The blooming Cherry Blossoms all around Washington, D.C. have long been one of my favorite parts about living close to the capital. According to the official web-site for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the first cherries to grow in Washington, D.C. were 3,000 trees given to the city of Washington in 1912 on behalf of the Mayor of Tokyo to honor Japan’s friendship with the United States. Then, in 1965 First Lady Bird Johnson accepted 3,800 additional trees. In 1981, when many of Japan’s own cherries were destroyed by floods, the U.S. gave Japan cuttings from our cherries to help replace those our friends had lost. Together, the peak blossoming of cherries is breathtaking, dreamy, and perhaps even otherworldly. For the first time since moving here, my family visited us to see the stunning trees themselves. To read more about the history of the cherry blossoms, visit the official site of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Pictured below are photographs of my mother, my Annabelle, and me that I and my brother Michael took today while visiting Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, Virginia, which is just outside of Washington, D.C. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing the blossoms with me this Sunday. Tomorrow I plan to share photos and stories from my own garden. See you then!
Jessica
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{ 9 comments }
The flowers are pretty, but you beautiful ladies cast them in the shade! I especially love the last photo… running in a field yellow flowers. How good must that feel!
So glad you strolled again. Thank you for sharing your springtime.
I love love love that picture of Annabelle running! That’s how I felt all day today, with temps in the 60’s and sunny, I just wanted to run around and enjoy the spring!
Someday I’m going to make it down to DC to see the blossoms… someday! Until then, I’ll have to settle for the apple and peach blossoms on the farm, which will be beautiful, too.
Delightful, flowers and the three generations. I read further down and found Annabelles art book. How special to give her ownership of her own history. If she doesn’t turn out to journal or keep a diary or a blog I’d be surprised.
Jessica,
Thank you so much for sharing those lovely cherry blossoms—and those LOVELY pictures of you, your Mom, and Annabelle. I just LOVE the one of the 3 generations and the one of “Grandma and Annabelle,” (not sure if that’s what Annabelle calls her) as you can see they truly enjoy each other! My favorite, too, is the one of Annabelle running through the field of yellow. You are SO far ahead of us with spring color. Any chance that the cherry blossoms will hold on until I visit D.C. later this month (22-25)?
As always, LOVE your photography!
Ruth
Beautiful photos and a delightful blog! Happy Springtime to you and yours!
Aisling, I so enjoy the Sunday Stroll posts (writing and reading them).
Abbie, we’d love to have you visit for next year’s blossoms. We have a small cozy house with 2 pull outs for guests. I too have felt energized by the Spring weather (though the next day, perhaps because of my pregnancy, I feel exhausted by the earlier day’s exertion).
Cloudhands, I think you’re right in that Annabelle will likely journal or create artwork of some sort as she grows older. She is so creative, whether she’s helping me in the garden, painting, putting an outfit together, or building blocks and tracks with her dad.
Ruth, I think we may be about 2 weeks ahead in seasons, though I do miss Connecticut’s beautiful though harsh winters. Your winter photographs of your farm made my heart ache for home.
Mibsy, thank you for the kind words about Green Mamma. I am so lucky to have discovered blogging some 2 years ago, :-)
I feel like I am mimicking everyone else, but they are BEAUTIFUL photos. I love the one of your Mom with her hair flowing. I love the 3 generations of beautiful women too.
Jess,
Your pictures are all beautiful, but the one of you, mom and Annabelle is gorgeous! Seeing it made me realize how much I miss you and your mom’s pretty faces. Glad to see you enjoying your spring weather, hopefully we’ll see the same soon.
Prasanna, thank you, thank you! I need the encouragement with taking photos, :-)
Danielle, I miss you too! I just e-mailed your sister to thank her for the beautiful children’s clothes she lent Annabelle. One of these days you need to visit D.C. and see the cherry blossoms (and us too, :-))
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