Over time, I could see the original trees were aging and dying. So I got permission to take cuttings, and I propagated over 100 trees between 1976 and 1979. One of those trees was presented to Japanese ambassador Yoshio Ogawara in 1981 by First Lady Nancy Reagan. It was named the President Reagan cherry tree by Gov. Shunichi Suzuki of Tokyo. Mayor Furusho then invited Jefferson to come to Japan to see the Toneri Park grounds where the Reagan cherry and 1,200 cuttings that Jefferson had helped take would be planted.
Many people come to see it bloom every spring.
Before retiring in 1987, Jefferson made several trips to Japan, collecting more than a half million seeds between 1982 and 1986. He has also found blossoms of spectacular beauty. Jefferson continues to help save the Potomac Park cherry trees in Washington. Roland M. Jefferson is retired from the U.S. National Arboretum and currently lives in Seattle, Washington. He recently donated his historic research papers and letters to the arboretum's library.