Azalea ( 진다래 꽃 ) : Sebuah Pembelajaran

Azalea adalah sesuatu yang terserak. Azalea atau bunga Saliah yang dalam bahasa Koreanya disebut dengan ‘chindale kkoch’ adalah bunga liar yang tumbuh di bukit-bukit gersang, yang banyak dianggap oleh orang sebagai bentuk sebuah perdamaian. Banyak hal penting yang ada di sekitar kita yang berlalu begitu saja, karena belum atau tidak adanya pemahaman, karena kita selalu menganggap masalah yang sederhana.
Azalea adalah bahasa pemahaman. Ada bukan karena di adakan, hadir bukan karena dihadirkan. Azalae begitu apa adanya, sehingga begitu mudah untuk dipahami, namun begitu sulitnya kita untuk bisa mencoba memahaminya. Kita bisa belajar dari beberapa kasus di sekitar kita , terakhir adalah kasus bentrok antar satpol PP dan warga di Priok, dan masalahnya adalah kesalah pahaman.Memahami memang tidak hanya melihat , mendengar, tahu, namun juga mengerti arti sesungguhnya.Untuk bisa paham, kita harus dekat, melekat atau bersama. Merasa duduk sama rendah dan berdiri sama tinggi.
Azalea adalah pembelajaran. Bila tidak pernah merasa tinggi, mengapa takut jatuh, bila tidak merasa mulia, mengapa merasa dihinakan, bila tidak pernah bersama, mengapa takut ditinggal.
Azalea adalah bahasa keikhlasan. Walaupun tidak di tanam ia tumbuh, tidak disirami ia mekar, dan azalea selalu menyejukkan dan meninggalkan kesan indah.
Kita ingat sebuah peribahasa :
” 호랑이는 죽어서 가죽을 남기고 사람은 죽어서 이름은 남긴다 ( horangineun jugeoseo gajugeul namgigo sarameun jugeoseo ireumeun namginda ), persis seperti peribahasa di Indonesia : ” harimau mati meninggalkan belang ( kulit ), manusia mati meninggalkan nama “.
Semoga kita selalu dijadikan orang-orang yang bisa mengambil hikmah pembelajaran.

Azaleas ( /əˈzeɪliə/) are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Tsutsuji (evergreen) and Pentanthera (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees.

Differences :

Azaleas differ from rhododendrons in being generally smaller and having one blossom per stem rather than blossom clusters.They have more seeds in the flower.

Cultivation

Plant enthusiasts have selectively bred azaleas for hundreds of years. This human selection has produced over 10,000 different cultivars which are propagated by cuttings.[citation needed] Azalea seeds can also be collected and germinated.

Azaleas are generally slow-growing and do best in well-drained acidic soil (4.5–6.0 pH).[1] Fertilizer needs are low; some species need regular pruning.

Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe and North America. They are planted abundantly as ornamentals in the southeastern US.

Disease

Azalea leafy gall can be particularly destructive to azalea leaves during the early spring. Hand picking infected leaves is the recommended method of control.[citation needed]

They can also be subject to phytophthora root rot in moist, hot conditions.

Cultural Significance and Symbolism

In Chinese culture, the azalea is known as "thinking of home bush" (siangish shu) and is immortalized in the poetry of Tu Fu and is used to rich effect in contemporary stories such as by Taiwanese author Pai, Hsien-Yung.

The azalea is also one of the symbols of the city of São Paulo, in Brazil.[3]

In addition to being renowned for its beauty, the Azalea is also highly toxic--it contains andromedotoxins in both its leaves and nectar, including honey from the nectar. [4] The Azalea and Rhododendron were once so infamous for their toxicity that to receive a bouquet of their flowers in a black vase was a well-known death threat.

Azalea Festivals

Japan

Motoyama, Kochi also has a flower festival in which the blooming of Tsutsuji is celebrated and Tatebayashi, Gunma is famous for its Azalea Hill Park, Tsutsuji-ga-oka. Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo, Tokyo, holds a Tsutsuji Matsuri from early April until early May.

Korea

Sobaeksan, one of the 12 well-known Sobaek Mountains, lying on the border between Chungbuk Province and Gyeongbuk has a Royal Azalea (Rhododendron schlippenbachii) Festival held on May every year. Sobaeksan has an azalea colony dotted around Biro mountaintop, Gukmang and Yonwha early in May. When Royal azaleas have turned pink in the end of May, it looks like Sobaeksan wears a pink Jeogori(Korean traditional jacket). (Information from Dpt. of Culture & Tourism, Danyang-gun County Office)

United States

Many cities in the United States have festivals in the spring celebrating the blooms of the azalea, including Norfolk, Virginia; Wilmington, North Carolina (North Carolina Azalea Festival); Valdosta, Georgia; Palatka, Florida (Florida Azalea Festival);Pickens, South Carolina;.

The Azalea Trail is a designated path, planted with azaleas in private gardens, through Mobile, Alabama. The Azalea Trail Run is an annual road running event held there in late March. Mobile, Alabama is also home to the Azalea Trail Maids, fifty women chosen to serve as ambassadors of the city while wearing antebellum dresses, who originally participated in a three-day festival, but now operate throughout the year.