I got to see the Cherry Blossoms -- In full bloom!

I am so excited, I have over 100 pictures of cherry blossoms!

I took my family up to Northern Virginia to visit with my siblings and their families over spring break. Now I had griped and complained because our spring break did not coincide with Easter and therefore did not match up with my family's so we were not going to see that much of those that had to get back to school. However my complaints, which were falling on deaf ears anyway, were immediately eased when I found out we were going to hit peak cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin!

I lived in Northern Virginia until I was nine. And one of my fondest memories was going into D.C. with my family to see the cherry blossoms. I loved going into D.C. anytime but the cherry blossoms are special and so beautiful.

The cherry blossoms are fleeting. They last only a couple weeks and peak bloom cannot be predicted more than ten days before it occurs. The two week Cherry Blossom Festival is centered around April 4th, the average day of blooming.

The 3,020 cherry trees were a gift from Japan in 1912. They are living symbols of friendship between the two nations. First Lady Helen Harron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador planted the first cherry trees along the Tidal Basin. The Cherry Blossom Festival was established in 1935 as an annual event.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. during peak cherry blossom time, GO! You will not regret it.

And now for more pictures...

                The Washington Monument

My daughter, always ready to pose for the camera.

                                        My son, not as cooperative!

A personal favorite -- The Lincoln Memorial across the Tidal Basin