Spring is here and everyone's favorite flowering trees are painting the nation pink, as cherry blossom season continues across the country.
The vibrant blooms draw sizable crowds each spring to Washington D.C., where they are most famously recognized.
While there are many types of cherry trees, the Yoshino Cherry Tree is the most popular and known for its white-pink blossoms and almond smell in the spring.
Though Yoshino Cherry Trees are well known, cherry blossoms are not native to the United States. The cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese to Americans. The cherry tree symbolizes human life and exemplifies the revolution of Japanese culture, according to the National Park Service.
However, the first gift of cherry trees had some issues. The first group of cherry trees arrived in 1909. The trees were inspected by scientists from the Department of Agriculture. They found that the trees had an infestation of bugs and root gall. President Taft approved the destruction of the trees in January of 1910. This led to the passing of the Plant Quarantine Act of 1912 and a second shipment of trees.
The second shipment of trees was much better! On March 26, 1912, over 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington, D.C. While 12 varieties of cherry trees were sent, the majority of the trees were of the Yoshino Cherry variety. The next day, Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin.
From that point, more cherry trees were planted each year. In 1935, the first "Cherry Blossom Festival" occurred, and it became an annual event in subsequent years.
Cherry blossoms are certainly being seen across Washington, D.C.
When 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, that’s considered the peak bloom date. According to the National Park service, peak bloom could last several days. This year, the expected peak bloom is March 28-31.
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