In Bloom

In 1912, Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave the city of Washington, DC 3,000 Cherry trees. In a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees from Japan on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.

In 1915, the United States Government reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. A group of American school children reenacted the initial planting in 1927 and the first "festival” was held in 1935, sponsored by civic groups in the Nation’s Capital.

Because of the yo-yo weather this year, the trees should be at their peak bloom tomorrow and Friday. If you have the time, please fight the crowds and stop to enjoy the beautiful trees.

Happy Easter everyone.