Last week, while the blossoms were at their peak, the kids and I headed to Washington DC to see the cherry blossoms.  We went one time at night with a good friend, but were shocked to see they were not lit up.  See?  You guys are thinking “Why would they light the trees?” but in Japan, they light the trees—and people flock there, especially in the night to see the glistening blossoms lit from below.  I can still remember walking in Kamakura on the day my Mom first arrived in Japan with some Japanese friends.  It was magical!  In the daylight, the kids had a blast.  It was a beautiful blue sky day.

The cherry trees were a gift to the United States as a sign on friendship in 1910.  They were taken from a region famous for beautiful cherry trees in Japan called Itami.  Originally, they were grafted from these trees along the Arakawa river.  What you may not know, is the First Lady Taft agreed to have the trees given as a gift, but intended to put them along one long avenue.  Also, the original shipment of 2,000 trees that arrived here in December of 1910 were infested with insects and had to be burned!  A replacement shipment was sent, and added to by Japanese people who felt so strongly about a long term relationship with America.  The total number of trees to arrive was 3,020 in a variety of cherry species.  Finally, on March 29th, First Lady Taft, and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador planted the first two cherry trees.  Very few people attended the ceremony.  Those original two trees are still standing near the statue of John Paul Jones and 17th street.  There is a plaque if you happen to find those two trees!  I am sure you are wondering what American did as a thank you to Japan for over 3,000 cherry trees?  Well, in 1915 we sent 80 dogwood trees.  Yes, 80.  No, I didn’t forget any zeros...just 80.  I am hoping it had some symbolic meaning!!     Here is the source of this info. 

They had a booth set up for the Jr Ranger program.  The kids had fun making origami and learning the history of the cherry trees!

Soon we came to a nice patch of green grass and it was time to RUN!  By now, the wind had died down and the sun and green grass was feeling like winter was G O N E!

It was such a nice day, and we found a great place to park not too far from the tidal basin.  There is something about being in DC, the mix of people, the green grass, and all those monuments just make for a good day for us all.  We could not have asked for better!