Spotlight: Cherry Blossom Season

As the calendar turns from March to April, cherry blossom season is here. While there are many varieties of cherry trees, the well-recognized delicate pink and white blossoms commonly associated with spring are found on ornamental Japanese cherry trees, which were introduced to the United States in the early 20th century. Cherry blossoms, known as “sakura” in Japanese, are considered the national flower of Japan and have long been a symbol of the beauty and impermanence of life, given that they bloom for only a brief period.

The most famous Japanese cherry trees in the United States line the Tidal Basin near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Today there are approximately 3,800 cherry trees in this area. Japanese cherry trees arrived in D.C. in 1912, a gift of friendship from the people of Japan, and were planted around the Tidal Basin in a project spearheaded by First Lady Helen “Nellie” Taft. Each spring, visitors flock to D.C. to see the magnificent trees in bloom and to take in all of the events associated with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year runs from March 20th to April 13th. Those who cannot travel to D.C. can watch BloomCam at www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch, which provides a 24/7, live, real-time view of the cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin. Children can participate in a virtual program through the National Park Service to become a Bloomin’ Junior Ranger, which includes a virtual walk around the Tidal Basin with a Park Service ranger and other at-home activities at www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/cherry-blossom-kids.htm.

Closer to home, sakura can be viewed at Japan House, located in Urbana on the University of Illinois campus. Japan House provides programming for both the university community and the general public. Its goal is to bring the history, culture, and aesthetics of Japan to Central Illinois through classes, visiting artists, and hands-on learning. In 2008, Japan House received a gift of 50 cherry trees which were planted to create the Sen Cherry Tree Allée on the grounds surrounding the house. As of March 27th, several of the trees were moving into Stage 3 of development, with full bloom anticipated within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the weather. Progress updates can be found by following japanhouseuofi on Facebook or Instagram.

In Chicago, Jackson Park, located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry, is home to about 190 pink and white cherry blossom trees. Due to the city’s northern location, peak bloom period for the Jackson Park cherry blossoms generally occurs in late April or early May and lasts anywhere from 6 to 14 days.

To learn more about Japan House, please visit www.japanhouse.illinois.edu.

To learn more about the Jackson Park cherry blossoms, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/cherry-blossoms.