Saturday January 03, 2009
12-30-2008 CRAPO, SIMPSON CALL ON NRC TO APPROVE AREVA FACILITY
Washington, DC – Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson are urging the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to grant swift approval...(More)
12-15-2008 CRAPO ANNOUNCES IDAHO 2009 MILITARY ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced his nominations of 33 Idaho students to military service academies, for the freshman class...(More)
12-12-2008 CRAPO GOES TO BAT FOR IDAHO COMPANIES
Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined 13 of his colleagues in the U.S. Senate today in urging the U.S. Customs and Border Protection...(More)
Owyhee Initiative
Links and information on the Owyhee Initiative.
111th Congress Preview
Mike outlines some of his legislative priorities for the 111th Congress.
Visiting DC?
Find out about popular government buildings and monuments you can visit on your trip.
ESRA
Check out Senator Crapo's Endangered Species Recovery Act, which provides incentives to private property owners for conservation.
Audio
National Cherry Blossom Festival Fast Facts
Q: What is the National Cherry Blossom Festival?
A: The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a two-week celebration 
commemorating Japan’s gift of 3,020 cherry trees to
the United States in 1912. In addition to representing the
friendship between the two countries, the festival has come
to symbolize the arrival of Spring and the beauty of our nation’s
capital.
Q: Whose idea was it to plant Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C.?
A: The idea to plant cherry trees along the Potomac belonged to travel writer and photographer, Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore. Although Mrs Scidmore thought of the idea in 1885, following her first trip to Japan, it took many years and the help of many individuals to implement the plan. Incoming First Lady Helen Taft took an interest in the idea in 1909
Q: When were the first trees planted?
A: On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda (the wife of the Japanese Ambassador) planted the first two cherry trees. The original trees still stand today and are marked by bronze plaques commemorating their planting.
Q: When was the first Cherry Blossom Festival?
A: Although the
1912 planting is sometimes considered the first festival, the 
first
organized festival took place in 1934. This three-day celebration
was sponsored by the District of Columbia Commissioners. The following
year, the Cherry Blossom Festival was jointly sponsored by a number
of civic groups. In 1949, Cherry Blossom Princesses, from every
state and territory, were added to the annual festivities.
Q: How many Cherry trees are there?
A: There are 3,700 Cherry Trees in Washington, D.C. The most plentiful specie is the Yoshino Cherry tree, with 2,763 trees in the area. The other species include, the Kwanzan Cherry, the Akebono Cherry, the Takesimensis Cherry, the Weeping Japanese Cherry, the Sargent Cherry, the Autumn Flowering Cherry, the Fugenzo Cherry, the Afterglow Cherry, the Shirofugen Cherry, and the Okame Cherry. Approximately 150 trees still remain from the original donation in 1912.
Q: What does today’s festival entail?
A: A coalition of business, civic, and governmental organizations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., is responsible for coordinating the current Cherry Blossom Festivals. In 1994, the festival was expanded from one week to two weeks. The celebration includes a number of different activities, frequently concluding with the National Cherry Blossom Parade--Washington. D.C.’s largest spectator event.
Q: Who cares for the trees today?
A: The trees are cared for by members of the Tree Crew for National Capital Parks-Central. The most common maintenance tasks for the arborists include pruning, watering, wound treatment, insect and disease control, fertilization, aeration and vertical mulching, and replacement.
Information for this page was obtained from the National Cherry Blossom Festival Web site and the Washington D.C. City Pages Web site.