HERE COME THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Cherry Trees Are Blooming Again
It happens every year! The 3750 cherry trees around the Tidal Basin burst into bloom and the city explodes with tourists. Most of the trees are Yoshino Cherry, but there also are Kwanzan Cherry, Akebono Cherry, Takesimensis Cherry, Usuzumi Cherry, Weeping Japanese Cherry, Sargent Cherry, Autumn Flowering Cherry, Fugenzo Cherry, Afterglow Cherry, Shirofugen Cherry and Okame Cherry.

In 1912, the people of Japan sent 3,020 cherry trees to the United States as a gift of friendship. The First Lady, Mrs. Taft, and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. These two original trees are still standing today near the John Paul Jones statue at the south end of 17th Street. Workmen planted the remainder of the trees around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park.

Then in 1927 school children created the first festival when they reenacted the earlier tree planting. By 1934 the festival had grown to a three day celebration, and then in 1935 the first Cherry Blossom Queen was crowned. By the early 1990s the festival had become a 2 week celebration.

If you haven't ever had a chance to walk around the Tidal Basin when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, you have missed one of the truly wonderful DC experiences. Families bring small children, grandparents, and family pets for picnics and a leisurely stroll around the Tidal Basin. Another wonderful event is to rent a paddle boat and see the blossoms from a water view.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy the blossoms this year!