State Capitol cherry trees in full bloom, draw crowds

Cherry Blossoms — The blossoming cherry trees are a sign of Spring in Utah. The State Capitol grounds in Salt Lake City boast over 400 Yoshino cherry trees. (Aubrey Smith)

General Conference isn’t the only event that has people running to Salt Lake City in April. Since 1931, the Utah State Capitol has been home to an impressive collection of cherry trees that put on a glorious display of pink and white blossoms for a few short weeks, usually peaking in early April.

This rite of spring draws thousands of visitors to the Capitol building every year. From picnics on the lawn to engagement photos and everything in between, it’s more than just a peek at the showy blooms that keep people coming back year after year.

Capitol Building Cherry Blossoms — The Utah State Capitol Building is a popular destination in the spring. Hundreds of cherry trees cover the grounds and bloom for only two weeks. (Aubrey Smith)

“I just love flowers ... and it makes me so happy to visit the cherry trees every year because flowers mean spring,” Lucy Smith, a student from Ogden, said. She had come to the Capitol to enjoy the blooms with her family.

For many, the real excitement behind the cherry blossoms is the message that they send: spring is here.

Dana Jones has served for five years as the executive director on the Capitol Preservation Board at the Utah State Capitol.

“It really is magical. People from all over are drawn to the Capitol in a different way and the onset of spring is felt,” she said.

Currently, there are 433 Yoshino cherry trees (also known as the Japanese flowering cherry) lining the capitol’s memorial pathway. But these established trees aren’t actually the first cherry trees to be planted on Capitol soil.

Memorial Path Cherry Blossoms — The memorial pathway encircles the Utah State Capitol. Over 400 cherry trees are planted along the pathway, creating an arch of blossoms every spring. (Aubrey Smith)

According to information provided by the Utah State Capitol, the first cherry trees were purchased from a nursery in Seattle, Washington and planted on Arbor Day of 1931. In 1945, the Capitol was gifted additional cherry trees from Japan as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.

Many of these trees were lost during the tornado that tore through Salt Lake City in 1999.

In 2008, the decision was made to replace the cherry trees as part of the Utah Capitol Reconstruction.

The trees we now see were grown in Portland, Oregon specifically for the Capitol. They were grafted in order to create an arch of branches over the Memorial Walkway that circles the four buildings on Capitol Hill.

"It just creates the most beautiful path," Kristin Timms, a long-time Utah resident, said.

The blooms, a symbol of the "impermanence of life," only last for 10 to 14 days.