In early April, America s capital is at its most spectacular.
Spring bursts upon Washington, DC in a haze of delicate pink and white blossoms, bringing new vitality to the city after winter's chill days. The cherry trees that cluster around the Washington Monument and line the paths surrounding the Tidal Basin were a gift from Japan.It was in 1909 that Mrs Taft, wife of the newly inaugurated President, William Howard Taft, had the idea of planting Japanese cherry trees in the reclaimed marshy swampland of the Potomac Park area.
Her plan captured the imagination of Dr Jokichi Takamine, the Japanese chemist who discovered adrenaline.
He discussed the matter with the Mayor of Tokyo, and three years later 3,000 cherry trees of 12 varieties were shipped to the United States as a gesture of friendship from one capital city to another. In a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, Mrs Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two trees.
