Gift from Japan
By OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
United States
March 27, 2024 6:23am CST
In 1912, First Lady Taft & Viscountess Chinda planted cherry trees to celebrate Japan's gift to US, 3020 to be exact.
Writer Eliza Scidmore championed cherry trees for DC, inspiring First Lady Taft.
In 1909, First Lady Taft envisioned a Potomac bandstand surrounded by cherry blossoms, urging the Agriculture Department to plant them.
First Lady Taft secured 2,000 cherry trees from Japan, but they were diseased. In 1912, a healthy batch of 3,000 trees arrived.
First Lady Taft and the Japanese ambassador's wife planted the first cherry trees in 1912, starting a tradition of floral exchange between US and Japan.
DC's beloved cherry blossoms, sparked by a gift in 1912, blossomed into a festival in 1934 (except WWII) - now 5 weeks of celebrations!
*info garnered and condensed from Mystic Stamp Company Blog
Have you ever seen these trees?
I have seen one of them in my travels.
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
12 people like this
12 responses
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Mar
We have a white cherry tree - but it's only half alive 
. There are cherry blossoms here and there, but it's pretty spectacular when there are groups of them. One of our local parks with a lake had them all over but it appears they have been gotten diseased in recent years.
. There are cherry blossoms here and there, but it's pretty spectacular when there are groups of them. One of our local parks with a lake had them all over but it appears they have been gotten diseased in recent years.2 people like this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Mar
@RebeccasFarm Not sure that it's technically Japanese, but it is a non-fruit bearing cherry tree with white blossoms. I think I used it in a post before a couple or so years back . . . it often blooms late into the season.
1 person likes this
i like seeing cherry trees in general
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
28 Mar
I too didn't know until I read this article
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159105)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Mar
I love cherry blossoms. They are very pretty. How interesting.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
28 Mar
And me Ryan I had no idea till I read this
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13325)
• Hong Kong
27 Mar
Yes, I've seen cherry trees when I traveled to Japan. They are really beautiful.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
28 Mar
Yeah I had one and it was a combination of a cherry tree and a willow tree
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
27 Mar
I hadn't either til this very morning Judy.
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17844)
• London, England
28 Mar
@RebeccasFarm I like to watch his YouTube videos, lots of fascinating history
@Hannihar (129481)
• Israel
28 Mar
@RebeccasFarm
Such a special gift. No, I have not seen the cherry trees.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
28 Mar
I've seen one once one time I had a cherry willow tree
1 person likes this
