National Cherry Blossom Festival's 100th anniversary
/ 21 PHOTOS
Green thumbs
First Lady Michelle Obama takes part in a 1912 Cherry Blossom tree planting re-enactment ceremony with Yoriko Fujisaki, the wife of Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, near the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River on March 27.
— Win Mcnamee / Getty Images North America
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Gift that keeps on giving
Tourists enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom around the Tidal Basin on March 22 in Washington, D.C.
— Karen Bleier / AFP
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Waterfront view
Two young women enjoy a pedal boat March 22 in the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.
— Paul J. Richards / AFP
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Signs of spring
With above-average temperatures in the region over the winter, the cherry blossoms, seen March 22, were blooming earlier.
— Karen Bleier / AFP
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The scenic ride
Boaters take in the view of the Tidal Basin on March 22.
— Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP
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Showered by petals
Sisters Rama, Jena and Elana El Agha of Fairfax, Va., play with cherry blossom petals March 23 in Washington, D.C.
— Nicholas Kamm / AFP
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National treasure
Cherry blossoms in full bloom March 22 around the Tidal Basin.
— Karen Bleier / AFP
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A tourist attraction
Khandan Jahanshani of Tehran, Iran, takes in the blooming cherry trees, among some of the oldest trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.
— Jacquelyn Martin / AP
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Happy anniversary
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the cherry trees, which were originally a gift from Japan and were planted on the National Mall.
— Alex Wong / Getty Images North America
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An early spring
The National Park Service expects the bloom to peak between March 20 and 23, one of the earliest on record due to warmer-than-average temperatures.
— Alex Wong / Getty Images North America
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Petals galore
Cherry trees blossom by the Tidal Basin March 19, 2012, in Washington, D.C.
— Alex Wong / Getty Images North America
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Soaking in the sun
Kitty Stoner of Annapolis, Md., enjoys the warm weather and blossoming cherry trees.
— Alex Wong / Getty Images North America
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Having a ball
Welcoming weather brings out some soccer players.
— Larry Downing / X00961
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Springtime stroll
The gift from Japan 100 years ago started with a planting ceremony between then U.S. First lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador.
— Saul Loeb / AFP
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Buds abound
Budding cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin are seen with the Washington Monument in the background on March 12. This year marks the 100th anniversary of when Japan gifted the trees to the U.S.
— Jacquelyn Martin / AP
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On the waterfront
People paddle a boat on the Tidal Basin during the first bloom of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., on March 18. The trees were planted 100 years ago in a ceremony between U.S. first lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador.
— Gary Cameron / X00044
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Blossoming branches
The Jefferson Memorial, photographed on March 19, is framed by cherry blossom trees. The blossoms are expected to reach their peak on March 20.
— Karen Bleier / AFP
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Cherry blossom up close
A cherry blossom branch is seen on a tree adjacent to the Tidal Basin on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 17.
— Mladen Antonov / AFP
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Perfect setting
A couple take photos beneath cherry blossom trees near the Tidal Basin on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 17.
— Mladen Antonov / AFP
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Sight to see
Tourists walk by cherry blossom trees near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., on March 18.
— Gary Cameron / X00044
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Nighttime blossoms
The Washington Monument is framed by cherry blossom trees in this March 19 photograph.