If you’ve ever noticed the flowers in our logo, they are our tribute to the Cherry Blossom. We have a special place in our hearts for this beautiful flower and one of the greatest and prettiest gifts in American history. (No offense to The Statue of Liberty because she’s pretty awesome too!) We found the story of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC to be particularly inspiring when we started this journey to help make gifting easier and more meaningful for everyone that visits us on our site and social.
History of the Cherry Blossom: A Beautiful Story
The idea for the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC originated with Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, an author and member of the National Geographic Society, in a letter to the First Lady Helen “Nellie” Taft. When the Japanese Counsel heard about the plan, they offered to donate 2,000 trees, but as things can go with all things nature there was a little infestation that made those trees unusable. But the generous people of Japan didn’t give up! The Mayor of Tokyo and other supporters from Japan decided to donate another batch of trees and upped their game to 3,000 trees! Hey, sometimes gifting isn’t perfect, and you need more than one shot. But when you get it right, it can be LEGENDARY!
The Cherry Blossom trees arrived in the Spring of 1912. Mrs. Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the Japanese Ambassador’s Wife, planted the first 2 trees and those two trees are still there today! Following the Cherry Blossom Tree Planting Ceremony, Mrs. Taft gave a GORGEOUS American Beauty Rose Bouquet to Viscountess Chinda. (We think this demonstrates one of the best things about gifting…it’s CONTAGIOUS! One amazing gift inspires another.) KUDOS Mrs. Taft…American Beauty Roses was the PERFECT gift to present as a thank you!
And so, we CELEBRATE…
Each year, the Japanese celebrate the blooming of the cherry trees (“Sakura”) with festivals and celebrations. Thanks to the generous gift on March 26, 1912, Americans also celebrate the pink and white blossoms at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D. C. The celebration is Washington’s grandest springtime tradition!
Cherry Blossoms remind us that one great meaningful gift can inspire an unimaginable chain of friendship and giving. These blossoms are truly the gift… that keeps on giving!
To that end, here are a few Cherry Blossom-inspired gifts to get the giving started:
KATI® Cherry Blossom Tea Infuser Cup
Michael Aram Cherry Blossom Candle
Personalized Cherry Blossom Tote Bag
Cherry Blossom Snow Globe
Happy Gifting!
XOXO,
Your Gifter
Thoughtful Gifting Made Simple
Want Customized Gift Recommendations? Our Gifting Experts are constantly curating unique gifts from a variety of retailers that are thoughtful, on-trend, and in style. In less than 2 minutes, we gather a little information about your Giftee’s style and interests. With your budget in mind, we suggest spectacular gifts that are sure to WOW even the hardest person to shop for on your list. START GIFTING NOW!