First lady Michelle Obama attends cherry blossom ceremony

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First lady Michelle Obama appeared at the National Cherry Blossom Festival today in Washington, D.C. and planted a tree as part of the festivities. The festival runs from March 20 through April 27, and features a host of programs celebrating the natural beauty and important history of the thousands of cherry blossom trees planted in our nation’s capital.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the original gift of cherry blossom trees to America from Japan. First lady Michelle Obama planted her tree as part of a ceremony that echoed the one that spawned the Cherry Blossom Festival as a national tradition.

Japan’s first gift — consisting of two trees — was planted in a simple ceremony in 1912. In subsequent years, thousands more were sent to celebrate the bond between the two nations.

“While commemorating the centennial, the ceremony also symbolized the longevity of the original gift and the millions who will continue to enjoy the nation’s greatest springtime celebration in Washington, DC,” the festival web site said of today’s event.

The first lady wore a beautiful plum coat with an unusual full skirt to the ceremony. Unafraid to dig in the dirt, Michelle joined area children in shoveling the soil to plant the tree.

Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter @lexisb