This gallery monitors the bloomming period of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. The planting of cherry trees originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the United States from the people of Japan. In Japan the flowering cherry tree or "Sakura," as it is called by the Japanese people, is one of the most exalted flowering plants. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a potent symbol equated with evanescence of human life and epitomizes the transformations Japanese Culture has undergone through the ages. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions.
Gallery: 2005 Daily Blossom Photos This gallery monitored the bloomming period of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. from April 10 - 15, 2005
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Small buds coming early The small buds of this cherry tree are coming early due to March being the warmest on record (records have been kept since 1874) for half the United States including Washington, DC.
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Cherry blossom buds in Washington, DC The buds on this cherry tree are coming out of dormancy after a very mild and dry winter in Washington, DC, March 8, 2012.
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The quiet before the storm A Kwanzan flowering cherry tree about to come into full bloom in DC
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First burst of cherry blossoms This tree is ahead of many others as some of its blossoms are in full bloom on March 14, 2012.
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Pedal boats in the Tidal Basin Through the cherry blossoms and with the Washington monument as a back drop, you can plainly see the pedal boats available for renting and paddling around the Tidal Basin.
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Just a few blossoms visible Another photo from March 14, 2012 shows a cherry tree just beginning to blossom, with the Washington Monument standing 555 feet tall in the background.
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Just beginning to bloom Although the cherry blossoms are blooming, they are not in "full bloom" as this photo would look quite different if they were: to be sure, most of the branches would be obscured by the clusters of flowers.
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Obscured classical architecture building Although this building is somewhat obscured by the Kwanzan cherry trees down at the Tidal Basin, in just a few days the view of the building will be almost totally blocked as the blossoms come into full bloom.
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Breezy day on the 'Basin Cherry blossom branches framing the Jefferson Memorial getting set to give a great show just a few days after this photo was snapped.
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Stone Japanese Pagoda This stone Japanese pagoda sits among the cherry blossoms and was a gift from Japan to the US in 1958. Some startling statistics: the pagoda came in five boxes with no assembly instructions, it weighs 3,800 lbs and could be over 800 years old.
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Bronze statue of Roosevelt A weathered bronze statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair sits amid the cherry blossom trees in West Potomac Park in Washington, DC.
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Luke holding Lyra up to the cherry blossoms A father shows his baby daughter the cherry tree branches at peak bloom in West Potomac Park, Washington, DC.
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Afternoon delight Two lovers relax on the tidal basin as the sun reflects a golden hue off the water and onto to the cherry blossoms.
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Plane flying above the Jefferson Memorial What appears to be a United Airlines 737 flies low over and behind the Jefferson Memorial on final approach to Reagan National Airport. Some are calling for the airport to be re-dedicated to George Washington, as the airport's official name since...
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