It’s still blossom season

This week's tree is a true show-stealer. To illustrate this point, we should cast our minds back to 1912. Not that we can remember 1912 of course, but let us try for a moment. 

It was two years before the Great War and William Howard Taft was the President of the United States of America. Tensions have been rising with Japan, so in an effort to relieve pressure, the Mayor of Japan gifted 3000 Cherry Trees to Washington DC. The gifts were commemorated by the planting ceremony of two trees, wielded by the First Lady, Helen Taft, and the Viscountess of Japan.

It was important to plant the most decorative tree and one of them was assuredly the Prunus serrulata Kanzan, full of rich double pink flowers, the cherry on the top. The ploy worked and the relationship between the USA and Japan literally blossomed.

To this day, Washington DC continues to hold a National Cherry Tree Blossom Festival every year, with the Prunus Kanzan Cherry holding centre stage. It should be noted that the solemn planting in 1912 was just six years before Richmond Harrison started this little family business and our own story began. 

If you prefer weeping form trees, this one can be considered the Prunus Serrulata Kanzan twin, which we wonder if it was Washington DC’s second choice…