Spring Blossom Tour 2024

Prepare yourself - you're about to see a whole lot of pink!

State capitol grounds in Salem, OR

By mid-March the cherry trees burst into bloom all over the Pacific NW, brightening the landscape with beautiful pink flowers.  When the cherry trees start to blossom, you know spring has officially begun.

Some of the colorful landscaping

One particular Saturday in March,  my neighbor and photo-buddy Cheri suggested we take a drive to Salem, Oregon.  Someone had posted fantastic photos online of the state capitol grounds.  The cherry trees were in full bloom and it was a spectacular sight.  It made us both want to capture some of our own images!

The cherry trees were adorned with colorful lanterns

So that morning, Cheri and I headed down I-5 for Salem.  Since it was a weekend and early, there weren't many people strolling the grounds adjacent to the capitol building yet.  The state capitol building has a large park directly in front, lined with rows of gorgeous cherry trees.  On this day they were all in full, pink bloom.  Oh my, time to get to work!  We both grabbed our cameras and began roaming the area.

Blossoms and capitol building

I really like the Oregon capitol building.  It has a unique design that's very different from most state's capitols.  On the very top of the "dome" stands a golden statue of a pioneer - meant to commemorate the first non-native people to arrive in Oregon via wagon trains.  However, to my disappointment, the capitol building was undergoing renovations, and because of this the dome was surrounded by ugly scaffolding.

World of pink

I was also disappointed that the rows of daffodils lining the middle and outer edges of the park were past their prime.  However, it was such a nice view I took photos anyway, despite the withered flowers.  (Note to self - next year I need to get here earlier in March!)

Lots of color

Cheri and I spend a happy half hour wandering around the pink trees and purple blooming azalea bushes.  After we'd taken enough photos, Cheri decided it was time to head for home.

Plentiful blossoms

However, the day was still young.  There were lots of trees in bloom back in Portland.  Not done quite yet, Cheri suggested touring some parks back home, starting with the Pittock Mansion.  

Gnarled tree at Pittock Mansion

The Pittock Mansion is a Portland landmark.  This grand estate was built in 1914 as a private home for publisher Henry Pittock and his wife Georgiana Burton Pittock.  Now owned by the Portland Parks Bureau, this mansion is open for tours and its 46-acre estate is beautifully landscaped.  The building is situated on a large hill that provides amazing views of downtown Portland.

Portland's Pittock Mansion

Although one must pay admission to tour the mansion, wandering around the grounds is totally free of charge.  Although much of the flowers were yet to bloom, we did find one cherry tree and several others with white blossoms.  The estate grounds are lovely any time of year, flowers or not.

Portland skyline from Pittock Mansion

Of course, we had to get some photos of the downtown Portland skyline from the mansion's overlook.  A popular place to photograph sunrise, I'd been here with Cheri a couple of times.

Lovely flowering trees along Washington Park road

After touring the Pittock mansion grounds, Cheri drove through nearby Washington Park.  One section of the park road was lined with white-blossoming trees that were so gorgeous, we just had to pull over and snap some shots.

Cherry blossom close-up

Cheri ended up at the Washington Park International Rose Test Garden.  No roses were blooming yet, but the daffodils and cherry trees sure were!

Blooms at Portland Japanese Garden

Adjacent to the Rose Garden was the Japanese Garden.  Although they charged admission to enter, we both decided it was worth spending the money to check out.

More Japanese Garden beauty

There wasn't as much blooming in the Japanese Garden as the lady at the ticket counter claimed.  But it was a beautiful, calming place to visit.  Everything was meticulously landscaped.  But being it was a Saturday the place quickly became packed with people.  Time to leave!

Dew-dropped Camilla bloom

Our final floral subjects for the day were several vibrant Camilla bushes, full of huge flowers, which weren't far from Washington Park's rose gardens.

Red Camilla blooms in Washington Park

I especially liked the bright red blooms.  A splash of color amidst the greenery.

Cheery daffodils

A productive morning, we were home by noon, our memory cards full of colorful images.  Blossom time never lasts long enough, so I'm glad we were able to get out and capture some of the beauty before it faded away.