Evening star., 1936-03-22
By Mary Machin Gardner

w year as the result of the
Potomac flood, though every
effort is being made to save them. It's
Springtime, and the Nations interest
is focused not on harassed Senators
and troubled Representatives, but on
the hope of saving the fragile
canopy Of cherry blossoms around
the Tidal Basin. All America
responds to the festive garb of
Spring. Millions flock to the wild
flower shows in the blossom -strewn
valleys of California and on the ver-
dant hillsides of North Carolina. Great
throngs visit the vast areas of bios
soming fruit trees Of Northern Vtr-
einia, Washington and Michigan
throughout the land pilgrims flock to
the aristocratic gardens. where fra
grant rainbow-tinted blossoms salute
the Spring.
Thousands of visitors are attracted
annually to Washington's Cherry
Blossom Festival, which, although
beautiful by day, becomes a glistening
fairy land when Illuminated at night.
For this beauty spot the Nation is in
debted to Mrs. William Howard Taft
and to Miss Eliza Ruhannah Scid-
more, the sister of Mr.. George Haw-
thorne Scidmore, former American
consul at Yokohama and author OF
many charming books on Japan. The
friendship Of Mrs. Taft and Miss Scid-
more with the Japanese oflcials Sc
cured the trees as a gift from the peo-
pie Of Japan.
The first shipment of 1000 trees
in 1909 was diseased and consequently
destroyed. When secretary OF the
United States Embassy bore this de-
plorable news to a japanese official
the Oriental smiled automatically and
said. "Oh, believe your first Presi-
dent set the example of destroying
cherry trees, did he not?"
Three years later 5000 disease-free
trees were received from Japan. On
March 27, 1912, the first two trees Of
the shipment were officially planted,
one by the Viscountess Chinda, wife of
the Ambassador from Japan, and the
other by Mrs. William Howard Taft.
A bronze tablet on each tree attests to
its historic planting and carries the
inscription, "a gift from the city Of
Toxic"
"a MERICA'S newest blossom pageant
a is the year-round flower show in
the natural ravines near Palatka, Fla.
There, in the Springtime, 10000
szaleas, representing 68 of the known
~ varieties, make the Ravine Garden
a gorgeous scene. Thousands of other
flowers, magnolias, Grape myrtles,
Cherokee roses, japanese magnoDas,
dogwoods, flame vines and bougain-
villes, mingle with IL 900 palms and
other native trees and transform the
ravine into a tapestry OF barbarlc
splendor. For many years the people
visioned an azalea garden in these
deep ravines and this was finally
reanzed through F. E. R. A. ana P. w.
A. loans.
Wisconsin's "Mardi Gras" is the last
week of May, when the fruiting cher
ries bloom in Door County, that pen
Insula between Lake Michigan and
Green Bay. Here, covering an area
of 5000 acres, are 850,000 trees load
ed with fragrant blossoms. A few
weeks later these same trees will be
covered with luscious red cherries.
Since 1929 this section has been Wis
tied annually by thousands of peo-
pie who come to revel in that beau
Il 1f
Gently the picking your own" plan
brings nearly as many visitors dur
ing the harvest period. The county's
annual cherry crop of 100000
pounds is valued at 100000. Less
than per cent of the fresh fruit Is
marketed. Thirty per cent Is pitted
and frozen and the remaining IS per
cent, which is canned, Is sufficient
Tor 100000 cherry pies.
At the southern end of Lake Mich
igan, the Benton Harbor and st. JOS
eph area, many kinds Of blossoms
cherry, pear, apple, peach and plum
share honors at the annual May fes-
tival Of flowers. Not only is there
q grown-up queen of blossoms" !"
chosen from beauty queens of 80 cities
In the southern part Of the State of
Michigan, but also a "bud queen"
crowned at the juvenile ball, where
all dancers are under H." Early in
the week Of festivities, the burning
OF the brush" ceremony. which Is
''good-by" to the previous year, adds
an unusual note to the gayeties CENTER
ing around the fragrant pink and
white blossoms.
CNCE 1924 historic Winchester,
Va, has achieved national fame
through It's Shenandoah Cumberland
Potomac Apple Blossom Festival.
When 100000 apple trees spread
soft haze Of pink blossoms over the
landscape and fill the air with fra
grant perfume, thousands of visitors
come to enjoy the dainty loveliness
of these $4,000 acres of blossoming
fruit trees. Each year thousands Of
school children parade as human
blossoms" Queen Shenendoah" is
crowned in q beautiful ceremony mod
eled after ancient rituals, with the
princesses Of the queens court" Sc
lected from every State in the Union.
Usually $500 young men and women
take part In the brilliant historical