will work hard to better organize the event in the future and your input, suggestions and comments are very much appreciated.
Pittsburgh Sakura Project Board Members
It was a perfect sunny day to spend outdoors, especially to plant trees, on November 10. We planted 20 native trees from Tree Vitalize and 7 sakura trees, thanks to Arimoto+Mercer LLC architect/designer and their friends who worked very hard for weeks and months to get ready for this day. We, the volunteers, shoveled, mulched, watered and staked. After hard work, we all enjoyed warm cup noodles served on the second floor of the boathouse.
We estimate more than 130 people showed up. Our special thanks goes to Mitsubishi Electric Power volunteers, Shaler High School students lead by Mr. Balsomico, Obama International Academy students lead by Ms. Rushlander and CMU’s Japanese Student Association. We are so happy to have a ‘new generation’ of volunteers who will someday be able to tell their children and peers, “I planted these trees!”
How many of you greeted the director of the Allegheny Park Department, Mr. Andy Beachle (pronounced BackLee)? Yes, he was there to work with the park personnel who allowed us to use their wheelbarrows and shovels and provided the cart. We cannot thank Mr. Beachle and his crew enough for their generosity and hard work, helping us through their Veterans’ day holiday.
Yoko Motoyama
Announcing the 4th Annual Sakura Fall Planting Day. Come help plant and care for the trees with us!
Place: North Park, by the Boat House (see map below)
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012, 10:00 to 1:00.
Content: Plant young cherry and other native trees; mulch, water, stake and install deer protectors.
Clothing: Work clothes you can get dirty (Sakura Project T-shirts are welcome!), work gloves, shovels.
Organizer: Pittsburgh Sakura Project
- Light refreshments will be served at the end of planting. To help us plan, please RSVP to Yoko Motoyama
- To lighten our environmental impact, please bring your own cup and chopsticks or utensils.
- Pittsburgh Sakura Project assumes no legal or financial liability for accidents or injuries during and after this event.
Click here to download the poster.
Have you seen the beautiful flower garden in North Park at the intersection of Babcock Blvd. and Wildwood Rd. where the cast-iron canon is? This garden was started seven years ago by master gardeners certified by the Penn State Extension program. It has been giving us joy from spring to fall.
August 18 was Penn State Extension’s third educational field day. (They have a similar demonstration garden in South Park and also hold a field day on the same day.) Sakura Project has been invited to introduce our project all these years. This year we gave away water bottles and bookmarks with calligraphy. We enjoyed talking with people and browsing other booths such as compost group, tree/pest group, mushroom society (many wild mushrooms were displayed), herb, tomato (tomato tasting of a dozen different varieties), garlic (garlic 
tasting of several different varieties) groups, shortbread tasting and more. The highlight was to mark the most beautiful flowers in the flowerbeds with blue flags.
Thank you very much to those who volunteered at our booth.
Don’t miss next year’s field day!
Areal photo by Yamakawa – Sakura 2012
Pittsburgh Sakura Project’s website has a new look and updated information. There are no longer completely separate but parallel Japanese and English pages, and there is more English. We hope that is OK, because we are in the USA. The site is a work in progress, so some information is not yet available. Many thanks to Jeff Guerrero for his time, energy, and enthusiasm in designing this site. We hope you like it! If you have questions or comments, please use the following form.
We weeded, trimmed, re-deer-fenced, and watered. “Our hill” looks so orderly now. Water hoses are stored at the boathouse, so those who water during the summertime may “check out” and “return” the hoses during their open hours. Venture Outdoors rent boats there, and they let us use their space.
We need more volunteers. If you would like to help the Pittsburgh Sakura Project, please email your name and contact information to pgh_sakuraproject@msn.com
On behalf of the Pittsburgh Sakura Project, I am writing to invite you to the First Annual Pittsburgh Sakura Festival, on Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, at our planting site in North Park. This spring we celebrate our first four years of planting cherry trees. We are about half way to our goal of 250 cherry trees, with 133 planted, along with 73 native trees, in cooperation with Allegheny County’s Tree Vitalize program. We also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original gift of cherry trees from Japan to the US in 1912. Some of these trees still grace the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. We are fortunate to have received a centennial gift from the Japanese Embassy of three young cherry trees that have been grown from cuttings of those original trees (these trees, still too small for the park, are now under the care of Eisler Nurseries).
この度、ピッツバーグさくらプロジェクト主催の「第１回桜祭り」を、４月２９日（日曜日）３時から５時半頃までノースパークで行います。場所は毎年植樹を 行ってきました、Latrobeシェルターです。今回はワシントンの桜１００周年を記念し、日本交流基金からのグラントも戴きました。また、ニューヨーク 大使館からは、日米友好のシンポルとして送られてきたワシントンDCのオリジナルの桜の苗木を３本いただきました。
Report on Saturday: Taro Sekikawa, Hiro Kitahara, Alexandra, Rick and I spent a good morning at the park. Holes were dug (we were especially thankful for the young, strong men) and stakes were installed on some of the trees on the hill. As always, Alexandra arrived fully equipped and prepared for all the contingencies. Another of the trees appeared to have mower damage and though it was blooming nicely, was quite weak. We hope to install more stakes on Tuesday besides those for the new trees. We had a woman tell us she came to the park especially to see the cherry trees and today my neighbor said he took his mother to see them too. - Kary
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On Saturday, November 12, the 3rd Annual Fall Planting Day was held. Twenty five cherry trees were planted, along with five other native trees. Among the 25 cherries, seven “okame” cherries, which normally bloom earlier than the rest were planted.
The 2nd Benefit Concert by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra took place on Saturday, June 25 at the First Baptist Church in Oakland. The Bassoon Quartet included the following musicians who graciously volunteered their services: James Rodgers, Bassoon, Yuko Uchiyama, Violin, Isaias Zelkowicz, Viola, and Michael Lipman, Cello. WQED classical radio recorded the concert.
6月25日（土）に、First Baptist Churchで第２回さくらプロジェクト・チャリティーコンサートが行われました。さくらプロジェクトのために演奏してくださったのは、ピッツバーグ・シンフォニーで活躍していられるバイオリンの内山優子さんを はじめとする素晴らしいピッツバーグ・シンフォニーオーケストラの方々でした。コンサートのあとに奏者の方々との懇談会も行われました。演奏者は次の通りです。James Rodgers, Bassoon, Isaias Zelkowicz, Viola, Michael Lipman, Cello, and Yuko Uchiyama, Violin
On Saturday, April 9, the 3rd Annual Spring Planting Day was held. Thirty bare root Sargent cherry trees were planted, along with other native trees. The newly planted grove was dedicated to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Japanese culture was introduced with taiko and koto performances, Pittsburgh Ensemble Nippon, the Japanese Choral Group of Pittsburgh, and the tea ceremony.
第三回春の植樹会
4月9日土曜日ノースパークに於いてピッツバーグさくらプロジェクト主催： 第三回春の植樹会が行われました。桜若木の植樹３０本とその他の植樹１０本ー２０本を行い、和太鼓演奏、琴演奏、ＰＥＮの演奏の演奏が行われ、日本文化の紹介等を行いました。
Here is a link to a great article by Pittsburgh Post Gazette reporter, Kevin Kirkland, about the Sakura Project and our 3rd Annual Spring Planting Day.
Flutist, Dr. Takeaki Miyamae, has produced a slide show featuring the spring 2010 sakura in North Park, in full bloom. The photos accompany the performance by Dr. Miyamae, flute, and Mrs. Tamiko Iida, koto. Please enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms with Japanese traditional music, “Haru no Umi.”
この度、フルート奏者の宮前さんの制作によりノースパークの桜の写真が YouTubeでご覧いただけるようになりました。宮前さんのフルートと飯田さんの琴による「春の海」の演奏にのせて 2010年春の桜がお楽しみ頂けます。
2010年植樹会、空撮担当パイロットのはずだった山川です。
植樹会当日は、空撮フライトを実施できず、ご期待いただいた方には、 大変申し訳ありませんでした。当日、なんとか飛行できないかと思い、 ビーバー・カウンティ空港まで行ったのですが、残念ながら、 悪天候のため、飛行できませんでした。使用する予定の機体は、 セスナ172で、小さな飛行機なので、強い横風や、突風 （激しい風速の変化）のあるコンディションでは、安全に着陸することができません。 前日の天気予報では、突風が予想されていたので、 予報よりも突風が弱まることを祈っていました。そして、当日になってみると、 予報よりも若干風は弱くなりました。これなら飛べるかもしれないと思ったのですが、 空港に行って気象レポートを聞いたところ、 今度は着氷の注意報が出てしまいました。 セスナ172のような小さな飛行機は、旅客機と違って、 氷が翼に付着すると危険なので、苦渋の決断でしたが、安全が確保できないと判断したので、 飛行をキャンセルさせていただきました。 来年こそは、植樹会当日に飛びたいと思います。
4月17日、North Park に約200人が集い、桜の植樹会が盛大に行われた。 春の植樹会は昨年に続き今年2回目とのこと。 1日中大変寒く（46F、８℃どまり。ぶるるる。） あられがパラパラ舞う中、皆で桜をはじめ３７本植えた。 日本から和太鼓奏者４人が駆けつけて力強い演奏を披露してくれたほか、 お琴の演奏、茶道のテント、昼ごはん（鶏の照り焼き、 マカロニサラダ、コールスロー、キムチ、ホットドッグ）などもあり、 大変盛りだくさんの１日だった。
スピーチをされたお１人が、「多くの人がワシントンＤＣの桜を見に出かけますが、 将来はきっとワシントンＤＣの人たちが我々の植えたピッツバーグの桜を見にやってくる 日が来ることでしょう。」と力強く挨拶されていたのが印象的。 植樹会に始めて参加した私は、 このプロジェクトが実にたくさんの人のチームワークで成り立っている様子を見知った。 植樹の計画を立てた人、公園課の人、Ｔシャツをデザインした人、 グッズを売る人、桜ケーキを焼いてきた人など。 力持ちの大人も、スコップを片手に走り回っていた子どもたちも、 それぞれの持ち味を生かして大活躍。（ちなみに私はゴミ係～。）
さて、桜を植えるにあたっては、苗木を買うお金がいる。 そこで資金を作るため、オリジナルグッズの販売や、 英語論文の講座など、知恵をひねったさまざまな取り組みが行われている。 この一環で植樹会翌日にはコンサートが開かれた。
このコンサート、バイオリン・ビオラ・チェロ各１人とバスーン（ファゴット） のという面白い組み合わせの四重奏。１時間のプログラムはとても充実。 最後の Amazing Grace に涙が出たのは私だけでなかっただろう。 演奏してくれたピッツバーグ交響楽団の団員４人は、 なん無償で来てくださったのだそうだ。1人20ドルのチケット代は、 さくらプロジェクトへの寄付となった。
演奏終了後、奏者とお客さんが気楽に懇談できるお茶の場が設けられた。 コーヒー・紅茶・ケーキなどが振舞われ、楽しいひと時となった。 手作りケーキやクッキーの素晴らしかったこと！ 舞台脇にいけばなの先生が飾られたお花もとても粋だった。
植樹は今後もつづく。10年後、20年後が楽しみだ。 今回上記イベントに参加できなかった方は、 ぜひ次のチャンスをお見逃しなく！
ぎほうゆきこより
On Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, the Pittsburgh Sakura Project held the Autumn Planting Day, in North Park. It was unseasonably warm, under sunny skies, with more participants than expected. They made quick work of planting 5 Accolade cherries, 2 Yoshino cherries, and 15 Bald Cypress, courtesy of Allegheny County’s Tree Vitalize program. We thank everyone who came out and helped that day.
The next planting is planned for April, 2010.
11月14日土曜日ノースパークに於いてピッツバーグさくらプロジェクト主催： 秋の植樹会が行われました。
当日はとても暖かい、いい天候に恵まれ、無事に植樹会を終えることが出来ました。 予想以上の参加者、植樹ボランティアの方々に集まっていただき、 さくら7本、杉15本、合計22本を植えることができました。 植樹会に参加してくださった方々、どうもありがとうございました。ピッツバーグさくらプロジェクト一同よりお礼を申し上げます。
次回の植樹会は、来春の４月に予定しております。
For photos of the Autumn Planting Day, click here.
The winner of the competition for the kanji design to be printed on the back of the new black t-shirts is Ms. Kohama, who will receive a $100 Chaya gift certificate. Submissions by three other people were awarded honorable mentions. The new t-shirts will be on sale this fall.
Tシャツ漢字デザインコンペティション「円相に桜」 に決定
黒いTシャツの背中に印刷する桜の漢字は小浜まよさ んの「円相に桜」に決まりました。小浜さんには茶屋 から＄１００のギフト券が贈られました。ほか３点の 佳作にも佳作賞が贈られました。新しいTシャツは秋 に売り出します。
Pittsburgh Sakura Project was honored at the May 20th Regular Meeting of the Allegheny County Council by the recommendation of Council Members Futules and Rea. First, Councilman Futules read the proclamation. Then the director of the Parks Department, Mr. Andrew Baechle, talked about the planting party on April 25th and explained about the 20 trees from the Tree Vitalize Program and the 20 trees from the Sakura Project.
Reiko Nakajima, Sally Schurko, Satoshi Goto from Japanese High School and Yoko Motoyama attended the proclamation.
２００９年５月２０日の郡議会にて、 さくらプロジェクトが Futules議員とRea議員の推薦で、感謝状を授与されました。
まず Futules議員が感謝状を読み上げ、 つぎに公園課のAndy Baechleさんが４月２５日の植樹会での、 Tree Vitalizeの２０本とさくらプロジェクの20本の木を植えた様子を説明しました。授与には中島玲子、Sally Schurko、留学高校生の後藤聡、本山陽子が出席しました。
At the Dragon Boat Festival on May 16, the Sakura Project exhibited photos of our Inaugural Planting Day, along with the Post-Gazette article, in conjunction with the Ikebana International exhibit. We wrote children’s names in calligraphy, and sold some t-shirts. Karen Yee, the Chinese Committee Chair, made an announcement about us from the stage, which helped attract people to our booth.
The Sakura Project continues to grow. We are grateful to the Chinese Community for their support!
5月16日ドラゴンボートフェステバルにイケバナインターナショナルのご好意で参加しました。
今年は、開催時期が急遽9月から5月になったため、パァフォーマンス参加ができず、 単独ブースが持てませんでしたが、 協力団体のイケバナインターナショナルのブースを一部借りて、 植樹祭の写真・新聞記事の展示、Ｔシャツ・桜茶販売、 短冊への日本語での名前書きをしました。ステージ司会のKAREN YEEさんは イケバナインターナショナルのメンバーでもあるので、 ステージの上からさくらプロジェクトのことも詳しくアナウンスして下さり、 その後、多くの人がブースに立ち寄って、プロジェクトに興味を示してくれました。
桜の輪がまた拡がった一日でした。 これからも、こうした日本コミュニィティー以外へのプロジェクト活動紹介 をしていきたいと思います。
On Saturday, April 25, 2009, with summer-like weather, the Pittsburgh Sakura Project held the First Annual Tree Planting, Inaugural Ceremony and Work Party in North Park, in the vicinity of Shelter #91, Pearce. Mr. Andrew Beachle, Director of the Allegheny County Department of Parks, and Professor Asatoshi Maeshiro, of the University of Pittsburgh, welcomed the over 300 people who came to participate.
On this warm 80-degree day, 40 trees were planted according to the plans of landscape designers Mr. Rick Mercer and Mrs. Kary Arimoto Mercer, who donated their services. With the cooperation of the county parks department, thirty large, young trees were planted by professionals and 10 smaller young trees were planted by volunteers. Besides the work of planting, participants heard musical performances, headlined by world champion taiko drummers, Takumi Kato and Ryo Shiobara.
The purchase and planting of these trees was made possible by donations of both labor and money, given by many Japanese people as well as local friends of Japan. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the many organizations and to the individual volunteers who contributed their time, sweat, and money.
Now, we are looking forward to next year’s Tree Planting and Work Party. To that end, we are soliciting donations to fund the purchase of trees, planting, and maintenance. Our non-profit status will receive final approval shortly, so your contributions will become tax-deductible.
To view photos of the event click here.
To view video highlights of the day, (.wmv) click here.
To view the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, click here.
初夏を思わせる4月25日土曜日ノースパーク・シェルター#91 Pearce付近に於いて ピッツバーグさくらプロジェクト主催：第一回桜植樹会が Mr. Andrew Beachle ,Dir Dept. of Parks, Allegheny County 出席のもと ピッツバーグ大学、真栄城朝敏教授を来賓に迎え300名以上の参加者が集われ行われました。
当日は80度を超す好天に恵まれ、桜の若木30本が業者の手により植えられ、 若木10本がノース・パークの植樹デザインのボランティアをしている Mr. Rick Mercer,Mrs. Kary Arimoto mercer ,Landscape designerの指導の基に 郡公園課の方々の協力を得てボランティアの手で植樹されました。
苗木購入のためにの基金に多くの日本人親日家の皆様の御寄付、 御協力を頂い植樹の運びとなりましたが、 今回植樹会にあたり多くの企業団体より御協力を頂けた事及びボランティアの方々に 心より御礼申し上げます。
また来年の植樹会にむけて、植樹、管理の為の資金を広く皆様から募っております。 まもなくＮＰＯが設立されますので、皆様のご寄付は、税金控除になる予定です。
