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National Photo Company via Library of Congress
Photographers shooting cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 1922.
Gary Cameron / Reuters
Photographer Jacques Gude (R) lines up a cherry blossom branch in Washington, on March 18. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the gift from Japan to the United States that started with a planting ceremony between then U.S. First lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador.
Gary Cameron / Reuters
This year marks 100 years since the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, D.C.
Some things never change. One hundred years later, the cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. continue to attract visitors and their cameras to the colorful springtime festival.
While there have been major advances in technology over the past century, photographers' desire to capture the fleeting flowers never fades. There is something very endearing about the ability of these delicate blossoms to draw a million visitors and their cameras each spring.
The Associated Press explains the history of the trees:
It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington's Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan.
It's a tradition that almost didn't happen. In 1910, a first gift of 2,000 trees was shipped from Japan to Washington. But agriculture officials discovered the trees were infested with insects and diseased, and they were burned. Diplomats wrote letters of regret to officials in Tokyo. Two years later, they tried again with a shipment of 3,000 trees that made it to Washington in good condition. Read the full story.
The peak bloom dates - when about 70% of the trees are blooming - was predicted to fall between March 20-23. The early spring coaxed the flowers to come out earlier than usual, though the trees will continue to bloom through April.
Related links:
- Washington, D.C., celebrates 100 years of friendship, cherry blossoms
- Centennial Cherry Blossom Festival offers myriad of activity
- Slideshow: Spring is in the air!
Harris & Ewing / Library of Congress
The Cherry Blossom Festival in 1937.
Library of Congress
A hand-colored print of the Tidal Basin, with cherry blossoms, and the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C in 1920.
Martha McMillan Roberts / Library of Congress
Camera bugs snapping the cherry blossoms across the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival, in Washington, D.C in 1941.
With temperatures rising far above normal for this time of year, the famous Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms have already started to bloom. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Leave a Comment:
good article, however, "cacophony' actually means "harsh discordance of sound". Must be loud cameras.
Cameras generally used to be very loud. Flash bulbs, shutters, powder flashes, winding motors, etc. A Room, or an area full of old school cameras would be very loud. 1920's, 30's this was common at a press release or on the red carpet etc. Modern SLR cameras, preferred by pros and prosumers... still make quite a bit of noise. Mirror slap and flash whine. Enough of them in a room would be noisy...a cacophony. I didn't think twice about the idea until i read a couple comments about it here. Only lower quality PaS cameras and camera phones are truly 'noiseless'
aLibertarianPOV wins the prize on this one!
Cacophony means discordant SOUNDS. How about some proper usage in the headline?
I think the article is alluding to 'visual cacophony.' it's a play on words, since cacophony is associated with loud annoying sound, visually that reads a busy scene with too much going on.
Be nice now. This is, after all, an MSNBC journalist or whatever they call them nowadays.
It actually means sounds inharmony. Proper usage!!!! The writer is just more sophisticated than you.
"Along with the blossoms, a cacophony of cameras"
Great article, but the word "cacophony" is misused, referring only to "sounds" rather than a group of disparate objects, smells, art, plants, etc. If the writer is referring to the "clicking" of the camera shutters, she would be correct.
inharmony could only be reference to the clicking of cameras. This was proper and unique usage.
Again, proof your reporters are illiterate.
Anyone can be a journalist, also find something worth writing about.
Duane M, Did you want more violence killings, wars, drugs, I thought it was a nice change,
This is violence, killing, war, and probable drugs used against the language. Kind of like missing '?''s :))
Nice article. I love how they incorporated the old photos with the new. Our nation's history is so vibrant, what a treasure we have.
Interesting article tracing the history of the beautiful cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. Thank you....
I find it also interesting and amusing that this site is often used as an opportunity to correct and ridicule statements made by others.....
Generally because "others" insist on trying to embellish or deprecate actual events rather than report them or use them to inform.
I'm with you Carol. Like I've said before, some people feel half alive if they can't find a chance to pick somebody apart to make themselves feel superior. Just the other day, my mom told me my Dad was watching the news, but she just couldn't bear it anymore because there was only depressing, bad news and wished there was a news channel that focused on nothing but beautiful, inspiring stories. I don't think our heads are in the sand, but there IS more to this world than the relentless ugliness you see on the nightly news. Thank you for this little peice of heaven which is the cherry blossom festival.
What struck me was looking at the photo from spring 1941 thinking that these people have no idea what is going to happen in December.
Japan is a great Country and I hope a friend for the long-term.
WOW Stevevonb you're right, we never know how history plays out. Countries befriend each other then become enemies then become allies at war against other countries............It would be wonderful if we all got to know each other as individuals throughout the world, maybe we'd like each other and get along.