Beautiful Pictures of Cherry Blossoms‏

Washington Monument framed by cherry tree Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Cherry blossoms over a Japanese moat Tokyo, Japan

Yellow bird in middle of cherry blossoms A prothonotary warbler adds a splash of gold to a tableau of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. The famed cherry trees were given to the U.S. capital city by Japan in 1912. More than 3,000 trees—and 12 different varieties—made the oversea journey from Yokohama to the District of Columbia.

Cherry trees blooming along a lake Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

Close-up of cherry blossoms Maintaining the 3,000-plus cherry trees that blossom each spring in Washington, D.C., is a big job for the National Park Service. Every year, Tree Crew members prune the trees, treat bark wounds, monitor for insects and disease, and replace any trees lost to old age or other problems.

Flowering cherry trees in foothill Alps near Verona, Italy

Japanese garden with cherry blossoms Kyoto, Japan

Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms Cherry blossoms frame a picture-perfect view of the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. According to the National Park Service, there are exactly 1,678 cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin—and more than 2,000 others nearby.