Vintage Cherry Blossom Time in Washington DC

There is an informative timeline of the Cherry Blossom trees in Washington DC found here.
I "knew" that the Cherry Blossom trees had been there since 1912 (my daughter was there in 2012 for a school trip that happened to fall on the 100th anniversary). The National Park Service link above mentions that the hope for Cherry Blossoms goes back even further.  And that Japan even gifted 2,000 trees in 1909 (coming by way of Seattle!).  However, those trees were infested and the lot was sadly burned.

Japan gifted 3,020 trees in 1912 and they were successfully planted.  In 1965 an additional gift of 3,800 trees was made by Japan.  Propagates of the 1912 trees still exist.

Generations of visitors have enjoyed these beautiful trees.


"Washington Monument, Cherry Blossom Time, Washington, D. C." H. H. Rideout


"Cherry Blossom Time Washington, D. C. - The Japanese Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin is considered the most beautiful Photographers' Paradise in the World. Thousands of Visitors from every State in the Nation and Foreign Countries, view this Nature's Magnificent Attraction each year. The Festival is held around April 1st Annually."


"Blooming of the Cherry Trees Washington, D. C. This event in the Spring attracts thousands of visitors. Washington Monument is pictorially framed with these blooms." Color by Mike Roberts  Postmarked April 10, 1969. Message reads:

"Hi! Isn't that a beautiful picture on this postcard? The thing is, it looks just like that it's 80 degrees out. We visited all the 'tourist-traps' but after all they are interesting. We leave for New York tomorrow."

"Lincoln Memorial and Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Washington. D.C." " Lincoln Memorial and Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D. C. The Lincoln Memorial, modelled after a classic Greek Temple, is situated on an eminence in Potomac Park on the banks of the Potomac River. From the far side of Tidal Basin., the view as pictured here is very beautiful and attractive, especially in the early Spring when the Japanese Cherry Trees are in bloom."


"Lincoln Memorial Through Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D. C."


"Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D. C."


"Cherry Blossom Time in Washington, D. C." "Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Background" H. H. Rideout. Postmarked August 19, 1949


"The Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D. C. During the cherry blossom season in early spring the beautiful Jefferson Memorial is surrounded by pink blossoms."


"Cherry Blossom Time Thomas Jefferson Memorial Washington, D. C. - The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. It is constructed of Danby Vermont marble for the exterior and Georgia white marble for its interior. This Historic Shrine with its setting of Cherry Blossoms is one of the most beautiful sights in Springtime, and is visited by thousands each year."

Factoria Mervyn's Home and Fashion 1987

More from the Factoria Square's Mervyn's Grand Opening March 6, 1987.

Home Furnishings.

We bought our first home in 1987.  I had the goose motif on display here



These colors just scream 1987






Fashion jewelry


Fashion foundations


Fashion footwear


Toys and children




More Factoria Mervyn's March 1987
Factoria Mervyn's Welcomes Shoppers
Factoria Mervyn's Spring Fashions

Meet Me In Seattle

"♪ ♫ ♩ ♬Meet Me In Seattle ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬" "Seattle Washington. A new landmark, The Space Needle, dominates this view with Seattle in the background and Mt. Rainier 60 miles in the distance standing guardian over all."
 
I'm growing quite a collection of Seattle Postcards.  I'm particularly fond of anything related to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.
I have several of this postcard view.  But the musical inscription led me to look for the song.
It's awesomely awful. So I love it.
The mp3 file has been uploaded here (which was blogged here)

I was compelled to geek out the lyrics to this peppy tune:

"Meet Me In Seattle" Joy and the Boys - Seafair Records

Meet me in Seattle at the fair

If you want to meet me I’ll be there

I will be your guy

You will be my doll

We will have a ball

Remember

If you wanna hug me hug me there

If you wanna kiss me kiss me there

I’ll be waiting

to start that celebrating.

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair.

Doodoodoodoo

Paris at the exposition

The item of the hour

that took the prize

and raised the eyes - the Eiffel tower

Chicago of the 30s had Billy Rose’s plan

The Aquacade,

Promenade

and Sally 
and her fan

Now it’s in Seattle

and honey you can bet

Meet me here

I promise dear

Ya aint seen nothing yet! Yeah!

Dressed up in my finery

Up in that space age dinery

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair

If you fail me I’ll be blue

Wanna ride that monorail with you

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair!

Any other interpretations of the lyrics welcome!

Daffodils

In my family history research, I learned that my Dad's Dad's Mother was from Wales. Today, March 1st is St. David's Day - a national Welsh festival for centuries.  Daffodils are the national symbol of Wales - although the origin is not quite clear:
From Wales.com:

Daffodils: The Welsh for leek (the original national emblem) is Cenhinen, while the Welsh for daffodil is Cenhinen Pedr. Over the years they became confused until the daffodil was adopted as a second emblem of Wales.

From VisitWales.com

Daffodils: This is one for those who believe that contemporary culture is all style over substance. The origins of the national flower of Wales appears to be as an attractive interloper, introduced during the 19^th century, as a replacement for the humble leek. David Lloyd George, the only Welshman to serve as Prime Minister, was a public advocate of the Narcissus (its Latin name) and its appearance in early spring as a symbol of nature’s optimism neatly coincides with St David’s Day on March 1. A more unusual link is that daffodils are grown commercially in Mid Wales to produce galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Daffodils grow really well in Washington State and I wanted to share some old postcards featuring them.


"Mount Rainier forms a backdrop for daffodil fields of the Puyallup Valley" ~1944


"Picking Daffodils, Puyallup Valley, Washington" "Pierce County, of which Puyallup is a part, produces one third the Nation's crop of Daffodils. There are 500 acres of this fertile valley cultivated to produce 300 varieties and about 100 million Daffodils." C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Wash.


"One of the Daffodil Farms in the Puyallup Valley which lies between Seattle and Tacoma provides a striking carpet before mighty Mt. Rainier."


"Mt. Rainier and Daffodil Fields, Washington. Ideal soil and weather conditions make the bulb industry one of major importance in the Puyallup valley and other sections of Western Washington" Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis


"Daffodil Field in Washington - This field of King Alfreds, one of the hardiest of daffodil varieties, is part of 575 acres in Pierce County, Washington, devoted to producing bulbs for nation-wide distribution. Flowers from bulbs from this area bloom from one to two weeks earlier than those from other sections of the world. Mt. Rainier can be seen in the distance." Color Transparency by Lee Merrill.


"Mt. Rainier and Daffodils - This awe-inspiring view is available every spring in the Puyallup Valley, Washington."


"Majestic Mt. Rainier overlooks this beautiful field of golden daffodils. this section of Washington is noted for its bulb industry and each spring the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival attracts thousands of visitors to its week-long celebration." Route of the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited

From TheDaffodilFestival.org

Daffodils came to the Puyallup Valley around 1925 to replace the area’s dying hop industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended bulb growing because of the Valley’s excellent soil and ideal climate. About 200 varieties of Daffodils are grown, with the King Alfred being best known and most locally grown.

Daffodil blooms are a cheerful sign that spring is coming!

Happy St. David's Day!