ETA for Spring Flowers 2011

According to KBS, the KMA has issued the ETA for spring flowers for this year:

ETA for Forsythias

Jeju-do - around 13th March
Southern regions- between 15th and 26th March
Central regions - between 27th March and 1st April
Northern regions - after 2nd April.


ETA for Azaleas

Jeju-do -around March 15th in Jeju
Southern regions - between 17th and 28th of March
Central regions -  between 29th March and 3rd April
Northern regions -  after April 4th.

The peak flowering season for each region comes seven days after these dates.
Best time to see these flowers in  Seoul ? Around April 5th and 6th.

Previous Postings on Spring Flowers in Korea:

Forsythia

Azaleas


sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_zoom_detail.htm?No=6160
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=966240

Make A Date With Forsythia

Call me a botanical snob, but I'm not crazy about forsythia. Its particular yellow hue doesn't really get me excited but obviously it's got a special place in the hearts of Seoulites who have adopted it as one of its city symbols.

Forsythias, 개나리(Gae Na Ri) , native flowers of Korea, have also become associated with the rejuvenation of love, thanks to a local legend about a poet. He was inspired to write the verse below when he found his faithful wife patiently waiting for him on his return from a long journey.

"In the late spring, the canaries come,

The forsythia fades and the apricots fall,

And in the bamboo shade of my mountain home,

Forever abides, my love, my all."

There are even some festivals dedicated to this spring flower -Yudalsan in Mokpo,Jeollanam-do ( for instance, has  a Forsythia Festival. Eungbong-san, in Seoul also celebrates spring with its own forsythia festival in Seongdong-gu. For more information on spring festivals for 2010, click here.

What's interesting is that the flowers are one rare natural source of lactose ( milk sugar) which you usually only get from milk. Not sure if that discovery has led to any commercial application but apparently the fruit of the plant  with its antibiotic properties, has been used traditionally to reduce fevers, swelling and eczema. Trust the Koreans to have developed a way to make liquor out of forsythia as well.

Koreans have found another use for the forsythia - the sticks are used to play a Korean string instrument called ajaeng. Some musicians these days, though, may prefer to use a horsehair bow instead of the stick as they think it produces a more mellow vibe.

If you are or plan to be in Korea this month, check out this chart below to plan your date with the forsythia.

For other articles on spring flowers, please click below:
posting on magnolias
posting on cherry blossoms

source:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=966240
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/115_20322.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/11/153_42923.html
http://www.korea.net/News/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20080502018&part=109&SearchDay=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsythia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajaeng
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/outdoorliving/article/414774--forsythia-triumphs-over-snobbery
http://www.korea.net/korea/e_movie.asp?code=W0701&id=791&kdepth2=Festivals&Movies&page=21
http://www.mcst.go.kr/english/issue/issueView.jsp?pSeq=1082
http://www.ecplaza.net/news/13/11230/koreas_prime_springtime.html
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=n3MgSchHBjYC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=forsythia+%2B+korean+legend&source=bl&ots=RvYWt_PMx1&sig=7SABOj8a6-X9uM4EuShHbrsVrPo&hl=en&ei=YRSPS7ffCIy_rAe8zaSLCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=forsythia%20%2B%20korean%20legend&f=false