WASHINGTON DC, United States — Cherry blossom petals fall in the rain at the Tidal Basin creating a blanket of cherry blossom "snow" and marking the latter stages of the bloom in Washington DC. The gentle shower knocks loose the delicate pink and white petals of the Yoshino cherry trees, creating a bittersweet spectacle as the National Cherry Blossom Festival draws to a close. This poignant scene captures the ephemeral nature of the cherry blossom season and the fleeting beauty celebrated during this annual event.
Photograph by David Coleman. This image portrays a melancholic yet beautiful moment at the end of Washington DC's famous cherry blossom season. The scene unfolds at the Tidal Basin, where thousands of Yoshino cherry trees (Prunus x yedoensis) line the waterfront. As rain falls, it gently dislodges the delicate petals from the trees, creating a soft pink and white "snowfall" effect. This natural phenomenon, known as hanafubuki in Japanese (meaning "cherry blossom blizzard"), marks the transition from full bloom to the end of the cherry blossom season. The rain-soaked petals collect on the ground and float on the surface of the Tidal Basin, creating a carpet of pale pink that contrasts with the darker wet pavement and water. This stage of the bloom cycle, while perhaps less famous than the peak bloom, holds its own unique beauty and significance. It embodies the Japanese aesthetic concept of mono no aware, a wistful awareness of the impermanence of things. The rain adds to the contemplative atmosphere, with droplets clinging to branches and creating ripples on the water's surface. Despite the wet conditions, visitors can often be seen with umbrellas, still drawn to witness this final spectacular display of the season. This scene not only captures a specific moment in the natural cycle of the cherry blossoms but also symbolizes the fleeting nature of beauty and the changing of seasons. It serves as a poignant reminder of the transient quality that makes the National Cherry Blossom Festival such a cherished annual event in the nation's capital.
Size: 8256px × 5504px
Location: Tidal Basin, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | CherryBlossomWatch / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, .., america, atmosphere, attractions, aware, basin, beauty, bloom, blossom, blossoms, capital, carpet, cerasus, cherry, city, columbia, day, dc, display, district, ephemeral, fall, festival, floral, flowering, iconic, impact, japanese, landmarks, late, mono, moody, nation, national, nature, park, petal, photography, photos, pictures, potomac, prunus, rain, rainy, reflections, region, season, service, sites, spring, springtime, stage, states, tidal, top, tourist, tree, united, urban, viewing, views, washington, water, waterfront, weather, west, yedoensis, yoshino, ×
