Cherry Blossoms:
The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
by Ann McClellan ’68
National Geographic Society, January 2012
Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossom trees have enchanted residents and visitors for one hundred years. This spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the centennial of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo to our nation’s capital. To mark the event, National Geographic has published this richly illustrated history by Ann McClellan.
The book tells the story of how the gift spawned our country’s greatest springtime celebration, which has grown into an extravaganza attended by more than a million people annually. Stunning photography by Ron Blunt helps tell the history of the trees and signature events of the festival; the book also features information about the life cycle of cherry trees, as well as the different varieties found around the nation.