Post date: Mar 25, 2011 12:19:52 AM
As Washington's cherry blossoms start to bloom, the U.S. gives cuttings from original cherry trees back to Japan as a sign of friendship and peace.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 24, 2011) REUTERS - Ahead of the start of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, the U.S. gave clippings from the celebrated cherry trees back to Japan as a sign of respect and friendship between the two countries.
"It absolutely was done for symbolic reasons," Bill Line, spokesman for the National Parks Service said on
Thursday (March 24)."It is to show, purposefully to show, the gift of friendship and peace and the wonderful diplomatic relationship that the people of the United States and Japan have," he added.
In 1912, Japan presented almost 3,000 cherry trees to the city of Washington as a gift symbolizing friendship. For 99 years, an annual festival has been held in Washington to commemorate the gift and recognize the relationship between the two countries.
This year, with the 100 year anniversary just one year away, the park service sent 144 clippings from 15 original trees to horticulturists in Japan so they could graft the branches and twigs to saplings in their native country in time for next year's centennial.
The U.S. and Japan both have exchanged clippings from the trees in their respective countries at various times with the hope of continuing the biological lineage of the trees, Line said.
Line also said it was a way to honor the Japanese.
"These trees are from Japan and then in order for the National Parks Service and the United States government to honor that relationship and that history of friendship and peace -- is one of the best things we could do," he said.
Currently, there are more than three thousand cherry trees decorating the U.S. capital city. The cherry blossoms are expected to peak - or reach the point when seventy percent of the blossoms are out - March 29 through April 1st this year, according to the National Parks Service.
Until then, despite cool weather and overcasts skies, locals and tourists from the U.S. and around the world continue to make their way to see the trees dotting Washington's Tidal Basin as they start to turn their shades of pink and white.
"This is my first time and everybody's got to do it. Everybody's got to do it. You have got to see it once in your lifetime," said Arlette Kopciak, a tourist from Ashburn, Virginia, on her first visit to see the trees.
"It is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn't miss it," added Diana Boede, who traveled with her daughter from from Virginia Beach.
Diane and Norman Parmenter traveled from Coffs Harbour, Australia to celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary and look at the blossoms.
"It is quite cool, but it really is spectacular, beautiful. I enjoyed it immensely," Diane Parmenter said. "That's for sure," her husband Norman agreed.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival begins on Saturday, March 26 and runs through Sunday, April 10th.