What to Know About Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C
Cherry blossoms are more than a blessing, marking the beginning of Spring and a season of new life. These blossoms not only bring colors to the stark landscape but also revive life in it. This is evident in our national capital, Washington, D.C., where Cherry blossoms offer iconic views while making Spring’s arrival more fascinating and welcoming. This sparked my desire to explore all things cherry blossoms, and I finally made the trip this year. In this mini-guide, I’ll let you know about the intriguing aspects of my experience. Let’s begin exploring!
A Glimpse into the History of Cherry Blossoms
D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms history dates back to 1895 when writer, traveler, and diplomat Eliza Scidmore started a campaign for planting cherry trees. Two decades later, U.S.D.A. official Dr. David Fairchild imported 100 cherry blossom trees to explore how they would bloom in the local climate. Later, the work was continued by Scidmore and Fairchild, who advocated the planting of more trees. To be specific, Fairchild was the one suggesting the plantation around the Tidal Basin, and Scidmore contacted then-First Lady Helen Taft to share her ideas.
Coincidentally, when Mrs. Taft received Scidmore’s letter, Japanese Chemist Dr. Jokichi Takamine visited and offered 2,000 trees as a gift from Tokyo city. In December 1909, the trees were received in Seattle, and they made it to D.C. in early 1910. Unluckily, the trees were found to be diseased and not viable for planting. In March of 1912, a 2nd shipment arrived in D.C., this time of 3,020 trees. Since then, the trees have been celebrated in different festivities, the first one ever being the Cherry Blossom Festival in 1935.
Do you know that Japan has sent loads more cherry blossom trees to plantations in the U.S.? The U.S. sends back trees with damaged grooves for repair, which honors the spirit of friendship.
Best Time to Witness Washington D.C Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., are largely impacted by weather conditions. However, peak blooms typically occur between the last week of March and the first week of April. If we dig into history, peak blooms were experienced as early as March 15, 1990, and as late as April 18, 1958, in unusually warmer and colder temperatures.
The best places to immerse in Washington D.C Cherry Blossoms’ charm are The Tidal Basin, U.S. National Arboretum, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Stanton Park, Hains Point Loop Trail, and Dumbarton Oaks Gardens.
Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated as a citywide event to commemorate the 1912 gift of more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees to Washington, DC, by the mayor of Tokyo. Though core celebrations remain the same, you might observe variations in some celebrations every year.
This year’s festivities included the Opening Ceremony, the Blossom Kite Festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and Pedalpalooza. What I liked the most were local hotels offering blossom-themed packages, deals, and discounts, and restaurants getting into the spirit with the Cherry Picks program.
Wrapping It Up!
Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C. have always been reviving after those gloomy winter nights. Their history is also as intriguing as themselves. The cute pink trees bloom mostly in the last week of March and the first week of April, drawing loads of visitors from around the globe. The views are truly spectacular, especially in The Tidal Basin. Don’t forget to keep your cameras along, as you won’t feel tired even after brimming your gallery with cherry blossom pics.
