Take Time to Smell D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms

ByABC News
March 17, 2004, 1:33 PM

W A S H I N G T O N, March 18 -- Cherry blossoms may be a sign of spring in thenation's capital, but visitors who don't take time to stop andsmell the flowers are missing both a visual and sensual treat.

"Nothing compares with the beauty of the early spring blooms inthe national capital area," said David Ellis, spokesman for theAmerican Horticultural Society. Daffodils, tulips and forsythiabegin blooming in late March, although the cherry blossoms of theTidal Basin generate the most headlines.

The AHS hosts "Washington Blooms" events throughout April atits George Washington River Farms headquarters in Alexandria, Va.,across the Potomac River from Washington. Formal beds on thegrounds erupt with the bold colors and vibrant pastels of spring asearly as mid-March.

National Park Service officials have indicated that the peakbloom for the cherry blossoms will occur between March 24 and April2. That's when 70 percent of the 3,700 trees are expected to bevisible. The bloom coincides with the National Cherry BlossomFestival, which runs March 27 through April 11.

"There should be plenty of blossoms remaining on the treesSaturday, April 3, for the festival parade," said National ParkService spokesman Bill Line.

Trees a Gift From Japan

The trees are mostly descendants of those presented to the U.S.by Japan in 1912 to mark 60 years of friendly relations. About 150remain from the original stock, and the park service is propagatingcuttings to maintain the historic connection.

U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry signed the Treaty ofKanagawa establishing friendship and peace with Japan on March 31,1854. Many of this year's festival events commemorate thatrelationship.

The annual cherry blossom festival has traditionally marked thebeginning of the tourism season for the national capital region.The spring flower bonanza is a prelude to the May 27-30 openingweekend of the National World War II Memorial, and September'sgrand opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the AmericanIndian.