I am not a big city girl. I grew up in a small town that had one stop light, my graduating class was roughly 76 people if my memory serves me right, and our little festivals involved “cow plops” and were considered big time fun. Joining the Army allowed me to move around and live in bigger cities, which is something I always thought I wanted. But now that I have, I realized that I really miss the small towns (not mine), but in general. As much as I grumble that traffic along Highway 95 is worse than forking myself in the face, living here does have its advantages. One of those such things is the Cherry Blossom Festival that DC hosts annually.
In 1912, Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo gave Washington, DC the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees. The annual celebration is to honor the friendship between the two countries. In 1965, 3,800 more trees were accepted and every spring the blooming of these trees is a sight to see. The entire Tidal Basin looks snow covered in pretty pink blossoms and it attracts everyone to come out and experience it.
When I went out there last week around sunset, all of the photographers were lined up along the basin’s edge with their tripods and remotes waiting for that perfect shot. Most people were out there with their iPhones (as I was, as you can see from the post I made showing some), and many out there with their point and shoots taking it all in.
I didn’t get many shots yet of this year, but I have a few from last year that I will post. Most of the flower shots though are from one of the museums I visited with fellow photographers from a meet up group I am a part of.
If you are ever around these parts during the end of March, beginning of April, I suggest you stop in the city. It is truly beautiful.
And a few from last year
This is a wonder post. The shots are great. I’m always too early or late for these kind of photos in DC. I guess I will try again next year lol.
Thank you! I got there just in time. Literally, the one of the sunset with the couple is the only one I got of the sun like that. The sun went behind some clouds after that and just kind of faded away. I forgot it was festival time and I wanted to go see the trees. When we got down there I saw ALL these cars and I had to park a mile away. And of course I walked slowly to the basin, so I will need to get down there soon since it is already after peak bloom. 😦
You snapped some AMAZING photos here. I tried to pick a favorite, but failed. You are very talented. I love them all!
Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing them with us!
Thank you for stopping by and the wonderful compliment. I appreciate it. 🙂
~Melissa
BREATHTAKING photos!
DC is one of my favorite places in the whole world (well, based on parts of the world that I’ve visited, that is…). Yet I’ve never been there during the Festival.
Perhaps that will change — next year!
🙂
Thank you so much! You should try and make it down for the festival sometime. There is so much to do and it goes on for two weeks. I really wish I knew this post was going to be freshly pressed, I would have added more of the blossoms!
Beautiful! My brother just went on a wine tasting cherry blossom cruise in DC last weekend. He loved it!
Thank you! Oh nice! I bet that was fun to do. I haven’t done that yet! 🙂
These pics are awesome!
http://bloggeroutcast.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much. I appreciate it! Thank you for visiting my blog. 🙂
What cute little girls in their matching dresses! 🙂
Aww thanks! I figure I better dress them alike while I can still get away with it haha.
Gorgeous shots!
Great work!
Thank you so much. I appreciate it! Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. 🙂
Such beautiful pictures! I’m from Vancouver, Canada but will be moving to Toronto come fall. Definitely want to visit DC when I’m closer to the East Coast and hopefully catch the cherry blossom in bloom!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. If you ever get a chance to come down here, it is a site to see for sure. Just hope you like a TON of people. 🙂
Wow, really gorgeous photos 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! And thank you for commenting!
How i long to see cherry blossom tree.. we don’t have it here..the only source that i got in order to see its beauty is through the internet photos. thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome! They are a sight to see for sure. Very beautiful, I hope one day you are able to see them, but if not, I am glad you enjoyed them online! 🙂
Beautiful photos. I have been writing up Great City Parks on my blog and I feel that the National Mall is definitely one of the top ones in N. America.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. 🙂 I will definitely check out your blog to see your write ups.
Wow, you’ve got quite and eye. Your photos are stunningly beautiful and the little girl in front to the White House is priceless. Thank you for sharing all this cherry blossom beauty!
Well thank you very much for your nice compliments. The little girl in front of the Capitol is my eldest daughter and I am very surprised she sat there allowing me to take the picture. The last picture is significant because her name is the same as the street sign above her. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Your daughter will cherish that photo for many years to come.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful photographs! Sadly, the blossoms did not seem long for this world and it’s so lovely that you were able to capture these!
Thank you for visiting! They sure did bloom fast this year, I am just happy I got down there when I did. I do wish I got more pictures though.
These may be the best blossom photos I have ever seen! Wonderful collection- thank you.
Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I appreciate it very much.
Beautiful photography!!
Thank you! And thank you for commenting. 🙂
Absolutely beautiful! I haven’t been to DC in years, but fondly remember those Cherry Blossom days when I was an intern at the Smithsonian. The blossoms are as beautiful as I remember.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you! I was pleasantly surprised I was picked. 🙂 At first I had no idea how I was getting so many hits haha.
Awesome photos! thx for sharing!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. 🙂
it’s nice to know that D.C. does have a beautiful side. Thanks for the photos.
You are very welcome. I am glad you enjoyed them. 🙂 Thank you for visiting.
haha better than I did:) I saw so many photographers when I was in DC. Maybe you were one of them!
I saw them all lined up in a row with their tripods, but I was happily walking around. I actually think I got more pictures with my iphone than my Nikon! 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by. 🙂
Stunning photographs with gorgeous colors! Thank you so much for sharing! Now, I must go add this festival to my bucket list!
It is definitely something to visit. There are so many different things to see. I am going to the kite festival this weekend and I cannot wait! Thank you for stopping by!
Love your photos! . . . I lived in the Washington, DC area for 17 years, and I miss cherry blossom season! Thank you for sharing!
http://arabianmusings.wordpress.com/
You are very welcome. Thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to comment. 🙂
Great shots, covering a lot of different subjects…
Andy O.
Thank you Andy! I appreciate the comment and thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Well done, thanks for sharing, and congrats on Freshly Pressed.
Thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to comment. 🙂
I love cherry blossoms. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I agree, love the rural areas. However mine is all brown brown brown. Spring has yet to show face.
I love how you post processed your images.
Virginia has some really beautiful land, I am just too close to the city for my liking. 🙂 I hope spring shows up fast! It came very early for us. And thank you so much. 🙂
Gorgeous photos. The cherry blossoms are wonderful. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much Connie for stopping by and commenting. I will be checking out your blog as well! 🙂
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous photos!!
Thank you very much! I appreciate it! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Beautiful pictures 😀
Thank you very much! 🙂
Great shots! I had a tough time deciding which I liked best, but I think my favorite is the dock photograph with all the boats.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I think I have to agree with you. It is one of my favorites as well. 🙂
Stunning images! The first one is my favorite 🙂
Beautiful pictures! I’m hoping to get into the city ASAP to see the cherry blossoms but the weather last weekend put a damper on my plans… Hopefully they’re still on the trees and not the streets!
Just fabulous…you got some fantastic shots.
In fact, I am reblogging this to share.
Thank you so much! Very appreciated! 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you! 🙂
Very beautiful photos.
Thank you very much, and for stopping by! 🙂
thoroughly enjoyed all the photos. thanks for sharing
I am very glad you enjoyed them! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
Your pictures are phenomenal! I am planning a trip to DC RIGHT NOW! 😉
Aww well thank you very much. If you ever have a chance to get this way, the spring time is a beautiful time! Timing a trip around the cherry blossoms is tricky, but worth it. 🙂
Great shots. I haven’t been to DC significantly for since I was a kid 40 years ago. I was there for about 4 hours one night for business and managed to hit the Washington Monument area and reconnect in my mind with the National Mall.
I especially like your shots of the Jefferson Memorial.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I appreciate it. 🙂 You were in and out in 4 hours? Well I am glad you got to see the Monument again before you left. 🙂
Beautiful girls, and you have lovely Photos(:
Thank you very much! I appreciate the comment!
Thank you so much for doing justice to my old home. Now I’m homesick like crazy, but, this is totally worth it. Not that I miss the humidity at all! That you can keep. 😉
hahha, I can gift wrap the humidity and send it to you with a nice big bow! I don’t want it either :). Though, it isn’t as bad as where I am from, so….
And you are very welcome. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Reblogged this on urbanperegrines and commented:
Beautifully done. Made me thoroughly homesick for the District.
Thank you very much again~ 🙂
WOW! Awesome pics. Really like the picture mcp0797 and mcp9826. Great work!
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your compliment! Thank you for stopping by!
Reblogged this on stepping my way to bliss and commented:
I love Cherry Blossoms and have always wanted to go the the Washington DC Festival (the only time I have been in DC it was close to Festival time so I did get to see some blooms–so lovely). This wonderful post contains many gorgeous photos you will enjoy looking through. Second best thing to being there! ~~Mistress Bliss~~
Gorgeous pictures! Loved them all. 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂 Sure do appreciate it!
Beautiful shots!
Thank you very much Jessica, much appreciated!
I am traveling to Washington DC for the first time in my life this weekend! These pictures make me so excited. I’m all the way from Nevada, so it’s quite the trip!
Great blog and photos!
Kati
http://toughmotivation.wordpress.com/
Welcome to this area Kati! I am not sure how the Cherry Blossoms look now, the trees may be nothing more than green leaves with the very warm weather we’ve been having and all the rain. But I hope you get to see the awesome kites this weekend at the Washington Monument, I’ll be down there for sure. Safe travels!
These are stunning.
Thank you Kari, I appreciate you stopping by!
Wow, these are Amazing!!! I just took some pics of a tree in front of my apartment complex and got freshly pressed for it…LOL. But you deserve it, I mean, these are Awesome! What camera do you have?
Well they must have thought it was worthy of the front page! Congrats to you as well. And thank you. 🙂 I was pretty surprised to see I was on there. I shoot with the Nikon D7000 when it comes to my DSLR, I also have a Nikon P300 for my point and shoot, and I use my iPhone a lot too. 🙂
gorgeous photos!!!
Thank you very much! I appreciate it! 🙂
Great shots, we love them! Congrats on being freshly pressed, we’re following you.
2chicgurls 🙂
2chicgurls.com
Thank you so much for stopping by, the comment and follow! I will be sure to check out your blog!
Thanks! Your welcome 🙂
2chicgurls
Beautiful trees. Beautiful photos. Merci!
Thank you very much~!
Awesome post. Really, really great!
Thank you very much! Very much appreciated!
Beautiful photos – thanks for sharing! Congrats on being FP!
Thank you! It was a pleasant surprise for sure. 🙂
I thought our cherry blossoms in balmy Vancouver (Canada) came out early, but Washington DC is way ahead of us this year. We were still getting flurries of snow last week, mixed with rain. We have crocuses now, but our cherry blossoms will be at least a couple of weeks. Some of your photographs are exquisite.
🙂 Thank you so much for you comments. It has been a VERY mild winter here. A few really cold days, but not many. I barely brought out my heavy coat. After the very warm weather it went back down to very cold (well, for me) and now back up again thankfully, just now with rain.
nice pictures.post new cool picture please………..,
Your photos are stunning…
Thank you Tara, much appreciated!
Wow, you have a really good eye for beauty.
Well thank you for that! I appreciate it. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by.
Such amazingly beautiful photos!!
Thank you so much. 🙂
Reblogged this on The Fashion Culturalist.
Thank you very much!! 🙂
great pictures. 😉
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
There are so many lovely shots here – some are just amazing. Thanks for sharing… and congrats on being Freshly
pressed!
Thank you, I sure appreciate it! I just wish I would have known I was going to be FP’d, I actually have better pics, these were just ones I already had ready to go. lol
Love the cherry blossom … or sakura as people in Japan called it
Amazingly beautiful pics! You are a pro …
Thanks for sharing ….
Well thank you very much for your lovely comment and for stopping by! 🙂
what can I say. Beautiful. 🙂
Well thank you very much!
nice pics make me happy!
Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment!
These are beautiful!!!!!!!! Thank you for allowing us to view these sites through your eyes, thank you for sharing and congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Wow thank you for the nice comment. I sure do appreciate it!
Awesome shots! Every one. I made it downtown during the peak bloom for the first time this year and had a great time. You really captured it well.
I am so glad you got down there just in time. It came early this year and I almost missed it myself! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Wow great shots – DC is stunning this time of year! So nice you got to capture it.
Thank you very much! I don’t get to go down there as often as I’d like, but I am glad I had the opportunity before the trees went green. 🙂
We don’t have cherry blossoms here along the Gulf of Mexico–so this is a real treat! Thanks for sharing these pictures!
And on a side note, the U.S. Postal Service is issuing stamps of the D.C. cherry blossoms, in April–I’m really looking forward to buying a few sheets of those!
You are very welcome! Thank you for stopping by.
I will have to make sure I buy a book of them as well!! Thanks for sharing the info!
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing all of these! Can’t wait to stroll through the rest of your blog. I like the one you tweaked to look like an old postcard, very nicely done.
Thank you for visiting. 🙂 I really like that one too. I love playing in photoshop and that was a fun one to make. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Truly amazing, I enjoy browsing your photos especially the flowers. Color looks warm and vivid. Great shot! Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
Thanks Paul for stopping by and commenting. I sure do appreciate it. 🙂
Beautiful pictures! I love cherry blossoms.
Thank you Ashley for stopping by and commenting~ 🙂
Wow! I can’t get over the amazing colours in your photographs!
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Sam for the wonderful comment. I truly appreciate it!
Amazing! I pray I can take photographs like this one day! WOW!
Thank you. 🙂 With some practice and patience you can do anything you want. 🙂
gorgeous!!!
Thank you very much! Very appreciated. 🙂
Wonderful post
Thank you so much!
Just beautiful! You have some great images. We are traveling to Japan next week, and hope to capture some cherry blossom pictures too, maybe early ancestor trees to those in DC? Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you! Safe travels! If you get some shots and put them on your blog I’d love to see! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
Great post! I absolutely loved checking out the blossoms when I lived in DC!
Thank you so much. I am glad you got to experience them first hand as well!
yours articles are to good and pics are the awesome.
Reblogged this on A woman of faith.
Thank you very much for stopping by and reblogging. I appreciate it! 🙂
Loved the humble pansies shot–but the cherry blossoms are delicate, lovely. I have seen them in person in DC. Great rendering of a wonderful “event”!
Oh these pictures are so beautiful!
Nice potos 😀
Lovely photos! Great composition ~ thanks for sharing!
Absolutely wonderful..
I am from London and when we planned to be in DC for the week before Easter in 2011, which was late April that year, I was sure we would miss the famous blossom season, but no, it was at its absolute peak! I have never seen blossom like it, so many different varieties and especially colours I’ve never seen before. Truly unforgettable! Thanks for reminding me.
I was in DC with my family (we’re from London) the week before Easter last year which we were sure would be too late for the blossom season (late April), but no, it was at its peak! Never seen anything like it, so many varieties and even colours that were new to us, and just so much of it. Unforgettable. Thanks for the lovely pictures.
i’m amazed with all the photos! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I used to live in DC. Once, I was at the National Conservatory or whatever that plant museum is called – the one beside the Capitol. The sun was setting and for about 5 minutes, from where I was, the Capitol dome was pure pink. It was incredible. I did not realize at the time that the dome is not made of stone. It is painted iron – like the Eiffel tower. So the paint reflecting the light (differently from stone) must have had something to do with it. It was a magic moment – perhaps you can capture it one day on camera. Your photos are beautiful.
Beautiful pictures. Thank you very much for sharing. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
Fabulous……………..Awesome Photography.
LOVE your pictures!
Gorgeous photos wow! Love the one that looks like a fading postcard!
Absolutely beautiful and stunning photos!
Stunning photos! I particularly appreciates the shots with the lovely kids. Priceless!
awesome 😀
awesome pictures
The reflection image just stunned me.
so cute little girl ^_^
wonderful pictures
Stunning. Thanks.
Very beautiful…
Never though Washington can be so beautiful….
thank u for amazing photos
Stunning photos! 🙂
Holycow !! that surely Cherry Blossomed me ! awesome work !
Beautiful!!!
the girl is so awesomely cute 😀 touchwood****
Lovely pictures.
It has been my long-time wish to experience Cherry Blossom Fest. Your pictures are stunning and captivating!Followed you here.
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
These shots are magical.
amazing shots…thanks for sharing!
i love your photos.. just seeing all the photos made me smile.. such a feel-good post..
Lovely! It makes me want to visit DC again! Especially during spring!
Fantastic photos. I lived in DC for a couple of years back in the early 90’s and loved this time of year. Your pictures bring back some wonderful memories, thank you for sharing.
Amazing shots! I went yesterday, and did not see any cherry blossoms near the tidal basin except for the tulips :(…missed it this year but thanks to your pics, i know how pretty it was!
Brilliant photography !
Gorgeous! Definitely one of my favorite times of the year
Beautiful photos!
I love the vintage postcard shot. Also the matching dresses are very cute!
Like so many others have said, thanks for sharing these beautiful photos! Would love to see this in person someday.
The pictures are “Postcard Perfect.” Thank you for sharing with your WordPress family.
Beautiful photography!
Lovely pictures! Awesome photography! Congratulations on being freshly pressed!
Wow! Beautiful pictures. I love the colors.
Thank you for sharing – I’ve yet to visit DC, but this really makes me want to!!
Wow, these photos are amazing!
you did a wonderful job catching the magnificence of spring and we got to look thru a child’s eye
hope to get to DC to see the beauty
Beautiful. I love your style. You have a great eye. Well done!
I remember when we went down to DC as a family and went to a Photography walk class [I’ve taken one before with the instructor but not during Sakura Masuri] during this. Best memory was another day taking one of those paddle-boats out amiss the trees.
I think I’m spoiled since I don’t see the point in going to Brooklyn’s Sakura Masuri ever since I’ve been the DC’s
What beautiful pictures!
These are great! Some of the angles are striking, and I love how you’ve juxtaposed natural with man made (geometric with random.) Just gorgeous!
I especially love the pictures of your girls – they’re wonderful!!
Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoyed!
huuuumt nice picture try look my foto on my site http://arsipmerahputih.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/taman-dayu/
Breathtaking photos! I miss that time of year out there. Thank you for sharing with everyone!
http://www.OCBetsie.com
Gorgeous images. I have only been to DC once, but am trying to make my way back there sometime. Thank you for sharing the photos as well. Makes me excited for the spring season. 🙂
Wow! makes me want to meet these blossoms!! 🙂
So beautiful! people come to Vancouver from all over the world to see cherry blossoms bloom but you truly captured it 🙂
I love your pictures they’re amazing!
I have to say that the pics are not good!
They are freaking awesome and gorgeous !! I mean …WOW !! simply beautiful !! Cheers
Please spare some time to check out my latest post – http://raajclicks.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/capturing-the-text/
Speechless. So much beauty in one post.
Wow, your photography is spectacular. I love each picture so much it’s hard to choose a favorite!
Great shots – I’ll be in Japan next week in time for mid-bloom 🙂 Can’t wait!
Pingback: Celebrating the Cherry Blossom « Folk Haven
Thank you for your post. the photo are amazing… love the color and mood.. soft and serene
Wow, these are beautiful. I love cherry blossoms. Thanks for sharing.
ptmaicas.blogspot.com
I love the angles from which you take your photos! Not everyone can shoot such nice photos. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Hi, I am really happy with your posts, I have learnd more about nature.
Sirajee
Stunning series of shots, I look forward to more 🙂
Fantastic pics!!!
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments! I really do appreciate it!
All of these photo’s are amazing but the first one literally took my breath away! I’d love that on a canvas in my home!
Great photos! I lived in DC for two years, and I miss it a lot. I’m convinced that the city has the most beautiful spring…everything is in bloom. It seems like every tree has flowers. Just lovely.
Wow… breathtaking images Melissa!!! 😀
Feels like as if I was actually standing next to you when you visited that place. Loved it babe! 🙂
gorgeous shots! I love the filters you use on your editing style!
Beautiful post and pictures! The personalities of the girls shine in the photos. We were in DC for the peak of the blossoms! It was gorgeous! If you have a minute, check out our post and photos on our blog. http://scholasticablog.com/2012/03/26/national-cherry-blossom-festival-in-washington-d-c/#comment-36
Reblogged this on greatrita.
Very beautiful pictures!
Wow! These are stunning photos. I’d say the best one would be the sitting girl in front of the white house.
Beautiful! I too come from a very small town, but now live in Dallas. I love all that a big city has to offer, but I crave the outdoors and getting “out of the city” on a regular basis. And I couldn’t wait to get out of that small town when I was younger! I got the heck out of dodge as fast as I could. I’ve only been to DC once, about 30 years ago. Your photos make me realize that’s WAY too long ago. Hopefully some day I can see those blossoms in person.
Amazing Pictures you have got here, Melissa. Personally i loved that “flower in the Bowl” picture. https://lifeofmelissaannmarie.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/mcp_0429.jpg
this picture is fabulous.
nice pictures… made me feel as if I was there… thanks a lot for sharing… 🙂
So jealous of your fabulous pictures. I always say I’m going to do a sunrise photo shoot, but I have been running the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler in recent years and because I’m totally not a morning person, I can’t see doing two pre-dawn mornings so close together! Maybe next year!
Cherry blossoms and big thumbs up! Thanks for sharing.
What absolutely gorgeous photo’s and Apple Blossoms are my all time favourite tree, they are just beautiful and when looking at them you get a wonderful sense of peace come over you, well i do anyway. No other trees like them.
omg those pick so cute wish i have been to see them they look pretty in the pick
Gorgeous shots all!
Pingback: More Cherry Blossom Fest, 2011-2012 | Festivals | Life of Melissa Ann Marie « Blog orang kaya.
Fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing!
I REALLY REALLY want to go check it out this year! It’s a 3 hour drive from where I am at but I am pretty sure it is worth it!
Beautiful pics of the city! One of my favorite times of year… when the cherry blossom’s start to fall and it looks like pink snow.
Reblogged this on My Life. My Loves..
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