No, not in Michigan, that’s still a few months away. But down in DC? Well, it’s prime cherry blossom viewing down there! And I was lucky enough to have a meeting scheduled there, so in between commitments I went up to Capitol Hill and became a tourist.
It was glorious.
I’d never been in DC during cherry blossom time, so I didn’t know what to expect. I flew in on Easter afternoon, changed into running clothes and figured I’d jog a bit on the Mall, take a few pictures of cherry blossoms, just enjoy some alone time.
I was so naive! When I came up out of the metro (subway) and made it over to the mall I was confronted with a few hundred gazillion tourists, all strolling along. It was like being at the start of a race, when you’re all jammed together and walking (slowly) toward the start line. Except there was never any start line…the crowd just kept meandering along.
So, no running on the Mall that afternoon! What was I thinking? But the cherry blossoms were stunning! The trees glowed under their own power without benefit of the sun.
I moved with the crowd from the Washington Monument where white cherry trees provided a heavenly canopy for people picnicking….
…toward the Jefferson Monument on the tidal basin, surrounded by white and pink trees.
The water was filled with people in paddle boats having fun. The shore was crowded with people taking pictures of people in paddle boats, pictures of trees, pictures of blossoms, pictures of each other, pictures of Jefferson’s monument.
It was so much fun, even though I was cold. I had dressed to be running and I was decidedly not running. But I didn’t care. It was so just much fun! Eventually I got all the way over to the Jefferson Monument….
…and noticed how pretty the Washington Monument was, across the basin, ringed with cherry trees.
The short trek between the two had taken over an hour, and it was getting dark, so I took some side streets back to the metro. I even ran a few blocks, just to say I did.
I will put together one more blog about the sights on the Mall. Tuesday, before my flight, I got up early and headed back to see the sun rising over the cherry trees. You won’t want to miss it.
I couldn’t stop grinning the whole morning.
April 1, 2016 at 9:28 am
I’ve only been once, Dawn, but I still remember the blossoms blowing about as if they were snowflakes! So beautiful!!! Love your pictures.
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April 3, 2016 at 12:04 pm
I was lucky to be there when they were in their prime, and no blossoms were falling yet. But I can imagine it must be beautiful when they start to fall, would look like snowflakes!
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April 1, 2016 at 10:26 am
This is a sight I’ve long wanted to enjoy, Dawn, so thank you for showing it to me. Sorry you had to pass on your run, but it looks like Someone had other plans for you that day!
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April 3, 2016 at 12:05 pm
And I was lucky enough to get the run in a couple days later. Sure is beautiful there when the trees are in bloom!
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April 1, 2016 at 11:19 am
Just beautiful!
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April 3, 2016 at 12:05 pm
It was truly stunning. Almost unreal it was so beautiful. Even with the crowds.
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April 1, 2016 at 4:26 pm
Mommas friend went to Tokyo to see them. Cool
Lily & Edward
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April 3, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Wow! I bet that would have been awesome!!
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April 1, 2016 at 5:17 pm
Cherry time is a beautiful time. And you captured the flowering trees beautifully in these images. Here where I am right, Washington state, the cherry blossom is peaking too.
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April 3, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Thank you. It was a wonderful walk, and I had even more fun two mornings later as the sun rose over the trees and monuments. It’s an amazing city. Cool to think that the trees are peaking on the other side of the country at the same time.
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April 2, 2016 at 6:23 am
My cousin lives in DC, and she plays tourist for a day and takes her daughter to see the trees every year.
The trees are stunning.
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April 3, 2016 at 12:07 pm
I suppose like anything in nature some years are better than others…but this year seemed absolutely perfect. Glad she goes each year to see. It’s a special thing that not everyone gets to witness in person. I felt lucky to be there.
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