Health & Fitness
The Cherry's Tribute to Arbor Day
In Japan, the flowering cherry tree or "Sakura," is an exalted flowering plant.
The cherry blossom has been equated as the effervescent Japanese symbol of human life epitomizing the Japanese culture.
And in 1912, plantings of cherry trees originated as a gift of friendship to the people of the United States from the people of Japan.
1885 In the beginning: Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, upon returning to Washington from her first visit to Japan, approached the U.S. Army Superintendent of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, with a proposal that cherry trees be planted along the reclaimed Potomac waterfront speedway. Her request fell on deaf ears. Over the next twenty-four years, Mrs. Scidmore approached every new superintendent, but her idea never met with success.
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1906-08 A New Embrace: Dr. David Fairchild, plant explorer and U.S. Department of Agriculture official, imported seventy-five flowering cherry and twenty-five single-flowered weeping types from the Yokohama Nursery to plant on his estate. Pleased with their hardiness and success, Dr. Fairchild arranged with the Chevy Chase Land Company to purchase three hundred Oriental cherry trees for each District of Columbia Schools to plant in their schoolyards in observance of Arbor Day. Marked portions around the Tidal Basin were also designated for a "Field of Cherries" transformation.
1909 The White House: Mrs. Scidmore renewed her campaign to donate cherry trees to the city and reached out to the new first lady Helen Herron Taft. Mrs Taft responded, “ I have taken the matter up and am promised the trees, but I thought perhaps it would be best to make an avenue of them, extending down to the turn in the road, as the other part is still too rough to do any planting. Of course, they could not reflect in the water, but the effect would be very lovely of the long avenue”.
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Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the Japanese chemist who discovered adrenaline and takadiastase, was in Washington when he learned of Mrs. Taft’s intentions to plant Japanese trees along the Speedway. Mr. Midzuno, the Japanese Counsel, suggested the trees be given in the name of the City of Tokyo. First Lady Taft agreed to accept a donation of 2,000 cherry trees in those terms.
To be Continued…
