"Worried Because Cheoljjuk Didn't Bloom... Worried Because Cherry Blossoms Bloomed Early"

Published 15 Apr.2023 08:30(KST)

Updated 15 Apr.2023 14:35(KST)

Nowon-gu to hold Bulamsan Azalea Festival from the 15th, but fewer azaleas bloom than last year, causing concern among officials... Yeongdeungpo-gu Yeouido Spring Flower Festival and Songpa-gu Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival worry due to early full bloom

"If it rains, worry about the son of the straw sandal seller; if the weather is sunny, worry about the son of the umbrella seller..."

This is the feeling of a mother with sons who sell straw sandals and umbrellas.

Due to abnormal weather, spring flowers bloom unexpectedly early or late, causing great concern among Seoul district officials.

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will hold the '2023 Bulamsan Azalea Festival' from the 15th to the 30th at Bulamsan Healing Town, a representative attraction of Nowon-gu.

Along with 100,000 azalea bushes, various cultural programs such as a soap bubble show, circus, band performances, foot baths, pressed flower bookmark making, and special azalea season beverages will be offered.

Azaleas on Bulamsan Mountain as of the 15th

However, this year there is concern because fewer azaleas have bloomed. A Nowon-gu official said, "Last year at the Bulamsan Azalea Festival, we could see splendid azaleas, but until the day before this year, the azaleas had not fully bloomed, so we are worried."

At 'Bulamsan Healing Town,' centered around the 'Azalea Hill' where 100,000 azalea bushes bloom, there are various facilities including the 'Butterfly Garden' where butterflies can be observed all year round, the 'Nowon Garden Support Center' with a greenhouse caf? and a pet plant hospital, the 'Forest Healing Center' for mental and physical relaxation away from daily life, and an 'Elevator Observatory' for those with mobility difficulties, making it a representative healing space of the district.

Various experiential programs are also operated using the main facilities within Bulamsan Healing Town. Specialized programs by facility include ▲Bulamsan Butterfly Garden 'Butterfly Sand Art Making' ▲Nowon Garden Support Center 'Pressed Flower Bookmark Making' ▲Forest Healing Center 'Health Check,' 'Herbal Foot Bath and Cypress Massage' ▲Children's Forest Experience Center 'Azalea Keychain Making.' Especially, at 'Cafe Forest' inside the Nowon Garden Support Center, special azalea season beverages and desserts will be sold, and an insect and plant specimen exhibition to stimulate children's curiosity will be held on the road next to the center.

Photo of azaleas in full bloom during last year's Bulamsan Azalea Festival

In contrast, the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival in Yeongdeungpo and the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival in Songpa saw flowers bloom earlier than the festival dates, causing distress to officials such as Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu.