A beautiful forest of 100 Japanese cherries is already growing in the Macedonia Park in the city of Blagoevgrad. The trees were purchased with funds raised from charity bazaars organized by Viktoria Andonova of the Blagoevgrad Cause Association, with the support of the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. The forest has been planted by students of the American University in Bulgaria, representatives of institutions and ordinary citizens.

"When we launched the initiative we were ready for success. Many people got involved in buying the saplings. I want everyone who comes here and sits under the cherry trees to feel saved for a moment," Viktoria Andonova has told BNR-Blagoevgrad. "In Japan these trees are symbols of health and good luck and I hope they will bring health to all people in Blagoevgrad," Georgi, a student in the American University in Blagoevgrad, says.

The flowering period of cherry trees is short - about 10 days, and according to Eastern philosophy, the flowers reminds us of how short-lived and transient beauty is.

Author: Gergana Mancheva

English: Alexander Markov