| Spring is my favorite time of the year. Like many
other people I look forward to the cherry blossoms especially in Washington D.C.
where I come from. Do you know the history of Washington cherry trees? Each year,
more than 600,000 tourists visit to get a glance of these famous cherry blossoms.
Many of these beautiful trees were donated by the mayor of
Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki and Dr. Jokichi Takamine in 1912.
Dr. Takamine, the famous Japanese chemist known for his discovery
of adrenalin and diastase, funded the cause and arranged to have the cherry tress
along Arakawa river grafted for the donation. |
 |
In March of 1912, First Lady Taft and the Viscountess Chida, the
wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two of the cherry trees on the banks
of the Tidal Basin.
Since then many more cherry trees have been planted around Washington D.C. |
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