[ti:Care, ‘Magic’ Help Cherry Blossom in Washington] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Thousands of Japanese cherry trees [00:03.80]are blooming on the National Mall [00:06.56]in Washington, D.C. [00:09.60]When the trees reach peak bloom, [00:12.80]the United States' capital city [00:15.56]is awash in pink and white. [00:19.52]In the 1920s, [00:21.76]the average peak bloom date was April 5. [00:26.88]That moved up to March 31 in recent years. [00:32.40]And the 2023 peak [00:35.44]arrived yet a week earlier, [00:38.40]the National Park Service said last week. [00:43.36]"I'm feeling like this is going to be the trend" [00:47.12]because of climate change, [00:48.92]said Matthew Morrison. [00:51.88]He is the park service's urban forester [00:55.88]charged with overseeing the trees' care. [01:00.48]The yearly National Cherry Blossom Festival [01:03.80]will run through April 16 this year. [01:08.60]It celebrates Japan's 1912 gift [01:12.76]of 3,020 cherry trees [01:16.48]to the city of Washington. [01:19.68]Two of those trees were planted by [01:22.52]First Lady Helen Herron Taft [01:25.52]and Viscountess Chinda, [01:28.88]wife of the Japanese Ambassador [01:31.64]to the United States, [01:33.36]with just a few onlookers present. [01:37.48]The average life of a Japanese cherry tree [01:41.20]is between 30 and 40 years. [01:44.76]Yet the two trees planted by Taft and Chinda [01:50.04]and several others [01:51.88]are still standing 111 years later. [01:57.72]"That defies science," said Morrison. [02:01.12]He credited the tree's long life to [02:04.80]"a little bit of magic" [02:06.68]and the year-round care his team provides. [02:12.04]Many of the 3,700 trees blooming [02:16.76]at the park today [02:18.40]come from cuttings from the first trees, [02:22.20]Morrison said. [02:24.40]Others are regularly donated [02:27.16]by the Casey Trees group of Washington. [02:31.76]Morrison oversees a team of just three arborists. [02:37.92]They are charged with caring for the cherry trees [02:41.72]and keeping a "personal health record" for each. [02:46.68]Three years ago, [02:48.08]Morrison introduced [02:49.52]the practice of mulching trees [02:52.24]with large amounts of wood chips [02:54.76]to help their growth. [02:57.16]As the chips break down, he said, [03:00.04]they release fungi and bacteria [03:03.80]to help the tree's roots. [03:06.76]The wood chips also serve as a barrier [03:10.12]between the grass and the trees. [03:12.92]This prevents accidental cuts [03:16.20]caused by lawn equipment. [03:19.40]Morrison suggests the same practice [03:22.52]for homeowners growing trees [03:24.80]in their own yards. [03:27.36]When wood chips are applied [03:29.80]over the root areas, he said, [03:32.44]"it would never need any fertilizer, [03:35.72]amendments" or more water. [03:38.92]"Even on the hottest days of summer [03:41.88]when it hasn't rained, [03:43.88]I dig down in the wood chips [03:46.36]and find moisture," he said. [03:50.08]Morrison said most of the National Mall's [03:53.48]cherry blossom trees are Yoshino. [03:56.48]"It's one of the best growers [03:59.08]and the best to flower," he said. [04:02.32]"Kwanzan cherry also is a good grower [04:05.72]and gets a little bigger than Yoshino." [04:09.56]As for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, [04:12.36]there are still several events [04:14.88]throughout Washington and its suburbs. [04:17.80]They include a Japanese street festival, [04:21.68]running events, fireworks, [04:24.84]and food festivals. [04:26.96]If you cannot make it, [04:29.36]there is a Bloom Cam [04:31.56]to look at the cherry blossoms. [04:34.60]I'm Caty Weaver. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM