There’s still time. A.E. Housman published his poem in 1896, well before the Mayor of Tokyo gifted the city of Washington, DC 3,000 cherry trees, but his message is universal. It doesn’t depend on time or location. You don’t have to make the pilgrimage to the tidal basin to see the blossoms and reflect on the fleeting nature of time.
Many of us in the Mount Vernon area are lucky enough to have cherry trees on our street. If you haven’t seen any yet, visit nearby River Farm. They have a small grove of them on your left as you enter the front gate. Just enough for a photo opportunity. If your cherry blossom viewing won’t be same without a crowd, go on Friday or Saturday during the American Horticultural Society’s Spring Garden Market. Go quickly, before the petals fall. Don’t forget to recite Housman’s poem.
Cherry Blossoms, April 2018, Mount Vernon, VA