GO NOW
CHERRY BLOSSOMS BECKON
Washington, D. C.
Come spring, a blush of blossoms arrives to soften the marble memorials and angular buildings of the U. S. capital. The Washington Monument area is among the city’ s most photogenic spots— its gleaming obelisk rising above a tide of cotton-candy flowers that frame the National Mall and Tidal Basin. The idea to plant over 3,000 cherry trees along the Potomac River waterfront first surfaced in 1885, when diplomat Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore returned from Japan inspired by the seasonal display. It wasn’ t until 1912 that the first saplings arrived from Yokohama.
Every year, these trees— a gift symbolizing friendship between the U. S. and Japan— are celebrated during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, running from late March to mid April with kite-flying, performances and a parade. Peak bloom period— when around 70 % of the Yoshino flowers burst open— lasts four to seven days, making timing crucial. The National Park Service posts daily forecasts to help the million-plus visitors plan their trip.
To optimize your time here, stroll from the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial to admire petals drifting over the water like confetti. On the western side of the inlet, a 17th-century Japanese pagoda sits beneath a lattice of blossom-laden branches. Alternatively, head to Dumbarton Oaks Park in Georgetown, where clouds of white florets mingle with magnolias and maples along garden paths. Or visit the Bishop’ s Garden, where blooms encircle the neo-gothic spires of the Washington National Cathedral. image: alamy. words: emily lush
8 • pos t c a rds