Cherry Blossoms & Spring = : - )

Living in the DC metropolitan area, one cannot miss the buzz about the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The main attraction is the area around the Tidal Basin where hundreds of cherry trees reach peak bloom at the end of March, creating a picturesque view that cannot even be described in words. The crystal blue water is surrounded by full blossoms in beautiful shades of pink and white. The festival is actually a celebration of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people Washington, D.C. in 1912. The trees can be found all over the nation's capital blossoming and ushering in the new season.

Of course the beauty of these trees is now not confined to DC, but in many neighborhoods around the region. I couldn't make it to festival this year, but I'm lucky enough to be living in a large neighborhood where the landscapers have done an amazing job of planting these trees in strategic locations to give the best possible view when they reach their peak blossom. Below are some pictures I took of the cherry blossoms over the past few weeks, mostly around my neighborhood, and some a little further out. Enjoy :)

[click photos to enlarge]

Here are different variations of the blossoms, from pinkish-white to near fuschia


all around the court

the blossoms at peak bloom

the white ones look like cotton balls!

some have a green tint

our very own cherry tree, not yet fully blossomed, but still very beautiful

amazing

blue Spring skies

[technorati tags: cherry+blossom, D.C., nature, beauty, spring]