Photo Essay: Cherry Blossoms Bloom in DC
{{dateline|date=April 2, 2006|location=Washington, D.C.}} The Japanese Cherry Blossoms have again bloomed around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. and a city along with thousands of visitors mark the beginning of Spring with their arrival.  The accompanying [[w:National Cherry Blossom Festival|National Cherry Blossom Festival]] is an annual celebration, commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift to the city of 3,000 [[w:Sakura|Japanese cherry trees]] from Mayor [[w:Yukio Ozaki|Yukio Ozaki]] of [[w:Tokyo City|Tokyo]].  Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an effort to enhance the growing friendship between the [[w:United States|United States]] and [[w:Japan|Japan]] and also celebrate the continued close relationship between the two peoples.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 1em 1em ; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!colspan="3"|
|-
|[[Image:Selman_04012006_1.jpg|thumb|400px|Cherry Blossoms around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.]]||&nbsp;||[[Image:Selman_04012006_2.jpg|thumb|400px|Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background in Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[Image:Selman_04012006_3.jpg|thumb|400px|Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C.]]||&nbsp;||[[Image:Selman_04012006_4.jpg|thumb|300px|Cherry Blossoms around the a stone Japanese Pagoda at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[Image:Selman_04012006_5.jpg|thumb|400px|Cherry Blossoms around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.]]||&nbsp;||[[Image:Selman_04012006_6.jpg|thumb|400px|Cherry Blossoms hang over the water of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[Image:Selman_04012006_7.jpg|thumb|400px|Closeup of Cherry Blossoms blooming near the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.]]||&nbsp;||[[Image:Selman_04012006_8.jpg|thumb|400px|Thousands walk the banks of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. to view the blooming Cherry blossoms]]
|-
|[[Image:Selman_04012006_9.jpg|thumb|400px|Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C.]]||&nbsp;||[[Image:Selman_04012006_10.jpg|thumb|400px|Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C..]]
|-
|}

== Sources ==
{{original}}
*[http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ National Cherry Blossom Festival Official Site]
*[http://www.nps.gov/nacc/cherry/ Cherry Trees of Washington by the National Park Service]
*[http://www.us-japan.org/dc/ Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C. Official Site]
*[http://dcpages.com/Tourism/Cherry_Blossoms/ National Cherry Blossom Festival Guide]
* [http://www.dcphototour.com/WashingtonDCEventsPhotoTour/WashingtonDCNationalCherryBlossomFestival.shtml Washington, D.C. National Cherry Blossom Festival Photo tour]

{{publish}}
{{archived}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Photo essays]]
The Japanese Cherry Blossoms have again bloomed around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. and a city along with thousands of visitors mark the beginning of Spring with their arrival.  The accompanying National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual celebration, commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift to the city of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo.  Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an effort to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and also celebrate the continued close relationship between the two peoples.


Cherry Blossoms around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background in Washington, D.C.

Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C.

Cherry Blossoms around the a stone Japanese Pagoda at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

Cherry Blossoms around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Cherry Blossoms hang over the water of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

Closeup of Cherry Blossoms blooming near the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

Thousands walk the banks of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. to view the blooming Cherry blossoms

Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C.

Traditional Japanese view of the cherry blossoms (sakura) with reflecting water and a shrine (the Jefferson Memorial) in Washington, D.C..
North America United States Washington, D.C. Culture and entertainment Photo essays