LIMA, OH (WLIO) - You don't have to go to the nation's capital to see cherry blossoms, as there is a small grove right here in Lima.
This Saturday, April 13th, is the Lima Sister Cities Association's Cherry Blossom Festival. Located on the corner of West Eureka and South Elizabeth Streets, there is a group of cherry trees. They were donated by middle school students from Lima's sister city of Harima-cho, Japan, and that was the start of the Japanese Garden. Each year, the festival gives residents a chance to learn about the culture of their sister city.
"Our young people went last June and got to see many famous sites in Japan, and then they had a homestay experience with Japanese families in Harima-cho. What a great cross-cultural experience that is," explained Sandra Liechty, vice president of the Lima Sister Cities Association.
They are anticipating a delegation from Harima-cho to visit Lima this fall. Once again, the Cherry Blossom Festival is this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the city of Lima's Japanese Garden on West Eureka Street.
