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. 

Blossom Time

 After enduring the dark, rainy months of winter, when spring finally arrives, Portlanders are rewarded with dazzling displays of tree blossoms.

Waterfront Park's famous cherry blossoms

There's no better place to witness spring's finery than at downtown Portland's Waterfront Park.  A linear greenspace paralleling the Willamette River, it's north end features a huge grove of cherry trees.  Every year around mid-March these trees erupt in a riot of pink blossoms.

Pink tunnel

After getting word that the cherry tree bloom was happening, I invited my neighbor and photo-mentor Cheri to join me for a photography session.  

Close up of the glorious blooms

It was your typical rainy spring day, causing Cheri and I to reconsider our trip.  However, despite numerous raindrops on the trip over, we were delighted when the sky dried up upon our arrival.  The yearly cherry blossom bloom typically draws a crowd, but today's wet weather had kept most visitors away.

Closer up

Cheri and I noticed quite a few flowers yet to bloom, so we'd definitely caught things in the early stages.  However, despite the less-than-full blossoming trees, I still thought the floral show was quite stunning.

Flower-lined walkway

We climbed up to the top of the adjacent Steel Bridge for an aerial view.  Not too shabby!

Trees in bloom with Steel Bridge towers

A wide walkway follows the Willamette River.  When the cherry trees are in full bloom, this walk is full of blossom-peepers.  A week later, I saw several social media posts of the cherry trees and people were all over the park.  I was lucky to only have a few folks in my shots.  

A lovely time of year!

A great way to usher in spring!  I can't wait for more wildflowers to bloom - my camera and I are ready.

Blossoms and Rhodies

While Mt. Hood is still wintry white, down in Portland spring has arrived with full force.  The plants in my yard, sporting green leaves most of the year, have erupted into blossoms of lovely color.  Last week after work, I grabbed my camera and captured some of the beauty.


Size matters!  Click on any photo to enjoy a larger version.

My little rhododendron plant is one of the first to bloom.  I just love it's delicate pink flowers.

There's a flowering pear tree in our front yard.  Usually it doesn't bloom until later in April.  But last week it was covered in frilly white blossoms.

Gettin' up close and personal with my little rhody bush.

Our next door neighbors have the most amazing yard.  It's landscaped with many varieties of flowering trees and shrubs.  This tulip tree towers over the fence between our backyards.  Which is wonderful - I can see it out my kitchen window.  Such a pretty sight!

Some just-opened blossoms on one of our backyard cherry trees.

And, once again, here's my favorite rhody.

None of these flowers last very long.  Already, a week later, most of the blossoms have blown off our pear tree.  And the flowers on my little pink rhody bush are starting to wilt.  I'm thankful for my photography hobby which allows me to preserve these wonderful sights before they're gone until next year.


Linking to:  Sunny Simple Sunday.

Spring is Bustin' Out All Over

Now begins the beautiful season here in Portland.  Around mid-March all the flowering plants begin blooming.  This year it seemed like one day the world was dull and gray, and the next, wham-o!  Every living plant in town was sporting bright colors.

One of the best displays of color is at the north end of Waterfront Park in downtown Portland.  Near the Steel Bridge lies a large grove of cherry trees.  Every year in late March these trees explode into a riot of frilly pink blossoms.

I had a hunch these trees might be in bloom, so during last Friday's lunch hour, decided to pay them a visit.  This end of the park is a good distance my office, but the weather was nice (ie, not raining) so it turned out to be a pleasant walk.

And.....the trees were in full spring regalia!  Such a beautiful sight.  The blah cloudy skies didn't make for the best photographic conditions, but I had to try.

I wasn't the only one walking around with a camera.  I ran into at least four other photographers.  Beauty like this was meant to be captured.

My lunch hour now over its allotted time, I realized I needed to head back.  But no sooner was the camera turned off and put away, when the sun decided to make an appearance.  It lit the trees magnificently in lovely rose-colored hues.  The scene was much too good to pass up.  Hmmmm......guess I'll just have to be late!  :)


Linking to:  Share Your Cup Thursday.