D.C.'s cherry blossom trees are definitely more than what meets the eye!
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is right around the corner in D.C.'s bustling agenda. With the trees in full bloom, we'll all enjoy the never-ending opportunities for selfies, nature shots, fun-filled events, and more. But do you know why Washington, D.C., is home to so many cherry blossom trees?
Back in 1912, Tokyo's Mayor Ozaki gifted the United States with 3,000 cherry blossom trees, as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the U.S.
But it wasn't all blooms and blossoms in the beginning -- The first batch of cherry blossom trees actually made it to D.C. in 1910, but they were diseased. It was a huge disappointment after all that work to get them all the way across the world. It took the work of people on both sides of the ocean -- Dr. Takamine, a world-famous chemist, Dr. Fairchild from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Eliza Scidmore, the first female board member for the National Geographic Society, and First Lady Helen Herron Taft -- to get the final batch of 3,000 trees to make it in one piece.
Courtesy of National Cherry Blossom Festival (Facebook)
Then, on March 27, 1912, the First Lady and the Viscountess Chinda (the wife of the Japanese ambassador) planted the first two trees on the north side of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, and a ceremony was held to mark the moment. From there, the cherry blossom trees flourished, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival became a beloved, annual tradition, celebrating the positive relationship between the two countries.
So, now when we look at the cherry blossom trees, not only will we see them as the beautiful parts of nature that they are, but as symbolic for the friendship between two countries.
What do you think of the history behind D.C.'s cherry blossom trees? Are you excited for the upcoming National Cherry Blossom Festival? Share your thoughts below!