Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C.

For the past couple of years, like many of us, I have taken to mostly armchair traveling, and have few chances to take photos. But with both adult children living out of the country (London and Washington), I still get to travel a bit with the help of their photos. With their friendly permission, I get to post them here. Thanks, Margo.

Our daughter Margo took these photos after work in Washington, D.C, probably sometime between the end of a workday and Happy Hour.

When my husband and I looked at her photos, we both realized we had never been to the Washington Monument Grounds in springtime. In the early 90s, when we lived in Westminster, MD, we often took our international visitors for sight-seeing to DC. Family and friends often came during the hot and humid summer though… never in spring time.

In Germany, the best places to enjoy cherry blossoms are in Bonn, Hofheim i.T., Schwetzingen, Hamburg and some other cities.

To view the best 10 cities in Germany, visit: Japan in Deutschland Cherry Blossom Viewing

Washington Monument March 2022

Washington Monument Grounds in springtime

We experienced three seasons of Cherry Blossom viewing while living in Japan. The only difference between Hanami in Japan and cherry blossom viewing here is – most Japanese have blankets to sit on the grass, and they bring a lot of good food, and alcoholic beverages. Lots of it.

Washington, D.C.

Usuki Stone Buddhas – a National Treasure

Here we are visiting the Stone Buddhas in Usuki (more about this National Treasure at Kyushu Tourist Information).

Usuki Stone Buddhas

Usuki Stone Buddha park surroundings

Cherry blossom petals were everywhere near the end of the hanami season.

Stairs in Usuki

Bamboo forest in Usuki

Wandering crabs in Usuki

While watching our step going up the stairs, we also noticed quite a few river crabs working their way down.

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

We visited Japan at the best time of the year. During hanami season (花見, lit: flower viewing), most parks with cherry trees are in a festive mood.

Unfortunately, due to our busy schedule, there was no time to sit under the trees with food and drink.

Takatoyama Park in Wakamatsu-ku

Cherry blossoms in a small village near Beppu

Cherry Blossoms in Hita

The pink lanterns always add a nice touch to this scenery. At  times, the wind shook the branches and we saw blossoms dancing in the sunshine.

Hanami season in Japan

We still have some funny pictures of our baby son, an excessive drooler at that time, at a hanami picnic, with cherry petals sticking to his face and neck. His drooling had also earned him the nickname よだれくん (yodarekun).

Cherry Blossoms in Germany

Sometime soon we will be off to see our friends and get another taste of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) activities in Japan.

Almost daily, I get updates on the weather there. The spring rains have not stopped yet, but we are not going there for the weather. We expect to see a lot of friends, more than we can handle at times, but there are also quiet times planned. Everyone hopes for the rain to stop by the time the cherry blossoms are in full bloom (early April).

One of my friends had put this very nicely in her e-mail: See, everyone, even cherry blossom, is waiting for you.

Then I looked at our own cherry blossoms right here in Germany.

Cherry blossoms in Germany

This would also make a good picnic spot… But for some reason, it just doesn’t compare to spring time in Japan.

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