Cherry Blossoms

Although we have visited Washington D.C. in April on two previous occasions, we have never timed our visits to allow us to take in D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms. This time, however, we could not have timed our visit more perfectly. The cherry blossoms were out in force and they were spectacular. They provide the perfect frame for the monuments and memorials that surround The National Mall.

The Yoshino cherry trees were a gift from Japan in 1912. Each year, the National Park Service monitors the blossoming buds to provide a bloom forecast to would be visitors. The blooming period typically lasts for about a week and a half. The park service identifies one day each year as the Peak Bloom Date, which is defined as the day when 70% of the blossoms that surround the Washington D.C. Tidal Basin are open. This year, the Peak Bloom Date was March 31st, the day we arrived in D.C. We laughed at all of the people standing underneath the trees who were pointing their cameras up in the air, but we soon found ourselves drawn to the intricate beauty of the blossoms.