Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. (15 images)

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival officially kicks off this week in Washington D.C. In 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave a gift of 3,000 cherry trees to strengthen the friendship of the United States and Japan.

Visitors walk among blooming cherry blossoms, near the Washington Monument, along the Tidal Basin in Washington on March 31, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial in Washington on March 31, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Visitors walk among blooming cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington on March 31, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Visitors walk among blooming cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington on March 31, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)

License photo | Permalink

---

---