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Once a year, these SPECIES of beautiful trees spring into bloom. If you haven’t taken a guess yet, they are called the CHERRY BLOSSOM, also known in JAPANESE as ‘SAKURA’ (meaning a tree with a lot of flowers). On average, the blooming period only lasts about two weeks, but when they bloom, it is IMPOSSIBLE to ignore their beauty. In fact, the bloom of these trees has long been celebrated with FESTIVALS in different cultures around the world.
Spell TREES BLOOM MEANING
What species of tree are we talking about today? CHERRY BLOSSOM
What is the Japanese name for the cherry blossom? SAKURA
When cherry blossoms bloom, it is impossible to ignore their_______? BEAUTY
On average, the blooming period only lasts about how long? TWO WEEKS
The bloom of cherry blossom trees is celebrated with what? FESTIVALS
What does the name Sakura mean? A TREE WITH A LOT OF FLOWERS
VAKT: the picture on the left side is Eliza Ruhamanh Scidmore, the picture on the right side is of the first lady. touch the picture of Eliza Ruhamanh Scidmore.
In 1912 the cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington DC, as a gift from the people of Japan to the American people, as a symbol of friendship between two world leading countries. In 1909 the White House received a letter from ELIZA RUHAMANH SCIDMORE. Eliza was a local author and a member of the National GEOGRAPHIC Society. In the letter was a detailed plan to plant cherry trees around the TIDAL BASIN. The first lady responded AGREEINGLY. The Japanese consul was told about the plan and offered and sent the United States a gift of 2000 trees.
Spell: SYMBOL RECEIVED AUTHOR
What year were the Cherry blossom trees planted? 1912
In what city were the cherry blossoms trees planted? WASHINGTON DC
Who did the White House receive a letter from in 1909? ELIZA RUHAMANH SCIDMORE
What was Eliza a member of? THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Around where are are the Cherry blossoms planted? TIDAL BASIN
How many trees did japan offer as a gift? 2000
Name one of the countries that was mentioned above. JAPAN, AMERICA
How many years is it between 1912 and 1909? 1912 – 1909 = 3 YEARS
What’s the name of today’s first lady: JILL BIDEN
How would you symbolize friendship?
In 1910 the trees arrived in Washington DC. But the Department of AGRICULTURE discovered an INFESTATION of insects. President TAFT agreed to have the trees burned. The mayor of TOKYO decided to donate another collection of cherry trees. The trees were on their way, and this time it was no less than 3000 trees. First Lady Taft and the JAPANESE AMBASSADOR´S wife planted the first two cherry trees on the NORTHERN bank of the tidal Basin. The Cherry Blossom Festival was born.
Spell: DISCOVERED Spell: NORTHERN Spell: FESTIVAL
What year did the trees arrive in Washington, DC? 1910
What department discovered the infestation of insects? THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Who decided to burn the trees? PRESIDENT TAFT
The Mayor of decided to donate another collection of cherry trees. TOKYO
How many trees did Japan donate this time? 3000
Name one of the individuals who planted the first trees. THE FIRST LADY, THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR´S WIFE
What kind of festival would you like to attend?
VAKT: Touch Japan and/or The United States on the map
Nothing feels more like spring than the festival of the cherry blossoms! A celebration that runs over four weeks every spring. The festival is full of events to honor the American and Japanese friendship, the beauty of nature and culture. Every year THOUSANDS of people around the world travel to see its beauty. The festival is filled with music, art, PERFORMANCES, and parades. The cherry blossoms also have their own queen, who gets to travel to Japan to celebrate with the Japanese cherry blossom queen. Together they work on STRENGTHENING a long lasting friendship.
Spell: NOTHING Spell: HONOR Spell: THOUSANDS
Nothing feels more like than the festival of the cherry blossoms. SPRING
What do the festival honor? FRIENDSHIP, BEAUTY OF NATURE, CULTURE
What is the festival filled with? MUSIC, ART, PERFORMANCE, PARADES
The cherry blossom festival also has its own . QUEEN
What does the cherry blossom queen work on? STRENGTHENING A LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIP
Spell thousands in numbers: 1000
If you could create your own parade what would it stand for?
Why do you think Cherry blossoms have a Queen but not a king or both?
VAKT: Draw a flower.
Predicting when cherry blossoms will reach PEAK BLOOM, which is the time period when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms are open is nearly IMPOSSIBLE more than 10 days in advance. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions but typically reaches peak in between the last week of MARCH and the first week of APRIL. Weather conditions also affect how long the peak bloom will last. SERENE (calm, breezeless) and cooler weather can cause the bloom to last longer while EXTENSIVE winds and rain can ABRUPTLY (suddenly, unexpectedly) end the bloom.
Spell PREDICTING NEARLY EXTENSIVE
Predicting when cherry blossoms peak bloom is nearly more than 10
days in advance? IMPOSSIBLE
What two months of the year do cherry blossoms typically peak bloom? MARCH AND APRIL
What word did I use that means calm, breezeless? SERENE
What is considered peak bloom? THE TIME PERIOD WHEN 70 PERCENT OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE OPEN
What is one word I used to describe the word abruptly? SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY
What is the name for someone who studies trees? ARBORISTS (HORTICULTURALIST is also acceptable but not as specific to studying trees)
Peak bloom is the time period when what percentage of Yoshino cherry blossoms are open? 70 PERCENT
What is one word you would use to describe the effect weather has on the length of bloom?
If you were visiting the cherry blossoms in peak season, you’d see a ring around the TIDAL BASIN of gorgeous, bushy trees in full bloom…but there’s one special tree that stands out! It looks a little different than the others, and stands alone, a little distant from its nearest neighbors. It has a trunk, of course, but instead of a full CANOPY of branches and cherry blossom blooms, it has one little branch with blossoms sticking out towards the water. It’s name is STUMPY, and for good reason.
Spell CANOPY SPECIAL NEIGHBORS
What would you see if you were visiting the cherry blossoms in peak season? A RING AROUND THE TIDAL BASIN OF GORGEOUS BUSHY TREES IN FULL BLOOM
What stands out? ONE SPECIAL TREE
It looks a little than the others. DIFFERENT
What is the tree named? STUMPY
Why is it called Stumpy? IT HAS ONE LITTLE BRANCH WITH BLOSSOMS
What type of tree from Charlie Brown was also devoid of branches and leaves? CHRISTMAS
Stumpy became famous back in 2020, when a user on the popular social media site REDDIT posted about it being as dead as his love life! It quickly amassed viral attention online and in person. One user responded, saying “You know what that old tree is doing? Its best.” Another responded “Mostly dead, it’s slightly alive,” seemingly referencing a famous scene from the 1987 cult classic film “THE PRINCESS BRIDE.”
Spell FAMOUS SOCIAL MEDIA CLASSIC
Stumpy became famous back in what year? 2020
What led to Stumpy becoming famous? A USER POSTED ABOUT IT ON REDDIT
What did they compare the tree to? THEIR LOVE LIFE
One user referenced a quote from what cult classic movie? THE PRINCESS BRIDE
How many years ago was The Princess Bride released? 2023 – 1987 = 36 YEARS AGO
What do you need from others to do “your best?”
Reddit: “This tree a little aways from Jefferson memorial is as dead as my love life, but I love it!”
It looks as if it’s struggling, however the Parks Service says that it’s very much alive! They say a variety of urban issues are to blame for the condition of Stumpy, including the fact that it lies on a low point of the Tidal Basin, as well as the sea wall settling. BRACKISH water has INUNDATED Stumpy’s roots twice a day, causing it to, well, diminish, over the years. The excess soil moisture can reduce the oxygen in the soil, damage fine root hairs, and cause the root system to be unable to properly absorb water.
Spell STRUGGLING DIMINISH ABSORB
It looks as if it’s struggling, however it is said that it is very much alive by what organization? PARKS SERVICE
They say a variety of what is to blame for the condition of Stumpy. URBAN ISSUES
What is one reason that Stumpy is in its current condition? IT LIES ON A LOW POINT OF THE TIDAL BASIN, SEA WALL SETTLING, BRACKISH WATER INUNDATING ROOTS
What does the excess soil moisture cause? REDUCED OXYGEN IN SOIL, DAMAGE TO FINE ROOT HAIRS, ROOT SYSTEM CANNOT PROPERLY ABSORB WATER
What is something that contributes to your condition?
Though there have been pleas from many to save the tree, it’s too late to transport it somewhere else, unfortunately. Far more damage would be done if it was moved than if it was allowed to remain where it is, so remain where it is it shall! Even though the interior of the tree is gone, the bark remains, and the roots are underground, so it is still receiving nutrients.
Spell ALLOWED MOVED NUTRIENTS
There have been pleas from many to do what? SAVE THE TREE, SAVE STUMPY
It’s too late to it somewhere else. TRANSPORT
What would happen if they moved it? FAR MORE DAMAGE
The of the tree is gone. INTERIOR
Why does it still receive nutrients? THE ROOTS ARE UNDERGROUND
What nurtures you?
The overflow in Stumpy’s spot on the Tidal Basin could mean his days are numbered. It isn’t currently known how long it will be able to survive, as it’s thought that the constant water will eventually take its toll and the tree will die or have to be removed. Repair of the seawall in that area has already begun, and when it’s finished, dead trees will be replaced. But in the meantime, there’s good news for those who appreciate the symbolism of a worn-down, SCRAGGLY tree tirelessly blooming where it can in the face of adversity: Three years later, Stumpy is still going strong.
Spell SURVIVE REMOVED STRONG
The overflow in Stumpy’s spot on the Tidal Basin could mean his days are what? NUMBERED
What isn’t currently known? HOW LONG IT WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE
What is thought to eventually happen? THE CONSTANT WATER WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE ITS TOLL AND THE TREE WILL DIE
Repair of the has already begun. SEAWALL
What will happen when the repair to the seawall is complete? DEAD TREES IN THAT AREA WILL BE REPLACED
What was one word used to describe Stumpy? WORN DOWN, SCRAGGLY
CREATIVE WRITING:
What makes you bloom in the face of adversity?
Resources:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm https://www.bbg.org/news/cherry_trees_in_japanese_folklore#:~:text=Cherry%20blossoms%20symbolize%20both%20birth,pilots%20during%20World%20War%20II.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/namerica/us/cherry_blossom100/index.html
https://festival.si.edu/blog/2014/significance-of-sakura-cherry-blossom-traditions-in-japan/
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about-us/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom
https://www.arlingtontours.com/dc-cherry-blossom-history
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/stumpy-cherry-tree-dc-cherry-blossoms/43411747#
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/meet-stumpy-the-little-cherry-tree-that-could/3300803/
