Washington's cherry blossom season is a sight to behold. But the crowds can be overwhelming. HOLLY THOMAShas a better way to see the blooms
IT HAPPENS every year in Washington DC as the breezes blow a little warmer and coax millions of reticent cherry blossoms from the safety of their protective buds. A stroll under the pink, frothy blooms sounds so enticing and Great Gatsby-esque if you’re visiting the US capital at this time of year; how could you resist?
But then you arrive at the tree-lined Tidal Basin, alongside thousands of others with the same idea, and the stroll turns into a jostle, and nature’s bounty starts to feel more like a tourist trap. Psst! What if there were another way to take it all in?
Thanks to its off-the-beaten path location, the US National Arboretum is a hidden jewel in the capital’s crown. And come cherry-blossom season, the 180-hectare park is an ideal place for perusing the ethereal foliage without stepping on a single tourist’s toes. During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs until April 12th, the arboretum plots a self- guided tour of flowering cherry trees, designed to showcase the varying sizes, shapes, colours and blooming times.
Your best bet is to check out the early-flowering specimens, which are expected to burst into bloom around now. Keep in mind that the trees are scattered around the arboretum’s expanse, so it could be best to take the 35-minute tram tour.
First, visit the eight-metre specimen of a variety called Dream Catcher, outside the Visitor Services building. It blooms a soft pink against the backdrop of the National Capitol Columns, which loomed over the inaugurations of presidents from Andrew Jackson through Dwight Eisenhower before being moved to the arboretum.
Next, cruise down Azalea Road, where you’ll spot Tai Haku and Fudanzakura trees just beyond the parking area. On the east side of the grounds, the Flowering Tree Collection off Hickey Hill Road is home to a group of young cherry trees, including the weeping white Snofozam and the dark-leaved Royal Burgundy.
Finally, wrap up your visit at the two research fields off Hickey Lane. For these flowering cherry trees, the bloom dates run from late March to early May, the colours vary from icy white to dark pink and the trees vary in shape and size, which is why arboretum scientists choose traits from these specimens when creating varieties.
True, it’s not as pedestrian-friendly as the Tidal Basin. But the reward lies in an abundance of the precious blossoms and a blissfully crowd-free hectare or two to yourself.
– Washington Postservice
** US National Arboretum, 00-1-202-2452726, www.usna.usda.gov. See also www.national cherryblossomfestival.org
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Aer Lingus ( www.aerlingus.com) flies to Washington Dulles via Boston from Dublin and Shannon. US Airways ( www.usairways.com) flies via Philadelphia. British Airways ( www.ba.com) flies via London Heathrow