Tree Planting at the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival

    As part of Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival on March 18, Japanese cherry tree saplings were planted.

    In the city square, Mayor Robert Reichert stated that he was grateful to Consul General Hanatani for the opportunity to further increase the number of cherry trees in the city, that they were wonderful symbols of the friendship which Macon shared with Japan and with its Japanese sister city Kurobe. The mayor also expressed his wishes for continued friendship between Macon and Japan.

    Mr. Samuel Hart, Commissioner of Bibb County (where Macon is located), also spoke of his delight at Macon being one of 36 cities chosen to receive cherry trees on the 100th anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan to the US.

    Referencing the similarities between the history of Washington D.C.’s cherry trees from Japan and the 30,000+ Yoshino cherry trees in Macon, Consul General Hanatani remarked on the significance of the new cherry trees in Macon as an ongoing symbol of friendship between Macon and Japan on the occasion of the original gift’s 100th anniversary.

Senator Saxby Chambliss was also present to give remarks at the planting ceremony.

Ms. Carolyn Crayton, organizer of the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival and recipient of Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation last year, also expressed her gratitude for the new cherry trees at the planting.

Present for media coverage were CBS affiliate 13WMAZ, Fox affiliate WGXA, and WPGA Television, which publicized the events of the ceremony in advance.

• 13WMAZ(3:00 pm broadcast on March 18)
  The Japanese embassy gave Macon 20 new Japanese cherry blossom plants to commemorate the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Japan to The United States 100 years ago. Macon was one of 36 cities across the country chosen to receive the trees. Several city and state officials gathered at Cherry Street plaza to thank the people of Japan for the gift. "Giving the cherry trees from Japan to Macon signifies the strengthening of the friendship between our country and Macon," said the Consul General of Japan, Takuji Hanatani. The new trees will stay in the plaza between the Sports Hall of Fame and the new Tubman African American Museum building until construction in the downtown area is complete.


• WGXA(broadcast on March 18)
  The weather was perfect for the planting of 20 new Cherry Blossom trees in downtown Macon. City leaders and Cherry Blossom Festival officials dedicated nine of those trees on Cherry Street this morning. This year marks 100 years since Japan donated 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees to the United States. "Cherry Blossoms live for a very short period and it represents how fragile and short life can be," said Takuji Hanatani, Atlanta's Japenese Consul General. "But at the same time Cherry Blossoms represent the beauty." Macon has more than 300,000 Blossom trees, more than Washington, D.C.

Information Collecting on the Southeast’s Cherry Blossoms