Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Cherry Blossoms
We showed some video on our air last Friday of some cherry blossoms in bloom. Yes, this is early but the peak bloom should still arrive late this month according to the National Park Service. They are predicting peak bloom between March 27th and April 3rd. My haunch is this might have to moved up just a bit. Peak bloom has arrived as early March 15th in 1990 and as late as April 18th in 1958. The average peak bloom is April 4.
The 46th annual Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 29th though April 13th. On March 27th, 1912 with little fan fare First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted the first two cherry trees. That year some 3000 trees of twelve varieties were shipped to Washington. Now some 86 years later the blooming of the trees is how Washingtonian’s mark the arrival of spring. The single white blossoms belong to the Yoshino trees. Akebono have a single pale, pink blossom. The Park Service puts in two months of preparation before the festival and to ensure the health of the trees year round. To allow the trees to breathe two inch holes are drilled into the compacted ground. Crews of four carefully examine the trees looking for pests, mark branches with yellow ribbon to be cut. They trim dead limbs the size of matchsticks.
Once the blossoms are in peak you’ll have another 10 – 12 days to enjoy them. After they bloom wind is their biggest enemy. The 3500 to 3800 trees, depending on whom you talk to, that line the tidal basin will attract more than 650,000 visitors. Metro says they’re ready. Please remember to look and not to touch. You wouldn’t want a ticket. ¶ 6:01 PM
The 46th annual Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 29th though April 13th. On March 27th, 1912 with little fan fare First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted the first two cherry trees. That year some 3000 trees of twelve varieties were shipped to Washington. Now some 86 years later the blooming of the trees is how Washingtonian’s mark the arrival of spring. The single white blossoms belong to the Yoshino trees. Akebono have a single pale, pink blossom. The Park Service puts in two months of preparation before the festival and to ensure the health of the trees year round. To allow the trees to breathe two inch holes are drilled into the compacted ground. Crews of four carefully examine the trees looking for pests, mark branches with yellow ribbon to be cut. They trim dead limbs the size of matchsticks.
Once the blossoms are in peak you’ll have another 10 – 12 days to enjoy them. After they bloom wind is their biggest enemy. The 3500 to 3800 trees, depending on whom you talk to, that line the tidal basin will attract more than 650,000 visitors. Metro says they’re ready. Please remember to look and not to touch. You wouldn’t want a ticket. ¶ 6:01 PM
