Cherry blossom festivals unfurl fragrant tidings for spring
International goodwill, the fleeting nature of life and passage of winter –those are lofty goals to hang on the fragile blossoms of an oriental shrub.
But that’s what happened to Prunus x yedoensis, better known as the Yoshino Cherry blossom tree.
Cherry blossom festivals have sprouted across North America and take on special significance this year. Winter of 2014 has been unusually harsh in many parts of the US and Canada. From miserable cold in Midwest and East to drought in California, the Year of the Horse has left an indelible mark.
“We have more snow than we’re used to seeing,” said Danielle Davis of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. “The Cherry Blossom Festival signals spring across the country, and we really want that right now.”
Cherry blossom festivals take place in March and April, coinciding with peak blooming period. Temperature plays a key role in their spring debut.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival begins March 20 as thousands of dormant trees bloom along Capitol Mall and the Potomac. Their showy nature belies humble beginnings—a generous gift from Japanese benefactors that very nearly failed to take root.
Cherry blossom trees heralded more than onset of spring in the Japanese culture. Cultivated for hundreds of years, the blooming trees have th appearance of clouds. Their beautiful but short blooming period symbolized the evanescence of life.
A generous donation of 2,000 trees from the city of Tokyo arrived January 1910 in Washington and carried rich undercurrents of international friendship.
Federal inspectors discovered a nematode infestation and summarily destroyed the lot. The unfortunate incident electrified diplomatic channels, and Secretary of State Philander C. Knox fired off a letter of deep regret.
On the other side of the Pacific plans were underway for a fresh shipment, and Mayor Yukio Ozaki convinced the city council to donate some 3,000 trees.
Japanese horticulturists spent two years grafting varieties from a prized collection of cherry trees along the bank of the Arakawa River, a Tokyo suburb. Most of them were of the snowy white and fragrant Yoshino variety.
Arrival of trees in March of 1912 generated international celebration. First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two trees south of Independence Avenue. The remainder were planted along the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
“We have about half a dozen gardeners who work year round taking care of all the trees.” said Brian Hall of the National Park Service, explaining that an unattended cherry tree has an average lifespan up to 40 years. “Some of our trees go back to the original gift.”
The first official Cherry Blossom Festival occurred in 1934 when local civic groups sponsored a three-day event. It was nothing like the present five-week celebration that boasts a strong international flavor and wide variety of programs.
“This now has become a regional celebration with art exhibits, festivals and tours,” said Davis of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The simple act of planting two trees on a muddy Washington, D.C. tidal basin has blossomed into a season of festivals across the United States and Canada. Among the most popular Cherry Blossom festivals:
- National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 20 – Sunday, April 13. Go to: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
- International Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon, Ga., Friday, March 21 – Sunday, March 30. Go to: http://www.cherryblossom.com/
- Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, Conyers, Ga., weekend of March 22. Go to: http://www.conyerscherryblossomfest.com/
- Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco, weekend of April 12-13 and the weekend of April 19-20. Go to: http://sfcherryblossom.org/WP/
- Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Philadelphia, Pa., Wednesday, April 2 – Sunday, April 13. Go to: http://subarucherryblossom.org/
- Cherry Blossom Denver, Colo., weekend of June 28 –29. Go to: http://cherryblossomdenver.org/
- Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Monterey Park, Calif. Go to: http://www.ci.monterey-park.ca.us/index.aspx?page=812
- Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, Vancouver, Canada, April 3 – 28. Go to: http://www.vcbf.ca/
Article by Jay Alling, editor of Sensible Driver. Write to jay@sensibledriver.com.