My Spring Cherry Blossom Stories - Blooming
Riding the cherry blossom high throughout the month
As I write this article, I see that the Kwazan variety of cherry blossoms is in full bloom around the city, allowing me to reminisce about these flowers from early spring and enjoy their lingering presence. I have to admit, it does feel superficial and ironic in this moment to admire the flowers while living in the United States, a country that’s going through a constitutional crisis, stirring divide through hate, and going through an economic downturn. I only wish that I could revisit this article next spring, and know that all of this is already behind us, and I can smile at us thriving and flourishing, not buckling under pressure and fear. I hope that sharing these snippets of my favorite season will give you a moment to breathe and recoup, while we work towards a better future.
In the first post about this cherry blossom series, I wrote about stalking the sakuras from stems to full bloom. In this article, I’ll continue my stories about how I partake in my artistic rituals during this peak season.
Hanami Picnic at the UW Quad
Every year around this time, I’m not the only one impatiently awaiting the arrival of the cherry blossoms in Seattle. The University of Washington boasts an incredible scene at The Quad — 29 cherry blossom trees, almost a century old, flourishing and creating a soothing canopy for the students who walk across the campus. The school sets up a live camera where you can spy on the conditions of the trees throughout the year, 24 hrs. I started checking in on these trees since the beginning of March, perhaps a bit too greedily. When I returned from my trip from Chicago around the end of March, I finally saw the desired view through the camera: A thick cloud of white blossoms under the sun.
Of course, the rest of Seattle saw it too, and everyone descended on to this famous campus to enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms together. The nearby U-district neighborhood even dedicated their cafe and restaurant menus to celebrate the “Sakura Festival”, and I’m happy that so many people took this seasonality so seriously.
It also happens that the local urban sketchers group in Seattle gets together at The Quad each year during peak bloom (70% bloom according to the UW Campus) to capture the vibrant scene through drawings. I’ve been partaking in this ritual for several years; I find it a great excuse to exercise my painting muscles after the long winter, and it’s nice to enjoy hanami with other people. The group meets by Denny Hall first to explain urban sketching to newcomers, and everyone reconvenes later to “throw down” and share what sketches we’ve created.
The UW Quad boasts a variety of cherry blossom tree types, but the most prominently featured ones are the Yoshino variety, particularly with pale white petals, a pink center, and yellow pollen. Despite the silky white canvas that the trees presented, we urban sketchers tend to take a lot of liberty and insist on splashing on some pinks from our palettes, just because.
Just like last year, I brought a picnic blanket to the Quad to make myself comfortable for the two and a half hours of the meetup. My friend and I purchased croissants from a bakery earlier in the day, and we settled into the bustle of the Quad, people-watching as we enjoyed our breakfast. Just for fun, I brought some stationery along for a photo opportunity. My precious Nakaya fountain pens perfectly imitate the soft pink of the cherry blossoms, and the heki-tamenuri looks just like the gnarly tree trunks of these old-timers.
Despite the busy scene in front of me, my favorite thing to draw each year is the solemn school buildings rising among the clouds of cherry blossoms against the sky. The red brick takes on a pale pink hue in the sunlight, and the teal green roof tiles are the perfect complement to the cherry blossoms. My aversion to drawing people (they look like deformed blobs all the time) always makes my painting look more serene than it actually is. This year, I put a toe outside my comfort zone and tried to slap on some stick figures. Next year, I’ll try a little more to incorporate more figures in my paintings.
What I love the most about this cherry blossom season at the UW Quad is all the people who are enjoying this scene with their loved ones. People brought family members to take memorable photos, parents bring their children to pose in front of the flowers, and there are so many dogs also frolicking around the greens. It feels nice to see a lot of people genuinely enjoying nature’s fruit and being out in the sun. There’s a sense of collective happiness, and it’s very contagious and refreshing.
I paint fast because I’m an impatient artist; I tend not to dwell on my work too much on details and move on fast to the next new thing. I squeezed in a second painting before we met up with the other sketchers.
I love painting outdoors — the feeling of creating art without abandon in an outdoor environment feels very freeing. I feel like the impressionist artists, enjoying the creative process that is not just about the painting itself, but all the elements that add together: the sights, sounds, smells.
Finally, we threw down our sketchbooks and paintings on the ground for everyone to view, like a mini gallery. I can’t wait to do this again next year when cherry blossom season rolls around.
Cherry Blossoms Presents for My Birthday
I used to live in the Ballard neighborhood, and my daily walk and wandering, especially around my birthday, allowed me to discover two beautiful streets lined with cherry blossoms. I won’t disclose the street names in my attempt to gatekeep them for a little while longer for myself, but you might be able to figure it out by the photos.
For this article’s sake, I’ll refer to them as Street A and Street B.
Street A is not too hidden, as it is located close to a public park called Sunset Hill Park, so it must have gotten quite a lot of foot traffic all year round. Sunset Hill Park held a special place in my heart. It’s a bluff that overlooks the edge towards Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. This was where Elliot and I, when we first started dating, attempted to see the meteor shower back in 2018. In 2020, we got married with a company of five friends at Sunset Hill Park in a quarantine-style wedding.
My dad’s health declined in 2023, and I drove to this park, stared out at the waters, and memorialized him on the day he passed. It was April 11th, and it also happened to be when the cherry blossoms hit peak on this street (they also have the Yoshino variety, but bloom a bit later than others in the city). Walking through the tunnels of cherry blossoms made my heart calm and at peace.
This street has a lot of old and gnarly cherry blossom trees, I would like to guess that they might be as aged as those in the UW Quad. The stubborn roots lifted the pathways on both sides of the streets, while the residents further decorate their landscapes with tulips and daffodils to complement the flowers.
This is another popular meetup location for Seattle Urban Sketchers, a favorite street of one of the main admins of the group. I sneaked away from work during a lunch break to join their sketching party, and quickly put together a small painting by the sidewalk.
The first time I discovered street B, I gasped audibly at the pink grandeur in front of me. For the past few years, I have taken great pleasure in enjoying the quiet but magical environment that these neighborhoods offer during this time of the year. This street is my absolute favorite.
These cherry blossom trees are slightly taller than in other neighborhoods, and they form a perfect dome of pink above you when you walk between the two sides of the street. Each year, I enjoy the pink glow version of “komorebi” (a Japanese word describing the sunlight filtering through trees) at this street.
This year, I even dragged Elliot along to take photos of his car underneath the soft pink petals, a juxtaposition of mechanical prowess against gentle beauty. After he drove away, I parked my car at the end of the street, opened my hatchback, and enjoyed a makeshift picnic on the street.
This street gives me So. Much. Joy, and I feel like just taking photos of it does not do this street justice. I must spend more time soaking in its essence and the energy it gives me.
The first year I set up my hatchback picnic, I painted the view. Last year, I sat under the pink canopy and read a book. This year, a day before my birthday (April 1st), I just sat at the back of my car with a scoop of ice cream (Salt and Straw’s Pot of Gold and Rainbows), looking out at the gentle waving of the flowering branches, and counted each falling petals. It was nice to just sit and do nothing while being in the presence of such beauty.
Painting Underneath the Pink Canopy
My art buddy Eleanor (aka Hercoil on Instagram and Hand to Paper here on Substack) and I have a tradition of doing plein air paintings of cherry blossoms each year. For two years in a row, we painted at Street B, but this time I introduced her to Street C, another neighborhood street on the top of Queen Anne Hill.
I discovered this little intersection on Nob Hill Ave N while driving around Queen Anne, peeking down each street for a glimpse of pinks during the cherry blossom season (I’m always on the lookout to add more spots to my mental map). Compared to the more touristy Kerry Park cherry blossom avenue, street C is incredibly quiet and under the radar.
The weather was a bit overcast, but my hatchback made a great awning against the occasional drizzle during our painting session. The cherry blossom tree, thick with flowers, also acted as a pink umbrella that shielded us from rain.
We discussed the hue of the cherry blossoms and how to create a mixture to capture that soft color. We chat about her upcoming wedding and catch up on life. Our view is nothing too spectacular, just an everyday sidewalk with a touch of pink. However, it was nice to see each other’s technique and how we built up to the scene.
I love that the entire hour we were there, we didn’t see anyone other than the residents passing by. We did cheer when a stray cat crossed the street, and a pedestrian walked their dog along the sidewalk. It was a secret hideout; A moment of cherry blossom appreciation by artists, creating art for no one but ourselves.
I did make it back to Street B to attempt another sketch the previous weekend. However, I was shooed out as a giant yellow school bus (converted into a children’s indoor playground) pulled up and blocked my view — a family was hosting a children’s birthday party for their peers.
I wrapped up my painting in the evening at my desk, but I was still pleased that I got to enjoy this special activity: painting at my favorite cherry blossom-filled street.
I basically didn’t get much done at work during this peak bloom week in Seattle. I took longer-than-usual walks with Cookie, and instead of working out at the gym, I ventured through new neighborhoods. The cherry blossoms don’t last long, typically 1 week and a half maximum, and I wanted to experience their fleeting presence to the fullest. I know I’m greedy, but it’s one of the luxuries one could have as an adult, to prioritize their time on things that are most important to them in this moment.
What’s one thing that’s most important to you?
Such lovely photos. I enjoyed seeing them and hearing your stories of how you're connected to these trees. I love the word "komorebi" - I had no idea of it before but I love looking at it! Thanks!
I learned a new concept recently of phenology - which is what waiting for trees to bloom reminds me of. Might be fun to capture as an artist! I hope one day I can see a massive bloom like this. And in times like these, so glad you have them for comfort and can "experience their fleeting presence to the fullest" 💚
I love how much you love cherry blossoms. And I really liked painting them with you. After our session, I felt like I appreciated them even more, like I could see a little bit of how you see them. It’s a surreal and beautiful fleeting season!