Every Plum tree has a story...
Posted on October 05 2021
Since ancient times Plum trees, their fruit and delicate, fragrant flowers have been drenched in meaning and mystery. The seemingly humble Plum tree has some amazing stories to tell, branching out from cultures all over the world!
In Chinese philosophy, the Plum tree’s blossom is a symbol of winter ending and a herald of spring. The tree’s pale pink blossoms are cherished because they bloom vibrantly and so bravely amidst the winter chill. They symbolise perseverance and hope, as well as, beauty thriving in adverse circumstances.
As the Plum tree blossoms between two seasons, it is also seen as a symbol of spring - bringing warmth, transition and the promise of fruitfulness. It’s perhaps for this reason that in Chinese mythology it is often written that immortals fed on plums to enhance their strength and vitality throughout the ages.
Japanese tradition holds that the Plum (or ‘ume’) is celebrated as a protective charm against evil, so the ume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come.
Plum trees can thrive all over - from inner city parks to remote and frosty mountain tops; silently exuding an ethereal elegance. Ancient Chinese tales say that the fragrance of plum blossoms “lights the world from the bitterness and coldness of winter.” telling us that happiness and beauty can bloom in even the darkest times throughout our lives.
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