Rose of Sharon Festival

Rose of Sharon...this name catch my ears since I often sing a song that has the same title.

Rose of Sharon is the national flower of Korea.

At that time I was imagine Rose of sharon was like a red rose, blue rose, or pink rose. But I'm wrong -__-

Rose of sharon doesn't have beautiful petals, neither smell so fragrant....looks very plain and nothing special.

So what makes it so special???

Toulipe even more beautiful..... what so special about this rose?

Rose of sharon bloom

These are the uniqueness fact about the Rose of Sharon:

1. Rose of sharon bloom for 100 days, from July to October, longer than any other flower blossom. Cherry blossoms may just stay for several days, but Rose of Sharon stays the longest. That's why it called “immortal flower”. 
2. It bloom at the end of summer and fall, where every other flower have fall down.
3. Rose of Sharon have ability to survive even insect attacks, makes it an appropriate symbol for country that has fought throughout history for its very existence. Despite wars and occupation, the Korean culture and people have persevered and endured. That's why it called “immortal flower”. 
4. Rose of Sharon can grow even in the rock and lack of water.

This inspire South Korea to make it their national flower. When Korea under Japanese colonialism rule, Korean people plant this flower everywhere as a symbol of their fighting spirit. In Korea, Rose of Sharon also called "mugunghwa"

Gapyeong's Garden of Morning Calm held Rose of Sharon festival every year. It exhibits about 150 kinds of rose of Sharon, the nation's largest rose display of its kind. You can read more here. This year Gwanghwamun Square  also held mugunghwa festival:

Mugunghwa festival 2013 in Gwanghwamun square

I love mugunghwa in this color!!!!

Talking like this I suddenly want to eyewitness Korea in autumn. Watching Rose of Sharon festival. Hmmmmmm *close eyes make a wish*