National Cherry Blossom Festival Fast Facts

A: The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a two-week celebration commemorating the gift of thousands of cherry trees from the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, to the United States in 1912. In addition to representing the friendship between the two countries, the festival has come to symbolize the arrival of Spring and the beauty of our nation’s capital.  In 1915, the U.S. reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan.

Q: Whose idea was it to plant Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C.?

A: The idea to plant cherry trees along the Potomac belonged to travel writer and photographer, Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore. Although Mrs Scidmore thought of the idea in 1885, following her first trip to Japan, it took many years and the help of many individuals to implement the plan.  Incoming First Lady Helen Herron Taft took an interest in the idea in 1909.

Q: When were the first trees planted?

A: On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda (the wife of the Japanese Ambassador) planted the first two cherry trees. The original trees still stand today and are marked by bronze plaques commemorating their planting. On February 9, 1912, 6,000 seedlings were shipped from Yokohama Harbor to Washington, DC.  Three thousands were planted along the Potomac River; the remaining 3,000 were sent to New York City at the request of Japanese residents living there.

Q: When was the first Cherry Blossom Festival?

A: Although the 1912 planting is sometimes considered the first festival, the first organized festival took place in 1934. This three-day celebration was sponsored by the District of Columbia Commissioners. The following year, the Cherry Blossom Festival was jointly sponsored by a number of civic groups. In 1949, Cherry Blossom Princesses, from every state and territory, were added to the annual festivities.

Q: How many Cherry trees are there?

A: There are 3,700 Cherry Trees in Washington, D.C. The most plentiful specie is the Yoshino Cherry tree, with 2,763 trees in the area. The other species include, the Kwanzan Cherry, the Akebono Cherry, the Takesimensis Cherry, the Weeping Japanese Cherry, the Sargent Cherry, the Autumn Flowering Cherry, the Fugenzo Cherry, the Afterglow Cherry, the Shirofugen Cherry, and the Okame Cherry. Approximately 150 trees still remain from the original donation in 1912.

In 1965, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson accepted 3,800 more cherry trees from Japan.  In 1981, Japanese horticulturists were given cuttings from the D.C. trees.

Q: What does the festival today entail?

A: A coalition of business, civic, and governmental organizations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., is responsible for coordinating the current Cherry Blossom Festivals. In 1994, the festival was expanded from one week to two weeks. The celebration includes a number of different activities, frequently concluding with the National Cherry Blossom Parade--Washington. D.C.’s largest spectator event.   Among the events commemorating the National Cherry Blossom Festival are:  Family Day, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run (also 5K and 1K kids run), the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival, river blossom tours, Cherry Blossom lantern walks, Lantern Lighting Ceremony, National Conference of State Societies Grand Ball and Reception, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, the Cherry Blossom Regatta and many others.  For details on each event, please visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.

Q: Who cares for the trees today?

A: The trees are cared for by members of the Tree Crew for National Capital Parks-Central. The most common maintenance tasks for the arborists include pruning, watering, wound treatment, insect and disease control, fertilization, aeration and vertical mulching, and replacement.

 

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Information for this page was obtained from the National Cherry Blossom Festival Web site and the Washington D.C. City Pages Web site.