DC Gives Back Cherry Tree Clippings to Japan

WASHINGTON - Nearly 100 years since Japan gave cherry trees to Washington as a gesture of friendship, the National Park Service is giving parts of them back.

The park service has sent 144 clippings from the 15 original trees that remain from those bequeathed by Japan in 1912.

Park service spokesman Bill Line says the goal is for Japanese horticulturists to graft the branches and twigs onto trees there to keep the original genetic line alive. He says the gift was made in honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the cherry trees' arrival in Washington.

The exact location of the remaining 15 original trees is kept quiet to prevent poaching.

Most of Washington's cherry trees are expected to be in full bloom between March 29th and April 3rd, in the middle of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.