THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS lffASHIN6TON, D.C.

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tr'.r i,L The CHtrRRY BLOSSOMS fft HE BLOOMING of the famous on March 4, L909, Mrs. Taft became inter- I Japanese cherry blossoms marks the ested in planting Japanese cherry trees in I beginning of spring in our Nation's the Capital in Potomac Park. Dr. Jokichi Capital. Each year at this time hundreds of Takamine, the Japanese chemist, famous as thousands of people visit \Washington to the discoverer of adrenalin, was visiting in enjoy the beauty of these blossoms. The \Tashington at that time and learned of Mrs. most popular display may be seen in the Taft's interest in planting these trees. He massed planting of cherry trees that encircle was instrumental in having the City of Tokyo the beautiful Tidal Basin in \W'est Potomac make the gift of cherry trees. Park. In this picturesque setting the blos- som-laden trees produce the effect of white The cherry trees were raised at the Okitsu and pink clouds, banked around the basin. Imperial Horticultural Experiment Station at Another favorite display of cherry blossoms Shizoukan, Japan, under the supervision of may be seen in the 2-mile roadside planting Professor Inokichi Kuwana, Director of the of cherry trees in East Potomac Park. These Yokohama Imperial Plant Quarantine Sta- plantings were established from a gift of tion, assisted by Dr. Manabu Miyoshi, the cherry trees presented in l9l2 by Yukio famous Japanese authority on Japanese cherry Ozaki, Mayor of Tokyo, on behalf of that trees. The scions for these trees were taken city to the City of \Washington as a gesture in December 1910 from the famous collec- of friendship. The blooming of these trees tion of cherry trees on the bank of the Ara- \Ward, each spring is like a recurring gift, which kawa River in the Adachi a suburb of becomes appreciated more and more each Tokyo, and grafted on wild cherry root stock. yeat. These grafted trees were lifted for shipment in December 1911. History of tbe Cberry Trees The gift of 3,000 cherry trees of 12 varie- About a month after \William Howard ties was shipped from Yokohama on board Taft became President of the United States the S. S. Awa Mara on February 14, 1912.

The National Park System, of which the National Capital Parks are a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people. After the cherry trees arrived in Seattle, they Cberry Tree Yarieties Receioed From City were transferred to insulated freight cars and of Tokyo, 1912 sent across the continent to \Washington, Number Desuiption of arriving on March 25. of Variety Trees Blossoms Ariake 100 Single, white Planting the Cherry Trees Fugenzo r2o Double, light pink Fuku-rokuju ,0 Double, deep pink 1912, in a simple ceremony On March 27, Gyoiko 20 Double, greenish attended by a small grouP of spectators, Mrs. yellow Taft planted the first cherry tree from the gift Ichiyo 160 Double, light pink consignment, and Viscountess Chinda, wife |o-nioi 80 Single, white Kwanzan 3rO Double, deeP Pink of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the sec- . 100 Single to double, ond tree. The trees were of the Yoshino Mikuruma-gayeshi light pink kind and were planted on the northern bank Taki-nioi l4o Single, white of the Tidal Basin, about 125 feet south of Shirayuki 130 Single, white what is now known as Independence Avenue. Suragadai-nioi ,0 Single, white cere- At the conclusion of the tree-planting Yoshino 1,800 Single, white mony, Mrs. Taft presented a bouquet of Americ,an beauty roses to Viscountess Chinda. Bronze-inscribed markers were placed at the Cberry Trees Around. tbe Tidal Basin bases of the two cherry trees planted by our At the present time approximately 600 First Lady and the wife of the Japanese cherry trees are maintained around the Tidal Ambassador. Basin; p0 percent of these are Yoshino and As the official tree-planting party departed, 10 percent Akebono, which has single, pale- workmen continued the planting of Yoshino pink blossoms. The Yoshino, one of the trees around the Tidal Basin. The cherry favorite cultivated cherry trees of Japan, was trees of the other 11 varieties and the remain- developed there about 1870. The beauty of itg Yoshino trees were planted in East this cherry tree is in its great profusion of Potomac Park. white, single blossoms. The Akebono is a

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Cberry Blossorn Festiaal

seedling sport selection of Yoshino, devel- was reenacted by \X/ashington school chil- oped by a nursery in this country in I92O. dren. In 1934, a 3-day celebration centering It has deep-pink buds, which open into deli- around the flowering oriental trees was spon- cate pale-pink, single blossoms, whereas the sored by the District of Columbia Board of Yoshino has light-pink buds which open into Commissioners. By the next year many civic white, single blossoms. The Yoshino and groups had joined forces to carry on the cele- Akebono varieties bloom at the same time bration, now known as the Cherry Blossom and are among the earliest of the cherries to Festival. bloom in the spring. The Akebono blos- Interrupted only by the war years, the an- soms provide an attractive tint of pink to the nual festival has grown steadily in scope and dominant white Yoshino blossoms around popularity. In l94O a pageant was intro- the Tidal Basin. These cherry trees provide duced. In 7948 Cherry Blossom Princesses a beautiful setting for the stately Thomas were selected from every State in the Union Jefferson Memorial, located on the south side and the Territories, and from these princesses of the Tidal Basin. a Queen was chosen by the wheel of fortune In the past, artists frequently have shown to reign during the festival. Now featuring the Yoshino blossoms around the Tidal Basin maly outstanding attractions, the Cherry as pink, while actually they are white. The Blossom Festival is officially opened by the recent limited interplanting of the Akebono lighting of a 3Oo-year-old ceremcnial Japa- variety among the Yoshino trees in this plant- nese lantern, which the City of Tokyo gave ing now provides some reality to the pink to the City of \Washington in t9r4, as a color often shown for these blossoms. token of friendship.

Tbe Cberry Blossom Festiaal Cberry Trees in East Potomac Park

The first commemoration of the original East Potomac Park is developed on a pen- planting of Japanese chcrry trees on the Tidal insula that extends 2 miles downstream into Basin took place in 1927, when this event the Potomac River, southeast of the Tidal Basin. It is one of $Tashington's most beau- Tirne ol Blooming tiful and popular parks. Cherry trees are The time of blooming of the cherry trees prominently featured in its landscaping. The varies from year to year, depending on varieties now planted here are as follows: weather conditions. It is impossible to make Kwanzan, Taki-nioi, Higan, Beni-Higan, an accurate prediction on the blooming date Jugatsu-sakura, and Yoshino. Some of the of the cherry trees, earlier than 10 days prior varieties of the original trees received from to their bursting into full bloom. Since Japan were destroyed by Potomac River 1924, the Yoshino has twice come into full floods. bloom as eady as March 20, and once as late The Kwanzan is the most popular and ex- as April 17. The LYeruBe date for the tensively planted cherry variety in East Po- Yoshino to come into full bloom has been tomac Park. It produces heavy clusters of April 5. Twice since 1924 the Kwanzan deep-pink double blossoms, and is among has burst into bloom as early as April 14 and the latest of the Japanese cherry tree varieties twice as late as May 1. The average date to bloom. The deep-pink color of these for the Kwanzan to come into full bloom has Kwanzan blossoms creates a yety colorful been April 22. effect in the massed plantings of this variety The cherry blossoms are short-lived, the in East Potomac Park. petals beginning to fall at the end of the first week. By the end of the second week they have mostly fallen. Tbe lapanese lantern Cherry Tree Cuttin'gs Sent to lapan In the 1940's Japan's noted plantings of I cherry trees on the bank of the Arakawa River deteriorated greatly from lack of care during the war. Trees in this collection provided the parent stock of the cherry trees which the City of Tokyo generously presented to the City of \W'ashington in 191.2. In L952, the Japanese Government requested cuttings from their gift of cherry trees. The cuttings ffi were needed to restore the cherry tree plant- ings of the Adachi \Ward. The National Capital Parks gladly sent these cuttings to Japan as a token of appreciation for the gen- trt erous gift of cherry trees which the City of l7ashington received from the City of Tokyo in t9L2. ffi Administration The National Capital Parks, which has the ffi ffi cherry trees under its care, is administered by the National Park Service of the Deparlment of the Interior. Inquiries concerning these ffi trees should be directed to the Superintend- ent, National Capital Parks, Interior Build- ing, $Tashington 25,D. C. NO PARKING IN AREA

CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME TRAFFIC ROUTING g,a S3J cxrn*v BtossoMs B\ <> TWO-WAY TRAFFIC @ ROADCLOSED 0_ 500 1000 1500 SCALE IN FEET

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United States Department of the Interior Fred A. Seaton, Secretary

National Park Service, Conrad L. \Wirth, Director

NATIONAL CAPITAL PARKS

Reprint 1958 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1958-0-465544