Blessed blossoms

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!
~Robert Browning

Yes, all IS right with the world. Every year, since I have been in this area, the cherry blossoms lure me. There have been times when I've decided to not go to DC and capture these beauties. And without fail, I do go. And without fail, I am mesmerized by the sheer spectacle that nature brings for a short span of 3 weeks.

The Cherry Blossom festival, following the bloom schedule, comes around the last few weeks of March and the first few weeks of April. It is a very popular time for visitors to flock to the area. Parking can be a nightmare and the streets are packed. The festival culminates with the parade along the National Mall also featuring floats, dancers and mascots. Some years, rains puts a damper on the cherry blossom spirit and on the visitor's as well.

Given all these conditions, cherry blossom viewing for locals becomes a big challenge. That does nothing to stop the likes of me. The best way to catch cherry blossoms to your heart's content is to take a long walk along the Tidal Basin early in the am on a weekend. Yup, one of the area's best kept secrets. During the 3 weeks that cherry blossoms are around, I usually pick one morning when there is no hint of rain and make a beeline to the Tidal Basin.

This morning was one such. Forecasts had doomed the weekend with rain and thunderstorms. But come Saturday morning and the skies were clear. Cloudy, sure. No rains though. I quickly gulped my morning cuppa and off I went. The sun was still asleep, and the clouds were doing a fine job lulling it for a while longer. By the time I found a decent parking spot and had loaded my camera, it was picture perfect. The blooms were on in full swing, the walkway was clear with dew drops strewn all over and the blossoms looked fresh and welcoming.

Such is nature. Unfailing in its delivery of beauty and wonder. The morning hours bring about a serene atmosphere around. The smiles on the faces of passersby, the friendly wuff's of the dogs being walked, the grunt from the homeless guy in whose hand you just delivered some fresh dough nuts, the shutterbugs- each of them reveling in the serenity of the moment. I might not live in a quaint English countryside, but these are some of the times that make me thankful for being able to grab such moments when nature decides to be her best and I am able to witness it live.

Without further ado, I share with you some freeze frames of the breathtaking beauty of cherry blossoms.
Blossom viewing for 2008 - check!