Fascinating Fact

April 29, 2011

Q.  Which country gave the United States the cherry blossom trees?
A.  Japan

The first sign that it’s spring in the nation’s capital is the blooming of the cherry trees. In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo presented the city with a gift of three thousand cherry trees as a symbol of the good relationship between Japan and the United States. The trees were planted along the banks of the Potomac River and on the grounds of the Washington Monument. The United States responded by sending a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan.

Cherry blossoms and leaves are edible, and both are used as food ingredients in Japan.

Since the leaves contain Coumarin, however, it is not recommended that one eats them in great quantities, due to its toxicity.

Information found in CulturalGrams and Wikipedia.

Sharon G.
Blue Springs South Branch