In April of 2005, George and I went with a group of people to Washington D.C. on a tour bus. We went for a specific reason (which I'll talk about in tomorrow's blog), but we also just happened to be there during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Today, I'll share these pictures with you. But first, let me tell you a little about the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This festival is an annual two-week, city-wide event featuring more than 200 international cultural performances and over 90 other special events. From arts and exhibits to cuisine and sports, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
In 1912, the people of Japan sent 3,020 cherry trees to the United States as a gift of friendship. First Lady Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. These two original trees are still standing today near the John Paul Jones statue at the south end of 17th Street. Workmen planted the remainder of the trees around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park.
Approximately 3,750 cherry trees are on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Most of the trees are Yoshino Cherry. Other species include Kwanzan Cherry, Akebono Cherry, Takesimensis Cherry, Usuzumi Cherry, Weeping Japanese Cherry, Sargent Cherry, Autumn Flowering Cherry, Fugenzo Cherry, Afterglow Cherry, Shirofugen Cherry and Okame Cherry. I didn't know that there were THAT many different Cherry trees. Did you???? Washington, DC’s famed cherry trees grow in three park locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Hains Point), and on the grounds of the Washington Monument.
Since we were in D.C. for another reason, we only got to see the beautiful Cherry trees from our bus. Therefore, the photos are not as good as they might have been IF we had have been able to walk around more. But, hopefully, you will enjoy them anyhow!!!! The picture above shows one of the Cherry trees--with the Washington Monument in the background. Below are more photos.
Here's one of the beautiful white Cherries.
Here's one of the pretty Pink Weeping Cherry tree.
I included these also--even though they are a little blurry. Aren't they beautiful????
I love seeing the blue sky behind these pink Cherry trees.
In this picture are more Cherry trees ---and you can also see the Lincoln Memorial.
Excuse the bus window reflection, but enjoy seeing the Washington Monument and the World War I American Army Monument.
The bus ride was really pretty--especially as we drove through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
We paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway while enjoying the Shenandoah Valley.
We had a great trip ---so tune in tomorrow to see why we REALLY went to D.C. Have a fabulous Easter Weekend. Eat a big chocolate bunny for me!
Hugs,
P.S. Fellow bloggers have been SO nice to me. If you look down on my sidebar, you'll see several different blogger awards that I have received. These mean so much to me---and I appreciate all of my blogger friends who not only have given me an award--but especially those of you who come to my posts and leave such nice comments. SO---today, I am giving these awards to YOU... Just look through the list and choose one or two, grab them and put them on your blog from ME!!!!! Happy Easter... I love all of you!
42 comments:
The cherry blossoms are incredibly beautiful in such huge numbers. Some day I want to see them in person.
Happy Easter, Betsy!
The blossoms are incredible! I would love to see that in person. Because this area isn't really involved with blossom type trees, it's not something I will see a lot of... it's not a fruit growing area but I'm glad to view them here, it's a special treat to make my day!
Hugs♥
Such gorgeous blossoms. I knew that Japan had given us these trees but didn't know the exact story behind it. Thanks for the info.
First let me say that your friendship is as beautiful a thing as those Cherry blossoms are.Thank-you for allowing me to be your friend.
Gorgeous shots of the blossoms.It must be spectacular to see in person.
Blessings,Ruth
Ah, Betsy! Another wonderful post with great pictures. I have been to the cherry blossom festival in DC before. I love DC - great food, and always fun to go through the Smithsonian, especially the Natural History Museum.
Jane
You deserve ALL the awards you recive Betsy!!!
Such Beautiful photo's of our Nations Capital during the Cherry Festival...
I too am one of the lucky ones to have been there at that time of year...A Feast for the Eyes...
So many sights to see...
Enjoy your Easter with Love...
Marilyn
I love the pink cherry blossoms! All your photos of Washing DC are gorgeous. :)
Back in the early 1970's my first hubby (now passed away) and our 4 little ones took a trip to Washington DC and then on to Virginia Beach.
I won't be around tomorrow...I'm going to church and then later, out to dinner with a nice gentleman from my apartment building.
Happy Easter to you and your loved ones, Betsy! :)
What a beautiful bus trip. I've never been to DC... maybe someday. And if I do I'd love to go and see all those trees in bloom.
Betsy,
Lovely post on those cherry blossoms and Wash Dc!! You really hit the jackpot on your visit..wow! Great Photos!! It is hard to choose WHEN to go and get the timing right..while we were still working..we would book a reservation for when we thought they would be blooming but due to late cold weather we would miss the height of the blossoms (..you kno, when you are working you don't have the flexibility of time off that you do when retired :))and then there were times we chose a date and hit it just right!! YOU DID good! I love Washington DC. such a lovely city and that metro makes it so easy to get around!! When teaching, ea year we would take our advanced art students to the Nat'l Gallery and the Freer museums as a field trip...I really miss those parts of teaching!!
Do have a nice Easter!! Hope you guys missed all that horrible weather down your way!!
p.s. as you requested, i grabbed your "love my computer as my friends live it" award...such a great award you received, friend!!
Thanks:) y r my early easter bunny!!
They are really beautiful! I would love to see them sometimes.
Hey Betsy,
You were in my neck of the woods! I wish I'd of know - a trip to DC for me is just a hop away.
The blossoms are beautiful and EVERYWHERE! I have at least 6 in my neighborhood that are spetacular.
Beautiful shots (as always), welcome to my neck of the woods and I hope we treated you kindly.
Tracey
They are beautiful Betsy! I would love to see them for myself someday!
Before i retired (and then went back to work at the school) I had a fantastic career with an international environmental organization whose home office was near D.C. I had reason to travel to D.C. several times including once during cherry blossom season. I especially loved the FDR Memorial. I thought the city was an easy one to navigate, I'd go down on the train or fly into Reagan and then use the metro system to get around. Loved that city.
We were in DC 2 summers ago to get Ben settled in. He was there for a summer internship with Voice of America. Chris & I had some spare time to do some sight seeing. To0 bad we missed the cherry trees. We were there in June.
Beautiful, beautiful flowering trees! I've seen these trees.. but unfortunately, not while they were in bloom! :(
Happy Easter to you and George.
I grew up in Washington, D.C. and I've seen the cherry blossoms many times. I love them. Thanks for sharing.
I've never been to DC, so I really enjoyed riding along for your tour. So many different cherry trees and each one gorgeous in its own way. The pictures of the Shenandoah Valley are lovely also.
Such lovely photos of the cherry trees, Betsy! I haven't been to D.C. since I was seven years old, but I hope to go back someday. I'd love to see the cherry trees in bloom. I particularly love the weeping cherries.
A very Happy Easter to you and George, too!
Betsy, Prince and I were relocated to D.C. with his airline job last year and lived there for 6 months. The Cherry Blossoms were georgous and we went to The parade and my was it grand. I love D.C.
I must say, though....I wasn't too fond of living there because it was soooo cold and anowy when we were there. A Georgia girl no like, lol. But the beauty and the history was astounding.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Please have a very blessed Easter and......
Steady On
Reggie Girl
Oh, how I wish to see those beautiful trees in person ONE day!!! They must be the prettiest blooming trees on this earth!! The virginia picture looks so traquil too...I could stay there for a few days (weeks???)
You are too sweet for words Betsy.
Those white ones are my favorite. I bet that was one gorgeous city. Can't wait to see why you were really there!
Hello Betsy. Thanks for visiting today. I love DC. These are fantastic pictures of the cherry trees. They make a beautiful show every year.
We went to DC in 2003 in the winter. We had a fabulous trip, and SO want to go back someday! This would be a wonderful time to visit! On of my nieces is there right now. They are so excited!
Back Porch Blessings,
Rebecca
I had no idea that the first cherry trees came to D.C. as a gift from Japan. Interesting info.
Great pictures, Betsy. The blossoms are lovely, and so are the photos of the Shenandoah Valley.
There is no place like DC in the spring. I miss it so. Congrats on your awards and happy Easter!!!!! xo
I have been to Washington DC a couple of times, but never when the cherry trees were in bloom. It looks so beautiful during that time. I also didn't know there were so many different kinds.
You are making me curious, Betsy. Where were you heading ;)? That are interesting facts on the Cherry Blossom festival. I love stories about friendship. Beautiful shots! I never have seen cherrie trees before. Congrats on your awards. They are all well deserved. I will grab me your friendship buttons :). Thank you so much for your lovely thought. It also means a lot to me and I really appreciate it. Can't wait for your following post.
Hey Betsy,
My parents are in the Deer Creek subdivision right off a service road by I-40.
The blossoms are glorious..we hope to make that trip one day..I would love to visit all of the museums. I'm honored to be a friend of yours..I too love the ladies that visit me and talk! Life without blogland friends would not be the same, would it!? I'll grab an award...thank you. :0)
Have a blessed Easter,
Stephanie
Queen of Dreamsz
Betsy: A wonderful look at the Cherry Trees and the monuments of DC. A very happy Easter wish to you and George.
Those photos are beautiful!! Isn't nature beautiful?? (My Grandmother use to take bus tours too!)
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter.
I knew the cherry trees had come from Japan, but I didn't know the story behind it - Thank you so much for that bit of history - Fantastic pics to go along w/ the story too!
Great Great post, Betsy!!!
Happy Happy Easter to you George!!!
Very lovely photos Betsy. Must have been beautiful to see in person. Wishing you a great day tomorrow.
The cherry blossoms are so beautiful. I can only imagine the smell and the beauty of them. Thanks for sharing.
The Cherry blossoms are so beautiful but those white one are stupendous. YUM!!
I was at a high school rodeo watching Kylee and her friend compete. It was fun and of course I took pics and already posted some. MB
Also learned of the Cherry Blossoms in another blog, it's a great thing to know about the rest of the history too so thanks!
So beautiful, the white ones are amazing, it is striking to look at the green grass and those white Cherry trees.
I would love to see those in person...I know I would be saying over and over to Roger to 'look there' or look over here!'
Such gorgeous cherry blossoms, Betsy. What a wonderful time to get to visit there. :D
Such beauty!!!! That makes me want to plant another cherry tree!
I could look at these blossoms all day!! Beautiful photos!!
The blossoms are so pretty. In Knoxville we are just as proud of our Dogwood Festivals, but I bet their Cherry Festival is larger.
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