On behalf of the Pittsburgh Sakura Project, I am writing to invite you to the First Annual Pittsburgh Sakura Festival, on Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, at our planting site in North Park. This spring we celebrate our first four years of planting cherry trees. We are about half way to our goal of 250 cherry trees, with 133 planted, along with 73 native trees, in cooperation with Allegheny County’s Tree Vitalize program. We also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original gift of cherry trees from Japan to the US in 1912. Some of these trees still grace the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. We are fortunate to have received a centennial gift from the Japanese Embassy of three young cherry trees that have been grown from cuttings of those original trees (these trees, still too small for the park, are now under the care of Eisler Nurseries).

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Report on Saturday: Taro Sekikawa, Hiro Kitahara, Alexandra, Rick and I spent a good morning at the park. Holes were dug (we were especially thankful for the young, strong men) and stakes were installed on some of the trees on the hill. As always, Alexandra arrived fully equipped and prepared for all the contingencies. Another of the trees appeared to have mower damage and though it was blooming nicely, was quite weak. We hope to install more stakes on Tuesday besides those for the new trees. We had a woman tell us she came to the park especially to see the cherry trees and today my neighbor said he took his mother to see them too.　　- Kary

On Saturday, November 12, the 3rd Annual Fall Planting Day was held. Twenty five cherry trees were planted, along with five other native trees. Among the 25 cherries, seven “okame” cherries, which normally bloom earlier than the rest were planted.