Capitol Cherry Blossoms - March 2002
Oregon's Capitol building looks out over a beautiful grass-covered mall, complete with flower beds and fountains. On either side are walkways overshadowed by Japanese cherry trees. Every spring these trees explode in a glorious welcoming salute to Spring! Brilliant pink blossoms weave tunnels of color and vistas of beauty. Lovers and lunchers alike walk slower and smile more during this all too short time. Just a few days later, the petals fall like pink snow, blanketing grass and shrubs with soft drifts of spent petals.
This year the trees foreshadowed the joy of Easter by reaching their acme on Good Friday, March 29. By the next Wednesday the petals were "blowin' in the wind," covering shrubs, grass, and people in the softest snow imaginable.
Here - see your yourself! Click on the thumbnail pictures to view larger (700 x 500) versions.
March 29, Good Friday
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You're looking north from the steps of the Capitol building. The buildings in the background are state office buildings. Diane works in the one on the left - the Labor and Industry (L&I) Building.
Boy, I'm glad I don't have to cut all this grass!
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I walked to the far end of the mall and took this picture looking south toward the Capitol - the building on the left. The State Library is the building on the right. |
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The mall has two walkways on each side, each overshadowed by cherry trees. Here you're looking down the grassy middle between the two walkways on the right side. The metal and glass structure in the middle is the entry to the underground garage. Yes, beneath all of this beauty is a two-level parking garage!
The Revenue Building steals into the background.
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The two people on the bench are almost lost beneath the blossoms. What a place to have lunch! |
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See what I mean about the tunnels of cherry blossoms! I've never seen the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, but I cannot imagine they are any more impressive. |
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Here's a cat's eye view of the blossoms. By setting the tripod as low as it goes and shooting up you enhance the blossoms. |
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A young couple, probably high school kids, bicycled over for lunch. What a great idea . . . probably hers! I hope he keeps listening. |
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And the circle is complete. There are the Capitol steps where I took the first picture. Yes, those yellow flowers are daffodils. They look great from this distance but were definitely past their prime. |
Friday, April 3 - the day of the Big Pink Snow
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Less than a week after I took the previous pictures the trees were shedding petals by the bushel and the playful breezes were busily spreading them over everything and everyone!
Yes, those are petals in the air - not snowflakes.
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Every so often the people on the benches would have to brush the petals off books, sandwiches, and strollers. Check out the pink drift under the bush by the guy with the book. |
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Did any bride ever walk down an aisle so beautiful? OK - forget the blue porta-potty hiding in the background. It's there as a convenience for the mall "patrons." |
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Pink concrete! The pink "borders" are 3-4 inches deep. |
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The end - of my lunch hour, the roll of film, and the glory of the cherry blossoms.
Stay tuned for next year!
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