Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin
I visited the Tidal Basin this week for cherry blossoms. Below, I share my photos, a brief background on the Cherry Blossom Festival, and my reflections.
Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event in D.C., managed by the National Park Service. The festival and the cherry trees have an interesting history and symbolize the US’ friendship with Japan.
To DMV residents, the Festival is one of the few excitements in the Spring. Each year, thousands gather for “peak bloom” around the last week of March. This year, peak bloom came early and raised climate change concerns.
Parking tip: The Wharf’s parking garage fee is heavily discounted if you make a purchase from the seafood market. Two-hour parking was only 2 dollars.
Reflection 1. I thought long and hard to understand people’s love of cherry trees. When I see cherry blossoms, I immediately think of the mess they will create. In any case, I think people love them because they look like trees with cherry-colored leaves. I imagine that such a concept was otherworldly in the early 1900s.
Reflection 2. I was motivated to find the “cherriest” tree in the Basin. Because, most of the blossoms are not "cherry” color. If anything, they are white.
Reflection 3. I am glad that I visited fully vaccinated. Otherwise, the visit wouldn’t have been as restful. Even though my visit was on a weekday, the area experienced significant traffic.
More photos. My photos are inspired by Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms.
Conclusion. I felt renewed following the visit. At times, I feel restless, and, my fixation on efficiency can be exhausting. This visit reminded me that it’s okay to take a break and let the mind still.