Cherry Blossoms! - Seonjin and Suyang Parks

This is the time of year for the gaenari, or forsythia, to bloom. Cheuy and I found a great patch on our morning walk.

It was the 9th grade online day so Linda and I had our kids school together so we could go check on the spring blossoms. They were nearly at their peak and so pretty! 

First we checked out Seonjin Park, which is what we local expats call the Sacheon Fortress. It is known for its cherry blossom trees and people come from all around to see them. The blooms are short-lived, so there is always a big crowd when the blooms are out.

Between being early in the day and mid-week there weren't too many visitors, which made for pretty pictures.

The yellow forsythia was a pretty contrast with the pink cherry blossoms.

This picture made my heart a little sad because I have a fond memory of accidentally discovering the fortress with Frito and Chuey. We miss our big dog.

The girls and I were on a super long walk that day because it was my brother's birthday. I miss my brother, too.

Back to cherry blossoms. I like how several of the trees have twisty trunks.

Linda and I weren't done soaking in the beautiful blossoms, so we went to Suyang Park next. Some local expats also call this Sacheon Fortress, so we have to clarify which one--the fortress by the water, or the fortress with the three-story pavillion?

I also thought of Frito here, because this was one of her last family outings.

This park does not have as many cherry trees as the other fortress, but it does have a few. 

I like this tree because it is so big.

I also like this big tree. If you look closely you can see my little dog sitting on it. This tree is 500 years old!

Spring is such a great season.

[March 24]

Sunshine In the Trees - Gurye Sansuyu Village

Another fantastic foursome outing, because, Covid. This foursome was destined for Sansuyu Village. As you get close to the village and the bottom of Jurisan Mountain, the gorgeous yellow trees decorate the landscape as far as the eye can see, like sunshine in the trees.

The name sansuyu means 'that love would be unchanged forever', or everlasting love. That being said, our first stop was, naturally, Love Park.

Love Park is located in Gurye Sansuyu Village. Sansuyu is the beautiful yellow blossom from the yellow cornelian cherry flower. 

There is a giant blossom right inside the park paying homage to the sansuyu that is the first thing you see when driving up to the park.

Many places throughout the country have their own little personified mascots that represent what the area is known for. These two represent the yellow blossoms that usher in spring and the red cherries that appear later in the year.

There is a story of a young Chinese woman who moved to Gurye through marriage. She is said to have planted the first sansuyu tree.

Much like the maehwas, the sansuyu blooms early in the spring. Many products are produced from the sansuyu blossoms, including medicines, food, liquor, wine and tea. This township makes up about 70% of the country's production of sansuyu products. The main festival grounds contain over 30,000 trees.

Inside Love Park a little pavillion was erected in 1930 by the locals to sooth their depression over Japanese rule and to keep the Korean traditions alive. The pavillion was also used to share and teach poetry.

The inside is heated by the traditional ondol underfloor heating system, which allowed them to continue to meet during the cold months.

What a view they had from the pavillion as they were listening to poetry from local artists.

Love Park even has cute little heart benches.

There is a sad story of a family with 5 siblings, and three of the sons lost their lives to the Japanese regime during the war. This is a memorial to them.

I told him I was flattered, but my heart belongs to another.

After Love Park we wondered across the road and down a path.

It was right on the river that we had our picnic lunch.

Kate, Theresa, Linda, Trish

Here is one pathetic little cherry fruit left on the vine from last season.

We stumbled onto these three ladies having the best time. When I saw them getting a group shot with a selfie I asked if they wanted me to take a picture of all of them.

We were walking the path behind them. When they saw us getting a group shot via selfie they volunteered to take one for us. They made us strike a pose. When you ask a Korean to take a picture for you, they usually have a couple specific poses they want you to do, and they always turn out to be the cutest pictures.

Crazy mushrooms growing on a tree.

The lone cherry blossom tree dressed in white stood out against the yellow sansuyu trees.

You do not see many daffodils here.

There is a tiny little village along the river that has a lot of murals painted on the houses.

The magnolia trees are mostly white, but there are some pretty pink ones here and there.

There was an art class going on along the river.

The pictures all kind of look the same, but it was so beautiful I couldn't stop taking them.

It was such a refreshing day for the soul. It was the kind of spring day with a slight cool breeze that was warmed with the sun, the yellow blooms were gorgeous, the river provided pleasant sounds and beautiful views, and to top it off I shared the day with three great ladies.

[March 17]