WASHINGTON (GNB)- The planting of cherry trees in Washington DC originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan.
In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or “Sakura,” is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture.
“For more than a hundred years, we have celebrating cherry trees blooming in solidarity”, National Park Service says.
Every spring, nearly 1,700 Cherry Blossom trees lining Washington DC’s Tidal Basin burst into color in a beautiful display of floral fireworks. Some of the trees are now over a century old, dating back to a 1912 gift from the Japanese government. The trees around the Tidal Basin are joined in their flowering display by a couple of thousand more cherry and flowering fruit trees nearby and on the National Mall. In all, about 4,000 trees make for a spectacular floral launch to Washington’s spring.
D.C.’s first cherry trees were a gift to the United States from Japan in 1912. In Kyoto, Japan, the cherry trees’ peak bloom this year was the earliest on record in 1,200 years. This follows a pattern of earlier and earlier blooms since the 1800s.
This year’s blossoms in D.C. peaked several days ahead of the 30-year average, according to The Washington Post.
People flocked to Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin on March 30- April 05 to enjoy the city’s famous cherry blossoms, which hit peak bloom days before initial expectations, due to the warmer weather.
View mobile photos taken by Semina Poudel, a DC resident.
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