Cherry Blossom Festival in Irmo celebrates the start of spring [Video]

IRMO, S.C. — When you think of the beginning of spring, you think of sunshine and flowers blooming, including the cherry blossom, a plant native to Eastern Asia. 

Cherry blossoms are in the South Carolina Midlands, too. On Saturday, the Irmo celebrated this bloom and its tie to Japanese culture. The trees have been springing to life at the Irmo Town Park for several years. Folks got out in the fresh air to celebrate this bloom. 

“You can’t think about Japan without thinking about cherry blossoms, and it’s a very moving time of the year when you see the spring coming, and you see the Japanese Sakura trees beginning to bloom,” festival organizer Kimberly Oakley said.

Oakley said she started the event to bring culture and community to her corner of the Palmetto …