Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.: A squirrel nibbling on cherry blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., commemorates the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo City to DC. Photo #1 by © Fumiko Yarita via National Geographic Wallpaper

Cherry blossoms frame the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. Wikipedia states, “By chance, Jokichi Takamine, the Japanese chemist who discovered adrenaline, was in Washington with Mr. Midzuno, the Japanese consul to New York City, on April 8. Informed of a plan to plant Japanese cherry trees along the Speedway, Takamine asked if Mrs. Taft would accept an additional 2000 trees, while Midzuno suggested that the trees be given in the name of Tokyo. Takamine and Midzuo subsequently met with the First Lady, who accepted the offer of 2000 trees.” Photo #2 by Degree/eStock Photo

White House – Cherry Blossom & Kite Festival in Washington DC. The two-week festival begins on the last Saturday of March with an official opening ceremony in the National Building Museum. The Blossom Kite Festival (formerly known as the Smithsonian Kite Festival) usually takes place during the festival’s first weekend (weather permitting). Photo #3 by gimyejun

The shore of the Tidal Basin shows several blossoming cherry trees and Washington Monument, Washington, D.C., Prints and Photographs Division. The first of the annual “Cherry Blossom Festival” was held in 1935. “In 1938, plans to cut down trees to clear ground for the Jefferson Memorial prompted a group of women to chain themselves together at the site in protest. A compromise was reached where more trees would be planted along the south side of the Basin to frame the Memorial. A Cherry Blossom Pageant was begun in 1940.” Photo #4 by Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress

“DC in a Single Shot,” the photographer noted. “Jefferson Memorial, Capitol Building, Cherry Blossoms, Tidal Basin and even a diving bird in the foreground, all captured at sunrise.” Photo #5 by jeffsmallwood

Late one evening in Washington DC, our country’s capitol, we watch as thunderstorms roll across the background over the City,” wrote the photographer. “Lightning flashes over the Monument and the Jefferson memorial. Around the edges you can see the Cherry trees in full bloom.” Photo #6 by ForestWander

Spring in DC, Washington Monument, architecture framed by blossoming nature. Photo #7 by Desktop Nexus

The Tidal Basin is a “focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring. The Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the George Mason Memorial are situated adjacent” to it. Photo #8 by © JC Leahy

Winnie the Pooh kite against blossoms. Photo #9 by Victoria Pickering

Even dogs love beautiful cherry blossoms. This pup has a petal on her nose. Photo #10 by mbgrigby

5am in Washington, DC. The photographer called it a Cherry Blossom Photowalk. “Pre-dawn Jefferson Memorial Scenes around Tidal Basin.” Photo #11 by George Brett

Air Force Memorial. Photo #12 by George Brett

From the last (44th) Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival: CRAFTed for Flight. Now it’s called Cherry Blossom Kite Festival. Photo #13 by Smithsonian Institution

Cat and blossoming cherry tree. Photo #14 by tanakawho

Huge dragon kite. Photo #15 by Smithsonian Institution

Japanese Pagoda in DC. Photo #16 by Patrick & Preston Thomas

The photographer wrote, “1 million people will come” to see the festival. Photo #17 by Egis via Next Web Design

National Mall, Kite Flying and the Washington Monument. Photo #18 by morganglines

DC Cherry Blossoms. Photo #19 by preservationgal

People watching and flying kites. Photo #20 by Mr. T in DC

On the National Mall in Washington, DC. Photo #21 by Kevin Harber

Police horse patrolling the Tidal Basin. Photo #22 by Vincent Gallegos

Japanese Cherry Blossoms floating on the wind of an approaching storm. Photo #23 by Andrew Selman

The photographer wrote, “Lightning crashes to the ground in Washington DC late one evening during the spring cherry blossom festival. Notice the Washington monument on the right side of the lightning bolt.” Photo #24 by ForestWander

The Jefferson Memorial in a gray sunrise. Photo #25 by Fred Dunn

Little dragon kite as seen at the Smithsonian Kite Festival. Photo #26 by Victoria Pickering

Cat in cherry blossoms. Photo #27 by tanakawho

Looks like he might be up for some mischief. Photo #28 by Yamanaka Tamaki

Kites flying in DC. Photo #29 by John Taylor

Breakfast — squirrel was grabbing a quick bite to eat enjoying the cherry blossoms in Washington DC. Photo #30 by geopungo

The photographer said the festival is ‘Where kites go when they die…’. Photo #31 by Matt M.

From Wikipedia, “Of the initial gift of 12 varieties of 3,020 trees, two—the Yoshino and Kwanzan—now dominate. The Yoshino produces single white blossoms that create an effect of white clouds around the Tidal Basin and north onto the grounds of the Washington Monument.” Photo #32 by JoshBerglund19

The phtographer wrote, “DC — Hanami means, literally, ‘flower viewing’ but it has come to be associated specifically with the flowering of the cherry blossoms or ‘sakura’.” The Kwanzan comes into bloom two weeks after the Yoshino. It produces clusters of clear pink double blossoms. There are also trees which produce rosy pink double blossoms, and white double blossoms that age to pink and weeping cherry trees inbetween. Photo #33 by Patrick & Preston Thomas

Blossoms and bubbles at the kite festival. Photo #34 by Clarissa

Even Darth Vadar comes out to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Kite Festival. The photographer noted, “Mini Darth plots the best way to take over the White House.” Photo #35 by Laura Padgett

Many kites took to the DC sky in 2010. Photo #36 by ep_jhu

Looking down on DC. Photo #37 by Digital Globe via Dandelion Aerospace Blog

Maryland State Police helicopter above the Tidal Basin. This image was captured during the Cherry Blossoms and includes the Washington Monument. Photo #38 by Andrew Bossi

Parrot, pagoda, cherry blossoms. Photo #39 by Nicholas Gillard-Byers

Massively long dragon kite. Photo #40 by Smithsonian Institution

More action at the Kite Festival. Photo #41 by David Ewalt

From the 98th Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo #42 by Ben Murray

Night time at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The photographer added, “You can see a helicopter coming across the area on the right side of the photo this gives you an idea of how long this exposure was in order to see all of this at night.” Photo #43 by ForestWander

Spring storms bring 3 lightning strikes. “Lightning strikes three times simultaneously in the night sky over Washington DC. A Cherry Tree is in full bloom on the left side of this picture. This photo was taken late at night and was a long exposure to catch the lightning and to be able to see the cherry blossoms at night. Photo #44 by ForestWander