It’s that time of year again, the very best time to be in DC (and loads of tourists seem to agree with that statement): Cherry Blossom season is here!
Well, technically, the blossoms have pretty much peaked at this point, and—full disclosure—I didn’t actually make a trip out to see them in full bloom around the city’s monuments, despite some recent gorgeous sunny weather. Major fail re: my goal to see more of the beauty in my own backyard.
However, it’s worth pointing out that I’ve been to see the cherry blossoms many times before, and as beautiful as they are—once you’ve seen one blossoming tree, you’ve seen them all, right?
Yet the truth is I really do love the beautiful buds that pop up all over DC this time of year. As many years as I’ve spent living here, I’m still not immune to their beauty.
Fortunately, I have a lovely, pink and white blossoming tree right in my own front yard! It’s not technically a cherry blossom tree, but it’s gorgeous, and I look forward to seeing it bloom for an all-too-brief week or so every year. This magical tree has already transitioned from fluffy white flowers to more sedate, smaller pink buds…still beautiful, just in a different way. And soon, it will turn green and leafy, and while that’s definitely a big improvement over its barren winter state, I do admit that I’ll miss walking past those white blossoms every day.
So, in honor of my favorite neighborhood tree, here’s a photo from a few weeks ago showing it in its full springtime glory, followed by some photos of the official cherry blossoms from earlier years when I was ambitious enough to brave the crowds and go into town to see them. (It really is always worth it. Next year!)
My neighborhood almost-cherry-blossom tree!
Cherry blossoms near the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial.