The Washington, DC cherry blossoms are a most extraordinary gift. In 1912, Japan gave the United States 3,020 cherry trees in a grand show of international friendship. First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted two of the trees along the banks of the Tidal Basin. Little did they know the […]
Spring Travel
Willard Hotel Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea
One of the highlights of the Washington, DC spring season is, of course, the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Many area bars and restaurants celebrate the annual event, adding special cocktails and dishes to their menus. The best of the bunch is the Willard Hotel cherry blossom tea. This exquisite high tea is served in the […]
Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival
Spring has arrived in Shanghai and the evidence is blooming in the city’s many parks and gardens. Despite Shanghai’s reputation as an overdeveloped megalopolis, there is an amazing abundance of well-tended green spaces. One of the newest is Gucun Park, and at 180 hectares, it’s the largest of the city’s so-called forest parks which give […]