I was in Washington, D.C., April 30, 2025, during the breathtaking peak of the cherry tree blossoms. Millions of people flock to the Tidal Basin each year to witness this explosion of color, and I was no exception. Children ran and played beneath the pink canopy, lovers strolled hand in hand, pausing for selfies with the blossoms as their backdrop. Despite the tens of thousands of visitors, there was a surprising sense of harmony – a beautiful blend of cultures and a quiet respect that united us all under those flowering trees.

Photo courtesy of Kristoffer Rasmussen.

Science confirms what our hearts already know; trees lower blood pressure, reduce stress, boost energy and even support immune function. Standing among the cherry trees, I felt all of that. I also felt immense curiosity – not just about the trees themselves, but about the people behind them. Who had the vision to plant these trees? Who worked behind the scenes to make this dream come true?
I already knew that in 1909, the mayor of Tokyo had gifted 2,000 cherry trees to be planted along the Potomac River. But the story begins long before that – with a woman named Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore.

A blossoming vision
In 1885, 29-year-old Scidmore returned to the U.S. after her first visit to Japan, deeply inspired by the flowering cherry trees she had seen there. She had a dream – to line Potomac Drive with cherry blossoms. For the next 24 years, she petitioned every Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds to support her vision. Each time, she was dismissed.

That changed in 1909, when Scidmore found an ally in First Lady Helen Taft. The First Lady’s influence proved to be the catalyst needed. Unfortunately, the original 2,000 trees from Japan were found to be infested and had to be destroyed. Yet Japan’s commitment never wavered.

In 1910, a new gift of 3,020 cherry trees was promised. This time, scions were collected from cherry trees growing along the banks of the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward, a suburb of Tokyo. These were grafted onto carefully selected understock in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, by Japanese arborists whose names are lost to history, yet whose skill and dedication helped shape a nation’s capital. They nurtured the young saplings for two years before they were finally shipped.

The author and his wife, Lisa, in Washington, D.C., in April. Photo courtesy of Kristoffer Rasmussen.

A vision realized
In February 1912, the trees arrived in Seattle and were transported by train to Washington, D.C. No records tell us who watered them during the journey or who safeguarded them on the railcars. But we know they made it. And on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin, just south of where Independence Avenue is now. Those original trees, marked by a bronze plaque that commemorates the occasion, still stand not far from the John Paul Jones Memorial.

Over the next eight years, additional trees – representing eleven more varieties – were planted in East Potomac Park. Again, there were arborists working tirelessly behind the scenes: planting, watering, pruning. Their names aren’t etched into monuments, but their legacy is evident each spring when the blossoms return.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has grown over the decades into a cherished annual event.

Perseverance
In 1938, the trees faced a new threat – this time from construction plans for the Jefferson Memorial. Protesters, including a group of women who chained themselves to the trees, launched what became known as the Cherry Tree Rebellion. Their efforts led to a compromise; more cherry trees would be planted along the south side of the Tidal Basin, framing the new memorial, rather than replacing the existing trees.

I can’t help but smile at that act of defiance in 1938 – a time when people stood up for trees over concrete. That kind of love and protection for living things is rare and powerful.

Eliza Scidmore passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, November 3, 1928, at the age of 72. She lived to see her dream take root, though she may never have imagined that millions would one day flock to Washington, D.C., each spring to celebrate the fleeting beauty she fought for.

My true purpose in writing this is to honor and remember all the people who made this national treasure possible: the Japanese arborists who grafted and nurtured the saplings, the Americans who loaded and watered the trees during their journey and the countless public servants who planted and cared for them over the decades.

So when you feel defeated – when someone tells you “no,” or your plea to save a tree goes unheard – take a walk around the Tidal Basin. See what’s possible when you persevere. The legacy of the trees we protect today will live on long after we are gone.

Get involved. Join organizations like Plan-T or read inspiring stories like “From Wasteland to Wonder.” Become a part of the solution. Plant, protect and preserve. The future is rooted in the choices we make today.

Kristoffer Rasmussen, Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), qualified crew leader (QCL) and TCIA-approved instructor, is a TCIA Accreditation/loss control auditor and owner of arboriststrong.com, providing consultation, safety training and Red Cross CPR/first-aid certifications.