Page 47 - Tài liệu Ebook cây cảnh Bonsai and Penjing

Inspired by entrances to Japanese temples and shrines, the Cryptomeria Walk provides a calming
transition from the National Arboretum grounds to the museum’s display areas.
The Imperial Pine, a Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) in training since
1795, took pride of place as a gift from Emperor Hirohito (1901–1989). It was

an unprecedented honor for the emperor to include a tree from the Imperial
Collection in the gift to the United States. None had ever left Japan before.
Fortunately, Creech and his colleagues realized what an exceptional tree they
had received, and they made it possible for the tree to leave quarantine and go to
the White House for a dinner on October 3, 1975 honoring Emperor Hirohito
and Empress Nagako, hosted by President Gerald and First Lady Betty Ford.
Princess Chichibu (1909–1995), the Emperor’s sister-in-law, wife of the
Emperor Taishō’s second son, gave a tree from her personal collection—a
Japanese Hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia). The daughter of a Japanese diplomat,
Princess Chichibu was born Setsuko Matsudaira in London. Later, her father was
named Ambassador to the United States and she graduated from Sidwell Friends
School in Washington, D.C. In addition to her interest in bonsai, Princes
Chichibu supported activities involving international good will, health, sports

and scholarship, serving for many years as President of the Japan Anti-
Tuberculosis Association. The Japanese Hemlock is in the formal upright style
and began training as a bonsai in a pot in 1926.
John Creech hosted Princess Chichibu when she visited her tree at the
National Arboretum. He described the visit in The Bonsai Saga:
One other amusing event occurred in the spring of 1978 during the visit of