March 16, 2005 Ann McClellan to Discuss Her Book on the Cherry Blossom Festival

Ann McClellan will discuss and sign her new book, “The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration,” at the Library of Congress at noon on Wednesday, March 30, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the Library’s James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event, part of the Center for the Book’s “Books & Beyond” author series, is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are needed.

Lavishly illustrated, “The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration” (Bunker Hill Publishing, 2005) chronicles the history of the festival and the honoring of the ancient cherry tree, including its role today as an instrument of diplomacy and an eternal sign of the arrival of spring. The book includes the story of the tree’s cultivation and its significance in Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years. It explains how the cherry tree came to the United States for its eventual planting around the Tidal Basin, near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The book also includes more than 175 varieties of Japanese ornamental trees, along with discussions of Japanese garden design and cultivation tips for home gardeners.

Ann McClellan’s distinguished career included executive positions at the Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund, the American Lung Association and the American Association of Museums. She is a resident of Washington, D.C.

Since 1996, the “Books & Beyond” author series has brought more than 75 authors and editors of new books to the Library of Congress for presentations and book signings. Many of these presentations can be seen as cybercasts on the center’s Web site: www.loc.gov/cfbook.

Established in 1977 as a public-private partnership, the Center for the Book uses the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. For further information about its activities and those of its affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, visit www.loc.gov/cfbook.