A Healthy Long Life: Horticultural Practices for Cherry Trees in Japan

Japan has many ancient cherry trees – some over 1,500 years old – which is remarkable given the soft wood and susceptibility to decay that characterize cherry trees. They owe their longevity partly to the genetics of their wild ancestors and partly to their human communities. The Japanese have devised an array of structural supports that both stabilize and rejuvenate venerable and at-risk trees. One-legged crutches, two-legged braces, rope tents, tree wrapping, and tree skirts are among these devices which are not commonly employed in North America due to a cultural bias toward arboreal naturalism. In Japan, the visible presence of these supports signals a cultural commitment to a long healthy life.

When 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Building Pardee School of Global Studies, 121 Bay State Road
Room 1st floor (Riverside Room)
Contact Name Robert Murowchick
Phone 617-358-8006
Contact Email remurow@bu.edu
Contact Organization BU Center for the Study of Asia
Fees Free
Speakers Ron Henderson