under the sakura trees
the spring wind
scattering blossoms
I saw it in a dream
but when I awoke the sound
was still rustling in my breast
Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival by Ann McClellan- Cherry Blossoms: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress by Mari Nakahara and Katherine Blood
- The Sakura Obsession: The Incredible Story of the Plant Hunter Who Saved Japan's Cherry Blossoms by Naoko Abe
- Cherry Blossoms in Bloom: Great Works of Japanese Woodblock Printing by Anne Sefrioui
the crowds that gather
when they bloom
There are approximately 3,800 cherry trees on the National Mall. The locations and condition of each tree are monitored by tree crew staff. The initial gift of 3,020 trees was represented by 12 different varieties. Two varieties, the Yoshino and Kwanzan, are now the most common type in Washington, DC.
Mostly Yoshino cherry trees circle the Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument grounds. Yoshino cherries produce many single white blossoms that create the effect of white clouds. Known as Somei-yoshino in Japan, Yoshinos are a hybrid first introduced in Tokyo in 1872. Now, Yoshinos are one of the most popular cultivated flowering cherry trees.
Yoshino
Kwanzan
Akebono
Habit: A round topped, wide spreading tree that reaches 30 to 50 feet at maturity.
Flowers: White, single in clusters of 2 to 5, and almond-scented.
History: This hybrid cherry of unknown Japanese origin was first noticed in Tokyo about 1872 and is now one of the favorite cultivated cherry trees of Japan.
Zone: Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6: Range of average minimum temperature 0 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit.
↪ Click here to learn more about the different types of cherry trees from the National Park Service.
Cherry the Blossom Bunny says...