"2009 CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN BETHESDA"

"2009 CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN BETHESDA"

 

 

There is one area at the outskirt of Washington, DC worth visiting during the Cherry Blossom season.  As a matter of fact, it is historically known that in Bethesda, Maryland, this beautiful place had grown fantastic cherry blossoms planted by hobbiests since 1910's.

Especially, on Kennedy Drive and adjacen streets were filled with cherry blossoms from old trunks...overshadowing the streets with lush and extensive...canopies of branches.

  

The spectacle sensation of viewing the blossoms...Hanami...was the privelege of the nobility in Japan in ancient times.

Appreciation of the magnificence of Sakura...at present...common people can enjoy the senses of sight...touch...and smell...of this delicate flower.

Sakura by N. Moriyama, bokura ha kitto matteru...surely we are waiting,

kimi to mata aeru hibi wo...for the day we can meet again.

sakura namiki no michi no ue de...on the path lined with cherry blossoms.

to wo furi sakebu yo...we'll wave our hands and shout...[Subhanallaah!...Masya Allaah!...Alhamdulillaah!]

Traffic...walk slowly...enjoy the scenery and the beauty of Allah's creation.

Artistic photography of...inviting branches.

An  old cherry tree trunk...still bearing abundant blooms.

A living bouquet of Sakura...for visitor's to discover a present...a harmonius arrangement by nature.

Bapak Darwin and Ibu Martina Tobing from Wheaton, MD captured a hidden beauty.

Captured...in classical black and white.

Yellow fence is pleasing and so fresh...distinctful to the surrounding...under the canopy of Cherry Blossoms.

A Magnolia tree with amazing flowers.

Children...could not resist the luring of the flower's immence attraction.

The air...filled with scented breeze...flowing free...a gift from God.

Ibu Martina...the one who suggested to visit this unique street show of nature in Bethesda.

Sakura, sakura...kasumi ka, kumo ka, ...is it a mist, is it clouds?

Comfortable lawn chais were provided by a houseowner...to rest for tired visitors....oh, it is so nice of the provider.

The invitation says, Sit - Enjoy the blossoms! Plus...you can leave a note for memories...attached to the chair's top-back.

On the next chair...the writer left a note...from Sipirok, Sumatra.

Ibu Martina also wrote a message.

Amongst the notes...one from...Kiyoko, Japan.

Children played a marketing strategy...selling cookies and lemonade...the sales proceeds were collected for donation, according to the them.

A brief moment... to capture.

It was noon...but felt like in the evening...under the influence of Sakura's canopies.

Bent...still going strong.

Sayonara!...Good bye...until the next year.

Photograph: Bethesda, Maryland -April 8, 2009
Writer: Hamdun H Mandily