I recently made it to Washington DC right when the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. It was a heavenly experience. Everywhere I looked- my vision was saturated with these flowering white and pink trees and their reflection in the water. The scape has been immortalized in my memory. One morning I went there early, right before sunrise and as the sun came up, I saw the sunrays give these trees in the distance a golden hue. I sat there, at the  foot of Jefferson Memorial – everything came to a stand still and as I embraced the splendor of the trees, the monuments and the rising sun i was consumed by immense peace and tranquility.

The idea of planting the cherry blossoms in DC was as old as 1885 when Mrs Scidmore, after a recent trip to Japan, where she saw these trees and then on return to DC approached every superintendent in public office to propose the plantation of these trees. But for 24 years no one accepted her proposal. In 1909 Mrs Scidmore tried to raise money for cherry blossom plantations on her own, but this time she was able to take into confidence the then first lady Helen Herron Taft. Incidentally Dr Takamine, a Japanese chemist (who discovered adrenaline), was visiting USA and heard about this, and proposed a donation to 2000 trees which the First lady accepted. It was in 1910 that Japan sent 2000 trees as a donation to be planted on Potomac River, however these trees were found to be infested with bugs and decision was made to burn them all. A second shipment of 3020 trees arrived in 1912 and these trees were planted at tidal basin. Since then multiple re-plantations have been done not only in DC but also in Japan from these very trees in order to preserve the genetic lineage of these trees.In 1982 Japanese Horticulturists took back hundreds of cutting from these trees at tidal basin to plant back in Japan, when the trees of similar lineages were destroyed due to change in a course of a river.

That is enough of a history lesson, but I find it important because the history behind these trees is about friendship between the two countries and in the process has led to the preservation of these trees and particular lineage in both the countries. Isn’t this a classic example of good karma? Japan donated these trees which flourished here. And when these trees were destroyed in their own country they could bring them back by using cuttings from trees in DC.

Through these pictures overflowing with cherry blossoms, I intend to saturate your vision with their beauty and hopefully you have a minuscule experience of what I saw. But to completely experience you have to go DC during full bloom. Don’t forget to add it to your bucket list.