Japanese Cherry Tree To Be Planted At Ellington Agricultural Center As Part of Historic 100 Year Celebration

NASHVILLE – The city of Nashville is part of a once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating the “Centennial of the Gift of Trees,” commemorating the gift of 3,000 Japanese Cherry Trees to Washington, D.C. in 1912.

Nashville is among few cities in the Southeast to receive 20 seedlings that are direct descendants of the original Tidal Basin trees in the nation’s capital. One of these seedlings will be planted at Ellington Agricultural Center on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 2pm.

The event will feature Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson, the Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Sato and TDA Assistant State Forester David Arnold planting the tree on the front lawn of the Moss Administration Building on the Ellington Ag Center campus.

The mission of the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival committee is to plant 1,000 cherry trees over 10 years to not only beautify Nashville, but also provide a backdrop for the annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival.

Cherry blossom festivals are celebrated every spring all over the U.S. By attracting tourists and bringing a taste of Japanese culture to the local communities, these festivals contribute to international exchange and education as well as local economic development.

WHO: Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson, Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Sato and TDA Assistant State Forester David Arnold.

WHAT: Japanese Cherry Tree Planting

WHEN: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 2pm

WHERE: Ellington Agricultural Center, Front Lawn of Moss Building