Manchester Highschool’s Mass Comm Speciality Center students attended a field trip to
Washington DC on March 25 to see and learn about the cherry blossom festival. This was the
first year in the three years of doing this field trip that students got to experience the festival
rather than divert to another activity due to weather.
“It was amazing cause it was the first time that we actually got to see the cherry
blossoms… It was fun going as a senior obviously it was memorable because it was the last time that we are going on a school field trip for the specialty center,” stated Mass Comm Student Ester Lara, Senior at Manchester.
The cherry blossoms in Washington DC were a gift from Japan given in 1912 and
surround the Tidal Basin. The most common variety of cherry blossom tree that was gifted is the
somei-yoshino cherry tree.
Abbie Wallace, Senior at Manchester and student in the Mass Comm Specialty Center
informed, “I’ve always wanted to go see the blossoms in Japan because they bloom into this
pretty pink color and I think it’s pretty cool how they donated over 250 of them to Washington
DC.”
With this being the last year the class of 2026 would have their chance to see the cherry
blossom trees in the tidal basin, the weather gave them the chance to see the pale pink petals in the flesh.
Wallace commented “ I was really excited to see the blossoms and not get rained out like the past two years in the past. The blossoms are not only my favorite flower but they bring me peace so it was nice to see them.” while Lara added “ Seeing them senior year was so fun and was like a send off for Mass Comm.”
In past years when the weather wouldn’t allow for trip goers to see the festival, they
would divert to touring a museum such as the American History Museum and Natural History
Museum.
“I actually kinda enjoyed seeing the museums a bit more… they should have some
museums about the cherry blossoms and how the whole thing happened of them coming here,”
voiced Lara. Wallace noted, “I like being out in nature and I think the cherry blossoms are pretty
cool to see.”
