GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Mar 26, 2016 16:12:06 GMT -8
Ever since we moved east from Washington State, I've missed Skagit valley's fantastic tulip fields. My search for a replacement spring flower fix has been only partly successful. Yesterday, I think I finally managed to find something just as good. In 1912, Washington D.C. was provided with a gift of Japanese cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo. These were planted in three areas in and adjacent to the National Mall: near the Washington Monument, south of the Mall ringing the Tidal Basin, and in East Potomac Park further south of the Tidal Basin. Every year, in early spring, the cherry blossoms put forth a magnificent display - which I have somehow managed to avoid these past 6yrs - and the city holds its National Cherry Blossom Festival in celebration. One the blossoms open they only last 4-10days, so one has to constantly monitor the bloom report. This year, I was determined not to miss out. Peak bloom, happening right now, had arrived a week earlier than normal, due to our incredibly mild winter. Yesterday morning, with the kids on spring break, I loaded them and my camera gear into the car and took off on the 4.5hr drive to the capital. We parked in the southern most of the three cherry blossom locations, East Potomac Park, about a mile from the Jefferson Monument and the Tidal Basin. The rest of the day was spent roaming the entire area - covering about 11mi or so - trying to take in as much of the flowery goodness as we could.
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foxalo
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Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent.---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Post by foxalo on Mar 26, 2016 18:04:07 GMT -8
Incredible pictures!
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echo
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Post by echo on Mar 26, 2016 18:34:18 GMT -8
These are gorgeous.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Mar 26, 2016 18:49:22 GMT -8
nice photos, those are a few of my favorite places.
thanks for sharing them
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Mar 26, 2016 19:28:26 GMT -8
Thanks guys, especially for the compliments about the photos. It was very windy yesterday; the number-1 thing I hate while doing photography is wind. The flowers were whipping around continuously, so I had to use a much faster shutter speed than I would have liked. My aim had been to spend quite a bit of time there around sunset, but the wind was so bad that we left just before. When we came home last night (actually early morning today) I had no idea if I would have even a single usable photo.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 21:15:59 GMT -8
I've never been to the nation's capital, But the blossoms sure provide a nice touch. Thanks for a beautiful view of what I've missed.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Mar 27, 2016 4:04:51 GMT -8
Afew years ago when I was working the last Inauguration, it was such a dreery day, no green, skeletal trees etc and still that location held magic for me. To see that you captured such excellent photos, and had to combat the wind is remarkable.
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Roger
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Post by Roger on Mar 27, 2016 8:17:45 GMT -8
Thanks for the pictures. I am going to be there at the end of the week and hope the blossoms are still there.
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Mar 27, 2016 10:07:29 GMT -8
^ Have fun, and best of luck with the cherry blossoms!
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Mar 27, 2016 15:25:08 GMT -8
I am going to be there at the end of the week and hope the blossoms are still there. What brings you to town? I fly out next weekend to Denver, but it would be fun having dinner if possible before I go.
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mk
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Post by mk on Mar 28, 2016 4:31:44 GMT -8
Beautiful photos, Galiwalker. While I've been to D.C. a couple of times and have heard about the cherry blossoms, I've never seen them in person. Thanks for sharing!
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Roger
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Post by Roger on Mar 29, 2016 10:00:46 GMT -8
I am going to be there at the end of the week and hope the blossoms are still there. What brings you to town? I fly out next weekend to Denver, but it would be fun having dinner if possible before I go. Ģoing to visit friend's with my girlfriend. She is in charge of what we do and where we go.
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JiminMD
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Post by JiminMD on Mar 30, 2016 17:06:41 GMT -8
I've worked in town for 16 years and never taken pictures as nice as those. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing them.
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Mar 30, 2016 20:04:35 GMT -8
Thanks Jim. You're lucky to work in such a beautiful city.
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