With blossoms peeking out all around DC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off this weekend, starting a two week celebration of the friendship between Japan and the U.S. and signifying the beginning of spring in the nation’s capital.
In 1912, the first two cherry trees were planted by the First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador. In 1915, the U.S. reciprocated by presenting Japan with a gift of flowering dogwood trees. In 1965, Japan presented 3,800 more trees, many of which still line the Tidal Basin today.
Over 1 million people visit DC each year to see the cherry blossoms. If you’re not going to be here, take a look at what you’ll be missing:
Ah, the fresh air, the sunshine, the breathtaking beauty. Of course, there will also be hordes of tourists everywhere, so I guess you shouldn’t sad about missing that part of it…