Posted on 03/06/2010 8:37:05 PM PST by HokieMom
The 3,750 cherry blossom trees that line the Tidal Basin and surrounding national parks in Washington, D.C., survived winter blizzards and will again bloom during the peak tourist season, according to the National Park Service.
Agency horticulturalist Rob Defeo says only four or five trees were destroyed and that crews are working seven days a week to prepare for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs from March 27 to April 11.
The damage is nothing we haven't seen in 90-plus years," he said. "I guarantee you, by the time the festival comes around, you won't even know there was a [blizzard] event."
The first trees were a gift to the city in 1912 from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki.
More than a million people each year attend the festival, which includes a parade, a fundraising gala, exhibits across the city on Japanese ceramics and garments and paddle boat rides around the Tidal Basin.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Somebody explain this sort of gift to Zer0...
Michigan is a major cherry grower, the trees survive the winter just fine there
Somebody explain this sort of gift to Zer0...
Zer0 doesn’t understand such things.
The heavy, 70 inches last month really damaged so many trees around here. Even though it’s 50 degrees, there are still huge mounds of snow slowly melting. We’re ready for spring, now. Bring it on!
He prefers meaningless CDs of his ramblings.
DC is lovely in cherry blossom season.
It sure is.
Well our two Japanese cherry trees tried to bloom twice this year already and got frozen out (Charlotte, NC). Hopefully third time’s a charm. I’m seeing some new flowers! Yeah!!!
Hope so! They have beautiful blossoms.
Well, these are cherry trees, and cherries are RED, so I'm sure 0b0z0 appreciates them.
Maryland "Freak State is RED too" PING!
I’d guess they do in Door Co., WI, too, since they seem big on cherries.
Maybe the cherry trees in DC are not so hardy? And they may be just for the blossoms. I have not heard of anyone picking the cherries
Michigan has counties devoted to cherry growing and they market them as healthy and a gout cure. Michigan has the harder to find sour cherries
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are Yoshinos, Punus X yehodensis. They rarely have fruit and are one of several types of Japanese flowering cherries. Even the cold of this relatively cold winter in DC should not bother them as I know there are cherries of this type growing in the metro NYC area.
The biggest threat to the blossom display is actually a late frost.
Thanks much...very interpreting. I like fruit tree blossoms they are a sign of life and renewal. Got some going on right now
very interesting.....
But the blossoms are pink. Michelle won't like that.
What does Mee-chelle Ma Belle have against pink?
Cherry blossoms are not inclusive. They only feature shades of pink and white.
Just for grins, here's a spring poem I remembered from elementary school:
The Spring is sprung.
The grass is riz.
I wonder where the boidies is?
The boid am on the wing.
But that's absoid,
I always thought the wing was on the boid!
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