It's cherry blossom time in Washington and beyond
(Read article summary)As the National Cherry Blossom Festival opens in Washington, even gardeners in cold climates can add a cherry tree to their yards or visit a variety of other festivals.
Pink isn’t my favorite color, but photos of past National Cherry Blossom Festivals in Washington, D.C., are enough to make me start shopping for Japanese cherry trees.
The annual festival in Washington — this year’s peak viewing dates are projected to be March 29 to April 3 — is the granddaddy of American cherry blossom festivals.
It celebrates the 1912 gift [PDF] of 3,020 Japanese cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the city of Washington. There have been many trees added since then, including 500 saplings in 1999 that were propagated from cuttings taken from the original 1912 trees. (About 100 of the original Yoshino trees, which have a life expectancy of 47 years, still survive.)
Supporting Japan
Even though the festival doesn't officially open until Saturday, today there will be a Stand With Japan walk around the Tidal Basin to benefit the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund.
If you can’t make it to Washington, it’s possible to attend a cherry blossom festival closer to home. There are events in:
California (inlcudes a Red Cross fundraiser for Japan aid)
