Grassy lawns dotted by trees also provide great places for a picnic or game of hide and seek.
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Between the blooms, the water and the monuments, the beauty of cherry blossom season is a natural attraction not to be missed.
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Echoing the famous work of pointillism, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, an afternoon at the Tidal Basin is just as lovely.
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Black and white stripes contrast with the pink buds and blossoms all around.
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This twisted tree casts elongated shadows in the mid-morning sun.
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The twisted bark surface of a cherry tree.
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A patch of green beneath a sky of pink.
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The calm water of the Tidal Basin provides a clear reflection of the cherry blossoms dangling above.
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That picture perfect moment sometimes requires lifejackets.
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A mid-morning view of the Jefferson Memorial.
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Skylar poses for the camera, stealing the cherry blossoms' thunder.
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From giggling kids to adoring couples and even impatient businessmen, the blossoms attract a wide variety of people.
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Looking up through the branches to the blue sky beyond.
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For rent by the hour, paddle boats are a fun way to see the blossoms from a new angle
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From Fairfax, Virginia, Elena has been making the trip to see the blossoms since she was a kid, but this year she came in an outfit inspired by Japanese street culture, complete with gold glitter nail polish.
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Visitors amble among the pink branches.
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After a cold and windy March, the buds finally began to bloom in April.
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After months of waiting, the D.C. Tidal Basin's beloved cherry trees are finally in bloom. We sent our own photographers to capture them in all their splendor.
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