Cherry blossoms are already in bloom in Washington D.C. thanks to above normal temperatures in February and early March. This is the earliest bloom since the year of 2012 and it’s happening just in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
About The Festival
The festival runs from March 20 through April 17. Around 1 and ½ million people from all over the world come to the area to experience the beauty of the blossoms. This brings in about $160 million to Washington D.C. Events include not only viewing the blossoms, but a Japanese Street Festival, Blossom Kite Festival and the Southwest Waterfront Firework’s show. There are also ranger led talks for those that want to learn more about the event. On April 16 there will be a large parade that goes along Constitution Avenue. It will include elaborate parades, a variety of performers and of course, quite a few giant helium balloons
The Yoshino Trees
The trees typically only bloom for a few days. The amount of time they bloom is affected by the weather. In fact, if there is a late frost the trees won’t even bloom at all, which can be disappointing to visitors. The weather in March can be quite difficult to gauge so visitors never really know that far ahead of time when the trees will actually bloom. The earliest bloom to occur took place on March 15, 1990 and the latest known bloom occurred on April 18, 1958.
History Of The Festival
In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave Washington D.C. 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees. The gift was to recognize the close relationship that the U.S. has continued to have with Japan. It took quite a while for the U.S. to actually receive the trees as the first batch to arrive in 1910 were diseased and couldn’t be used. The first two trees were planted in a ceremony on March 27, 1912 by First Lady, Helen Herron Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador, Viscountess Chinda. The trees were planted in West Potomac Park on the Tidal Basin’s north bank. The United States gave their own gift to Japan in 1951 of flowering dogwood trees.
The festival signals the beginnings of spring in Washington D.C. as the area comes to life with thousands of pink and white blossoms. This year will mark the 104th anniversary of Tokyo giving the U.S. the Yoshino cherry trees.
