27 March 2007 marked the 95th anniversary of Tokyo's 3000 cherry trees gift

The 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival marks the 95th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912.

In a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two of these trees on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. By 1915 the United States government had responded with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. In 1927, a group of American school children reenacted the initial planting; the first festival was held in 1935, sponsored by civic groups in the nation's capital.

After reading an article in The Politico on the subway Tuesday which reported that 27 March 1912 had been the day in history when Tokyo officially gave 3000 cherry trees to the city of Washington DC I walked down 17th Street, NW, from Farragut North subway station, capturing street scenarios along the way, to the north bank of the Tidal Basin to photograph and commemorate the 95th anniversary of the Japanese gift to the people of Washington DC.

This 27 March 2007 - 95th Anniversary of Cherry Trees Gift photo project represents the launching of my 2007 National Cherry Blossoms Season Collection.