Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Cherry Madness



It's pouffy out there, people. Pink, white, light spreen green, lurid purple and bright lemon yellow. It's frilly and fouffy, foppish and silly, such a funny landscape for a city that is known for its buttoned-down, stern, hard-working atmosphere.

The trees and gardens don't seem to care about how it's supposed to be in DC. They're in a happy orgy of blossom, exploding with the delicate colors of early spring.

Tra-la-la. Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I will make my yearly pilgrimmage down to the Tidal Basin to see the cherries in bloom. I hear the trees are close to their peak. The usual throngs of cherry-bound tourists have arrived, which is why I like to head out before I'm actually all the way awake, coffee cup in one hand, camera in the other.

The biggest crowds don't descend on the basin until about 10:00 a.m. It's worth getting up early, it really is. I'll take pictures.

26 comments:

C.M. Jackson said...

oh how lovely..have fun--I look forward to seeing your photos of the cherries!

ellen abbott said...

they are like the pear trees here, only the pears bloom white and much earlier. can't wait to see the pics.

Reya Mellicker said...

We have white pears in bloom, too. The city looks like so many lacy little petticoats right now. It's silly!!

NanU said...

Around here the plums are at their height (too darned many plums again this year!) covering the trees in tiny white blossoms, the apricot is just getting going, and the cherries & apples have yet to burst. Soon it'll look like it's snowed again, with the fallen petals.

Tess Kincaid said...

Beautiful poofiness!! Take lots of pics for us, Reya.

Mrsupole said...

Oh my, it is gorgeous with all those blooming trees. Love the contrasts in the bottom pic. Have lots of fun and am looking forward to the pictures.

God bless.

Jinksy said...

What a great worm's eye view of grape hyacinths. Can't wait to see the cherry blossom...

Minka said...

Really lovely! can't wait the blossoms on the trees around here. Enjoy!

Rosaria Williams said...

What a feast of color and blooms! Yeah! What a celebration!

Nancy said...

I love these pictures! Especially the second one with the grass. Looking forward to more cherry blossoms.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

love thinking of your fair city adorned in lacy, petticoats!!

ah we are weeks away from such madness! perhaps what you are experiencing is the absolutely best march madness

Raising Raynor, FidosForFreedom's Puppy-ADIT said...

Really love the banner. :-)
Beautiful.
You take Great Photos!
From up close planet-side, to the edges of the galaxies!
Awesome!!

Reya Mellicker said...

It has been overcast, but looks like the sky might clear by tomorrow morning. Excellent!!

But I'll take whatever kind of weather the gods want to throw at me. Oh yeah.

Ronda Laveen said...

I love that Plant King and Queendom is having their way with your city. Watch out for that "lurid purple."

Love the new header.

Linda Sue said...

cherry blossoms, pear and plum- so girlie!Flouncy! Spring is such a girl!

Butternut Squash said...

Tra-la-la. Yep, that's about right.

sakura, sakura
yaoino sorawa... (song)

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
On Meadow-hills and mountains
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the Spring sky,
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come,
Let’s look, at last!

Reya Mellicker said...

Girlie? YES. Flouncy? YES. DC-like? Uh ... nope.

Love the song, Butternut. I'll be thining about the lyrics tomorrow morning.

Tom said...

wow, we are so far behind you in the race to bloom...but weather wise...va voom...70's tommorrow..got a tennis date planned.
love those delphiniums btw...

Mary Ellen said...

And - though not all that much is blooming yet - we are going to be (gasp) a drenching 76-78 degrees tomorrow in the North Country. I haven't dared to put away the sweaters 'n' long johns yet. Wonderful - and scary at the same time. Looking forward to the blossom pictures!

debra said...

these are wonderful photos, Reya. Things are starting to bloom here, too. This afternoon, the grass turned bright green.

Natalie said...

So,so pretty. When I was a little girl, i used to pretend I was the Cherry Blossom Fairy. These beautiful shots reminded me. Thanks Reya. :)

A Cuban In London said...

'It's pouffy out there, people. Pink, white, light spreen green, lurid purple and bright lemon yellow. It's frilly and fouffy, foppish and silly'

I just had to stop and paragraph twice more. What a brilliant intro. And the rest doesn't disappoint either. Many thanks for such a marvellous, colourful and bouncy post. :-)

Greetings from London.

Delwyn said...

Hi Reya

My blog friend in Tokyo tells me it has been announced officialy on the news in Japan, Cherry Blossom season is NOW....


The scene is almost set
for spring to come
a hazy moon
and blossoms on the plum.

Basho


happy days

Whitney Lee said...

I've been enjoying my errands lately because of the sudden explosion of the cherry and pear trees. Your pictures lately capture the feelings perfectly!

Reya Mellicker said...

Natalie I believe you ARE the cherry blossom fairy! Definitely!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos! We haven't reached the fruit tree blossom stage yet.