In 1912, the people of Japan sent 3,020 cherry trees to the United States as a gift. First Lady Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador planted the first two trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. These two original trees are still standing today near the John Paul Jones statue at the south end of 17th Street. Workmen planted the remainder of the trees around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park.
Cherry trees Washington, DC grow in three park locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Hains Point), and on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Approximately 3,750 cherry trees are on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Most of the trees are Yoshino Cherry.
The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom varies, depending on the weather. Trees can reach their peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958). The blooming period can last up to 14 days. They are considered to be at their peak when 70 percent of the blossoms are open.
In the early 1990's, The Cherry Blossom Festival became a two-week long celebration that includes crowning a queen and other events. The dates of the festival are based on the average date of blooming, which is around April 4th. Each year, the chief horticulturist for the National Park Service forecasts the expected peak bloom dates.
Students in first to third grade can make a landscape of a blooming cherry tree. This project explores several different techniques for applying paint. To make the picture, you will need:
- Liquid watercolor paint, or thinned poster paint
- Small brush
- Drinking straw
- Cotton swab or new pencil
- Paper
- Eyedropper
- Small containers for paint
Begin by placing a large drop of brown paint on the paper, about two inches from the bottom of the page. Use a straw to blow the paint toward the top of the page, and out to the left and right. Try to make the lines of paint divide into branches.
Dip a cotton swab, or use the eraser end of a new pencil, in pink paint. Make pink dots around the brown lines, like blossoms on a tree. Use the other end of the swab, or clean the pencil, and make green dots in among the pink dots, to represent leaves.
Dip a brush that has stiff bristles into green paint. Just dip the tip of the bristles. This is called a dry brush technique, because most of the brush is still dry. Make small flipping strokes from the bottom of the page toward the top, to make parallel lines that look like grass.
Sunshine state standards
VA.A.1.1.2 Uses art materials and tools to develop basic processes and motor skills, in a safe and responsible manner.
Assessment:
- The student blew the brown paint to make branches
- The student dotted pink and green dots to make blooms and leaves.
- The student used a dry brush technique to make grass.
- The student was neat and careful with the paint.
(c) Paula Hrbacek. Please link to the article instead of reposting it. Reprint rights are available from the author using the contact form at http://paulahrbacek.weebly.com/
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