News & Press
Latest Updates!
March 27, 2025 I was honored to address members of the Cosmos Club at a luncheon in Washington on the 113th anniversary of the first planting of cherry trees from Japan along the Tidal Basin. The National Geographic Society, of which Eliza Scidmore was an important early member, was founded at the Cosmos Club in 1888, when it was located at Lafayette Square, across the park from the White House.
February 13, 2025 With photographer Thomas Peschak, winner of National Geographic’s 2025 Eliza Scidmore Award for excellence in storytelling, at Storytellers Summit in Washington, D.C.
December 2024 — Washington History, journal of the Washington Historical Society, published a nice review of my book in its latest issue. Read the review
November 27, 2024 — After I delivered a book talk to the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C., the day before Thanksgiving, they announced they’ll be planting a tree in my honor—probably a cherry tree!—as part of the group’s Trees for the Capital program, now in its 33rd year. Watch and listen here
July 18, 2024 — Chinese cultural studies scholar Sarah Bramao-Ramos was an outstanding interviewer in this episode I did for New Books Network. Sarah knew about Eliza Scidmore through her 1900 book on China. Listen to podcast here
April 15, 2024 — I’m honored to be named a runner-up in the Bernard J. Brommel Award for Biography & Memoir from the Society of Midland Authors, which fosters literature in a 12-state region of the Midwest. I was proud to be recognized as a native of Ohio. See the list of winners and honorees here.
April 11, 2024 — Had great fun doing an online talk, “Eliza Scidmore: From Early White House Reporting to Washington’s Cherry Blossoms,” for White House History Happy Hour, with friend and fellow writer Jenny Rough as moderator. Watch and listen here
Media Coverage | Interviews | Book Reviews
December 2024 — Book review published by Washington History journal.
July 18, 2024 — Interview with Sarah Bramao-Ramos for New Books Network podcast. Listen to podcast here
March 27, 2024 — TV feature by Japan’s NHK World. Watch and listen here
March 22, 2024 — Online article by Johns Hopkins Magazine. Read article
March 21, 2024 — Interview with Lauren Clarke of Immigration Nerds podcast. Listen here
March 18, 2024 — Interview with Kelly Therese Pollack for Unsung History podcast. Listen here
March 14, 2024 — “Book Review: Diana P. Parsell’s ‘Eliza Scidmore,’ ” by Patricia Leslie in Falls Church News Press. Read article
April 22, 2023 — Q&A blog interview with Deborah Kalb, Book Q&As Read here
April 10, 2023 — “What’s New Buff and Blue: The Origin of D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms,” podcast interview with Sarah Sachs of GWU Hatchet Read here
April 7, 2023 — Book review, American Journalism Article link
May 3, 2023 — “Local Author Uncovers Story of Woman Responsible for D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms,” American University’s Her Campus Read article
April 22, 2023 — “Eliza Scidmore and the Cherry Trees of Washington, D.C.,” C-Span2 American History TV (Politics & Prose talk on March 27, 2023) Watch via C-Span video
March 31, 2023 — “Hanami Spirit Blooms in Washington,” NHK World-Japan TV, with D.C. correspondent Hisaeda Wakako
March 30, 2023 — “The Woman Behind the Cherry Blossoms,” NBC’s “Today” Show, with White House correspondent Kristen Welker Watch program
Interview by the Tidal Basin with Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Today show, aired in March 2023.
March 30, 2023 — Book review, “Spring 2023 Reading List: The 4 Best Gardening Books,” Wall Street Journal Article link
March 29, 2023 — “Eliza Scidmore: Botanical Ambassador for Japan and Its Cherry Trees,” virtual talk for U.S. National Arboretum Watch the talk
March 28, 2023 — Radio commentary for “Make Me Smart” podcast, NPR Marketplace (segment begins around 20 mins into the piece) Listen to audio
March 28, 2023 — Q&A blog interview with women’s studies expert Pamela Toler, History in the Margins Read here
March 10, 2023 — Podcast interview with Lisa Napoli, Biographers International Organization (BIO) Listen to podcast
March 4, 2023 — “Marietta College alumna pens book,” Marietta (OH) Times and Parkersburg (WV) News & Sentinel Read article
March 2, 2023 — Q&A blog interview with D.C. historian Matthew Gilmore, Humanities-Net, DC Read here
March 1, 2023 — Book report by Lynne Lamberg, NASW/Advance Copy, National Association for the Advancement of Science Writing Read article
March 2023 — “One Woman’s Quest to Bring Cherry Blossoms to DC,” Washingtonian Read article
February 27, 2023 — Virtual talk for D.C. Mondays/GWU Museum and Textile Museum, “Eliza Scidmore Beyond the Cherry Trees” Watch the video
February 16, 2023 — Q&A blog interview with Paula Tarnapol Whitacre, Discovering Lives Read here
February 1, 2023 — Book review, Library Journal Article link
March 30, 2022 — Podcast interview with Jenny Rough for World Radio Listen to audio
October 23, 2020 — TV interview in Juneau for BBC2’s “Great American Railroad Journeys,” with host Michael Portillo (begins around 16 minutes ) Watch via Facebook
March 29, 2018 — Interviewed by scriptwriter Daniel Stashower for National Geographic Live! staged reading of Eliza Scidmore’s work Read more
March 18, 2017 — TV guest appearance on “Mystery Hunter” series, episode on cherry blossoms, Japan’s TBS TV Read more
February 2017 — Interviewed for National Geographic online article, “The Woman Who Shaped National Geographic” Read article
March 30, 2013 — Interviewed on book research in Yokohama and Tokyo for evening news program, Japan’s NHK TV Read more
March 13, 2012 — Interviewed for “Cherry Blossoms’ Champion, Eliza Scidmore, Led a Life of Adventure, Washington Post Read article
Book-Related Articles
“The American Woman Who Reported on Japan’s Entry Into World War I,” The Doughboy Foundation website, August 8, 2023
The Doughboy Foundation featured my article “The American Woman Who reported on WWI,” August 8, 2023.
Photo essay on Scidmore, GEO Magazine [in French], October 2020
“Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore” (people who knew John Muir), Sierra Club’s John Muir website, April 3, 2018
“From Early ‘Lady Writer,’ Washington Cherry Blossoms and a National Geographic Legacy,” National Geographic News blog, March 26, 2012 (updated in 2018)
“Eliza Scidmore, the Woman Behind the Planting of Washington’s Cherry Trees in 1912,” Viral History blog, March 28, 2012
Honors and Awards
2024 — Finalist for Bernard J. Brommel Award for Biography and Memoir from the Society of Midland Authors.
2017 — Hazel Rowley Prize from Biographers International (BIO) for best proposal for first biography
2012 — Mayborn Fellowship in Biography, sponsored by University of North Texas and prize-winning biographer James McGrath Morris
At the Tidal Basin in Washington with Japanese TV reporter Miki Ebara, in October 2023. (Photo: Ralf Oberti)
During Washington’s cherry blossom season C-SPAN2 replayed the talk from my Politics & Prose book launch in March 2023.
At the Tidal Basin with NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker in March 2023, filming for NBC’s “Today” show. (Photo: Wakako Hisaeda)
Dominique Browning included my book in her list of “Spring 2023 Reading: The 4 Best Gardening Books,” in Wall Street Journal on March 30, 2023.
Interview in 2018 for BBC2 in Juneau, Alaska, with Michael Portillo of “Great American Railway Journeys.”
Receiving BIO Hazel Rowley Award from Gayle Feldman at BIO 2017 conference in Boston. (Photo: James McGrath Morris)