Cherry Blossoms 2015

I went into DC yesterday afternoon and met Walt after work and we walked down to the Tidal Basin to see the last of the cherry blossoms. They were at their peak bloom last weekend so they were kind of  fading when we were there but it was still a pretty sight.  It was a cloudy day so the photos aren't the best.  I kind of focused on the trees themselves, so many are so old and gnarled, it makes you wonder how many more years they will last.

Friday Fleurs: DC Cherry Blossoms

Last night after work I took the metro downtown to get my fix of the cherry blossoms. It was dusky when I got there, so not the best pictures, but it was still pretty heavenly. There was quite a wind picking up, so for awhile it was almost like it was snowing, with petals floating down over everyone. It was very crowded--Washington really turns out for their cherry blossoms--but everyone was happy and helpful with taking pictures.  The cherry blossoms are one of the DC's best sights--those cherry trees ringing around the Tidal Basin are really pretty amazing.

Lovely Cherry Blossoms

At the last minute I decided to take the metro downtown yesterday afternoon and meet Walt after work so that we could see the cherry blossoms. It was kind of cloudy and overcast when we first got there, but as we started the walk around the Tidal Basin the sun came out and it was absolutely beautiful. It is so fun to see so many different people enjoying the blooms--tourists, families, people getting off work, reporters from the local stations. Everyone is in a good mood under the cherry blossoms. We walked the entire loop around the Tidal  Basin and I'm glad we did because there is a certain stretch which definitely has the "money views," because that's where all the tv cameras and the professional photographers are set up.

Cherry Blossom time is a major event here in DC. We hear forecasts weeks in advance and every night on the news and in the morning paper there is a cherry blossom report.  Well, it's officially cherry blossom time, with the peak bloom expected today, three weeks earlier than usual. The cherry trees as you all know were a gift from the people of Japan and 3,020 trees of different varieties were planted in 1912. Today, about 125 of the original trees survive, and most are of 2 varieties, 'Yoshino' and 'Kwansan.' Here you can see some of the oldest trees. I love the shapes and twisted textures of these old trees, and the way they lean way out over the water. In some spots you have to duck under the branches.

Cherry Blossom Time

The cherry blossoms in DC and in Herndon are blooming! That is my cherry tree above, but we hope to get downtown this week to see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin. They are supposed to be at peak bloom tomorrow, and rain is coming later in the week, so I need to get down there in the next few days. They are blooming 3 weeks early this year, more evidence of the bizarro winter we have had.

I got some things done in the garden yesterday, mostly weeding in the front garden--there seem to be so many more weeds this year. I guess a lot of them never died off.  It is painstaking weeding around all the emerging perennials. One clump of lychnis had so much grass growing through it that I had to dig up the whole clump and pull it apart to get out the grass. I also trimmed up my lavenders, something every book tells you not to do in the spring (you're supposed to do it in the fall), but I always cut mine back and they bloom just fine.  I planted this row of lavenders ('Munstead') when I first made this garden back in 1990, and most of them still survive. I think I have had to replace one.

I also put one peony ring in place. Last year was the first year I used these peony rings and they work great, keeping the peonies from flopping over with their heavy blooms.

Golden oregano

Astilbe

Columbine 

Daffodil 'Thalia'

Brooks came over for corned beef and cabbage last night, which we had a day late for St. Patrick's Day. Then we watched Ohio University beat South Florida in an exciting game, and it is the first time OU has made it to the Sweet Sixteen since 1964--the year my brother played on their team and they went on to the Final Eight! I was telling Walt  that I can remember how excited everyone was at the time (especially my parents) and I didn't really understand what the big deal was (I was 12)! Now they will play UNC on Friday, which will be fun, as Julia will be rooting for UNC of course.