The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. 100 years ago this month, the first of 3,000 were planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship.
Cherry Blossoms in Bloom in Washington
Cherry blossom trees bloom after sunset at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial along the Tidal Basin in Washington, March 22, 2012. (AP)
Douglas Rathbun and his wife Michelle carry on a 12-year tradition of picnicking together during the peak of Cherry Blossoms, March 22, 2012. (AP)
Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, March 20, 2012. (Lance Cheung/USDA)
Cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, March 22, 2012. (Photo: Flickr user Cabeel)
President Obama walks among Cherry blossoms in the Rose Garden of the White House, March 22, 2012. (Reuters)
Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, March 21, 2012. (Photo: Olivia Kitunen)
This time each year, thousands of cherry trees display white and pink flowers throughout Washington, most prominently around the Tidal Basin. (Photo: Andrew Bossi)
The Cherry blossoms' peak bloom period is early this year, due to warmer than average spring temperatures in Washington. (Photo: Victoria Pickering)
Cherry blossoms blooming near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, March 19, 2012. (AP)
People row boats under the canopy of the cherry blossoms at the Imperial Palace moat in Tokyo. Japan gave 3,020 cherry blossom trees as a gift to the United States in 1912 to celebrate the nations' then-growing friendship. (AP)
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the gift from Japan to the United States. (Photo: Danny Mac)
Cherry blossom trees bloom at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial along the Tidal Basin in Washington. (VOA - Z. Hoke)
The thick canopy of blossoms in Washington. (Photo: Danny Mac)
Cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, near the Jefferson Memorial, March 17, 2012. (by Ehpien, via Flickr)
Photographer Jacques Gude (R) lines up a Cherry blossom branch in Washington, March 18, 2012. (Reuters)
Some of the oldest Cherry blossom trees bloom along the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP)
Cherry blossoms along the tidal basin, with the Washington Monument in the background. (VOA-Z. Hoke)
Cherry blossom petals on a street in Capitol Hill, following the unusually early peak for the blooms, March 26, 2012. (VOA-A. Klein)