cherry blossom journey

Spring arrives in the Washington DC area with a sweet, lively spirit, unfolding with increasing beauty and variety by the beginning of April. Right now, we are at the height of pink sakura wonder and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom! The Festival is an annual two-week event that "celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan."

With the famous pale pink Yoshino cherry blossom display reaching its peak at the DC Tidal Basin this week, I set out to explore the fleeting, beautiful sights...

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 My journey started in lovely Old Town Alexandria, where the unique and delicious Buzz bakery cafe offered a special "Cherry Blossom" latte made with French cherry syrup and dark chocolate--really divine! Here's a cup next to the equally perfect weather report:

Other seasonal specials at Buzz:

Oh, yum!:

In bloom in the neighborhood:

In the garden of historic Christ Church, magnificent magnolias:

And rosy dicentra:

A cheerful window with Easter bunnies:

Taking the Metro into DC to see the beautiful sakura display was next! Here, blossoms framing a view of the Jefferson Memorial:

Nearby is one of my favorite museums, the Sackler-Freer Museum of Asian Art. I love this unique zodiac chandelier at its entrance:

Once inside, I was eager to see more spring blossoms! Details from a stunning Japanese screen, Blossoming Plum amd Camellia in a Garden Landscape by Kano Koi (1569-1636):

The serenity and elegance of this museum casts its own spell:

A lovely plate from an exhibit of ceramics from southern Japan:

I returned home amid a breezy, golden twilight. This bridge with weeping cherry trees is a close walk from our house:

Corgis strolling amid the blooms:

This hanami bento features sushi rice, shrimp, asparagus, sliced egg, garlic buds, carrots, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, and pretty flower-shaped hana fu. I purchased these at Katagiri in NYC last fall and have been waiting until spring to enjoy them!

 According to my lovely reference book,  Annual Events of Japan and Recipes of Dishes, this is a popular type of bento to enjoy under the gentle shelter of blooming spring trees...

As accompaniment, a small salad bento with baby greens and inari filled with avocado, rice and wasabi, topped with ume nameshi, a blend of dried plum and other savory seasonings (another item I've been squirreling away until spring!):

For dessert, a hand-decorated mini cupcake, kiwi and champagne mango flowers:

Happy spring, bento friends!