Miss Flower – Summer

 Continuation of the promotional video from KTO: “Miss Flower-Summer”.  This episode feat. beautiful sceneries and photos of an array of summer flowers,with a lovely background music that complements on it 

As we all know the Summer in Korea usually runs from June to early September and it is usually hot and humid. Based on what I’ve read before, half of the annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon season from late June to early July. Mid-July through mid-August is the hottest period and the most popular time for Koreans to go on vacation. It is also a season of lush greenery & floral beauty. 

There’s a wide variety of flowers & trees characteristically grow in colonies throughout the nation, rendering Korea’s summer even more colorful & vibrant.  Anw, here’s the promotional vid of KTO! tadaa! ahhaha 

These flowers usually start to bloom in the summer sunshine in late July  throughout Gyeongsangbuk-do Province every year. The blooming sites include the areas in and around Gyeongju Wolseong Flower Garden, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Gyerim Forest, Anapji Pond, Bunhwangsa Temple, Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, and Dongbu Historic Complex. Did you know that the real name of Yello Cosmos is “Cosmos Sulphureus” aka Sulfur Cosmos and it’s native habitat is Central America 

According to wikipedia:

 

This species of Cosmos is considered a half-hardy annual, although plants may re-appear via self-sowing for several years. Its foliage is opposite and pinnately divided. The plant height varies from one to seven feet. The original and its cultivars appear in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It is especially popular in Korea and Japan, where it is often seen in mass plantings along roadsides, following an initiative pursued by the Korean-Japanese botanist Woo Jang-choon.

 

Bamboo, which grows straight and stays green all year round, has long been considered a symbol of integrity and fidelity. The Korean expression “a person like a bamboo stick” refers to someone who is upright and does not compromise with injustice. 
They also celebrate Damyang Bamboo Festival every year in the month of May where the visitors take place to offer a variety of bamboo-themed attractions and activities.

Metasequoia Road

Metasequoia Road in Damyang, Jeollanam-do Province greets visitors with scenes that change with the seasons throughout the year. It could be described with several words: romantic, breathless, fantasy-like and simply incredible.hahah  Furthermore, the Damyang Metasequoia-Lined Road has national and international recognition because of its appearances in many popular Korean dramas. Most notably, the road was used in a famous scene in Winter Sonata.

 Metasequoia forest road is a great walking course! Anw, did you know that this road, where a narrow but long and cozy Metasequoia forest road & Hosan Park are connected side by side, & it’s a popular place that is regarded as a good walking path for families, couples, and loved by photographers as a great place to take pictures!

TRIVIA:

The trees were planted along the road in the early 1970s as a part of the national boulevard creation project. 
The sparsely-branched 3 to 4-year-old saplings have now grown into towering trees reaching over 10 meters in height. 
In 2002, the Korea Forest Service selected this location as one of the most beautiful roads in Korea.
It is an extremely popular location during the summer months as the lush green leaves and natural scents fill the surrounding. 

Visit Myeongokheon Garden between July &September and 

During its extended flowering season, in the summer, it explodes in
crinkly red, lavender, pink, purple, or white blossoms that resemble thin,
bright crepe paper. 
During spring, when not in bloom, the glossy, dark green
foliage forms anumbrella-like canopy of leaves. 
Autumn brings leaves that turn
gold and crimson before they drop. 
Finally, during its dormant season in
winter, the unusual, exfoliate bark sheds long strips, so that the trunk and
branches display intricate, multi-colored layers of brown, gray, and tan.

TRIVIA:“Myeongokheon” means the sound of jade beads softly clinking together and describes the sound of the water gently lapping along the banks of the pond. The blue summer sky, the pond, and the crape myrtles in full bloom create a charming landscape. 

During summer,when heat reaches its peak,  the Garden of Morning Calm becomes carpeted w/ blue hydrangea & bright orange day lilies that grow underneath the cool pine forests.  There are around 200 species of Rose of Sharon are in full bloom inside the garden of the Mugunghwa Hill. There’s also a banquet of diverse colored rose of sharons such as in shades of lovely powder pink, lavender gray,purple & white will pleasantly greet the travelers. It features over 20 different theme gardens, each housing a harmonious blend of plants.

Every summer, it holds Rose of Sharon Festival with the national flower of Korea.  The flower is a visible symbol of Korea other than Taeguekgi (the national flag of Korea), the national anthem . It blooms in the early hours of morning and dies at night, repeating this bloom cycle continuously

TRIVIA:Rose of Sharon in Chinese characters means an endlessly blooming flower.   

This is my favorite part in this episode 

Snake’s beard (covered with a blanket of lilac purple bell-shaped flowers) usually bloom from May to August; It is one of the travel highlights among tourist and photographers, because of the soft purple flowers that create a colorful contrast against the 200 to 300-year-old pine trees.

TRIVIA:

The roots of the snake’s beard are used as a medicinal herb in Korean medicine. As snake’s beard grows well in the shade, it is often spotted blooming in the shaded gardens of apartments and other buildings. 
The pavilion inside the pine forest provides a great resting place for enjoying the beautiful scenery.