National Mall and Memorial Parks Cherry Blossom Festival dates: March 26 – April 10 Washington D.C.

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms Photo by Eileen

National Park Service takes care of all these monuments, trees, and other parks throughout this country so that we ALL may enjoy them. Funding and giving to the National Park System comes from many places. Finding the funds to continue has been a challenge as Government strips money from public park lands.

Make going to the Cherry Blossom Festival a priority in your life. There are activities and parades spread over several weeks. The timing of the Blossom is forecast by the National Park Service. These trees were gifts to us from Japan. Seeing the beauty of these trees. Walking among them and capturing beautiful pictures is amazing. A mark of a better time. A shared gift of beauty.

Washington Monument Cherry Blossoms Photo by Eileen

Seeing other sights in D.C. is important and valuable too.

People come from all over to see these trees. Keeping them safe is a challenge. Keeping the trees safe is a challenge, too. Seeing people wearing the blossoms lets you know some are going to die. They have killed them. New trees are needed to keep them flourishing.

When I went it was crowded, very crowded. Finding places where is more open, like the tidal basin, gives you breathing room. I loved framing the monuments with the trees to bring out the beauty of both. I love structures as a subject and sculptures. Walking among the monuments and museums is sacred. Walking on the same grounds as our elder statesmen walked while creating and modifying our Great Nation. I am sure this is the pride most Nations feel for the beautiful parts of their heritage.

I visited Arlington National Cemetery and John F. Kennedy Grave.

John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame Photo by Eileen

The line after line of white gravestones is overwhelming to the cost of wars. The trees in bloom gives some softness and beauty to the dark mood. Stopping at Vietnam wall is so emotional as you watch people trying to find the name of a loved one. The column after column of names.

Arlington Cemetery Photo by Eileen

Seeing our Nation Capital is a joy to what it represents in its purist sense of democracy. The foresight of the founders to have lasted this long is amazing. The White house behind gates is so set back and guarded that most ordinary people will never get to see our house. Even the Capital has become more difficult to see.

A second trip became necessary to see more of the museums. I wanted so much to see the Indian museum to see if we had finally done something of honor for the people we invaded many centuries ago. It is a lovely museum with lots of history and a great design.

Washington Monument Reflects with Cherry Blossoms Photo by Eileen

The Washington Monument is such a delightful site across the basin. Jefferson Memorial is another one that is large and imposing. Walking through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt monument is a walk through history with the Breadline and men in line for work pictured.

Bread Line Photo by Eileen L

There is much to see and do in Washington DC

Be sure to See the new World War II memorial which I will cover in a separate post. The monument and design are very thoughtful for all who served both dead or alive. Many who did not die in the War have been dying in  the last years. My father was one of the many who served.

Don’t miss the Cherry Blossoms

Blossoms closeup Photo by Eileen

Resources

• National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/cherry/index.htm
• National Mall and Memorial Parks http://www.nps.gov/nacc/index.htm

• http://www.nps.gov/frde/index.htm
• Washington Monument http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
• Jefferson Memorial http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
• World War II http://www.nps.gov/nwwm/index.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cherry_Blossom_Festival
• Another Blog with good information on the events http://kidfriendlydc.com/2011/03/15/dc-in-bloom-the-2011-national-cherry-blossom-festival/
• http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
• Photos by Someone else of FDR memorial http://houstonkelley.com/roosevelt.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt_Memorial
• cherry blossoms

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Eileen Lud­wig, travel writer of Free­lance Tourist brings to the world insights about places to travel, dis­counts, Stay­ca­tions, Restau­rant Reviews, movie reviews, and fas­ci­nat­ing tibits. She is owner of three other sites: Pho­tog­ra­phy, Web Design School, and Social Media School Each are in dif­fer­ent stages of devel­op­ment and evolution.

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