Spring has sprung! On this beautiful UK Easter Bank Holiday the sun is high in the sky, the clouds are thin and wispy, birds are happily tweeting and the trees are adorned in white, pink, and purple blossom. After a long dormant winter, everything is alive once again. It’s not just here though. Let’s take a look at some blossom photos from around the world …
Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France
Spring is a wonderful time to visit Paris: after a cold and grey winter, the weather gets better, the terraces of the city finally open and the trees and flowers start to blossom. Magnolia trees and cherry trees blossoms are one of the most beautiful events in Paris in the spring and offer visitors and locals endless photo opportunities. This picture was taken in Luxembourg Gardens, but there are many more spots to enjoy blossoms in Paris: Palais Royal Gardens, the gardens around the Eiffel Tower or the Square Jean XXIII, just behind Notre Dame Cathedral, are just some examples.
Elisa from World in Paris
Santos-o-Velho Church, Lisbon, Portugal
This tree stands right in front of the Santos-o-Velho Church in Lisbon, Portugal. I had passed by the church many times before, but what made me stop and take the photo on this particular day was the beautiful pink blooms on the tree, which matched the pink façade of the church.
Interestingly, in older photos of this church, it’s painted yellow instead of pink! I wonder if the flowers could have been the inspiration for giving it a new look. Inside is the tomb of three children said to be martyred for their Christian faith in the 4th century AD, when Lisbon was part of the Roman Empire.
Wendy, The Nomadic Vegan
Tidal Basin, Washington D.C., USA
The cherry blossom season in Washington D.C. is the highlight of the year for locals and tourists alike! Nowhere is the display of blooms more stunning than at the Tidal Basin near the National Mall. The combination of fluffy pink and white blossoms next to national monuments just can’t be replicated. There are over 3,000 cherry blossom trees planted here creating a stunning display once the trees hit peak bloom sometime between late March and early April. There is even a month-long cherry blossom festival to celebrate these beautiful trees. Once the cherry blossoms bloom, it is the official start of spring in D.C.!
Lindsey, Abroad Wife
Lingering Gardens, Suzhou, China
While on a 10-day tour of China in March I visited the city of Suzhou, just west of Shanghai, known for its canals and bridges and beautiful gardens. During a visit to the Lingering Gardens, one of the more famous of the classical Chinese gardens, the magnolia trees were in full bloom. The pink and white blooms of the magnolia tree create a graceful and elegant bouquet, appearing before any of the leaves on the tree. The magnolia blooms are a sure sign of spring weather. Suzhou’s classical gardens are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Susan, Solo Trips And Tips.com
Mainau (the Flower Island), Germany
The beautiful island of Mainau is known as the Flower Island, and springtime sees the island explode in bloom. From tulips, to roses, sequoias and numerous flowering trees, the entire island of Mainau is filled with blossoms at every turn.
The tree pictured here is on the sequoia tree pathway right up the hill past the butterfly house. This beautiful flowering tree was one of many that had the island filled with colour in the spring. The pink blooms created a beautiful backdrop against the towering sequoias. The islands flowering trees are strategically places where each pops when in bloom as they stand alone against the greenery of the beautiful island.
Diana, The Elusive Family
West London, UK
London gets completely transformed in spring from a grey city to one bursting with colour. With magnolias, cherry blossoms and wisteria coming through between the end of February all the way through to May, London is a great city to witness the change into the blooming season. A great area to see London in bloom is West London. The neighbourhoods of Kensington, Notting Hill and Chelsea offer plenty of spots to enjoy the arrival of spring.
My favourite blossoms have to be magnolias. Not only are they gorgeous flowers, but they are the first ones in the year to make a real impact and transform the city.
Teresa, Brogan Abroad
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are always in bloom. There are tropical trees, flowers and plants from all over the world. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the Botanic Gardens, the National Orchid Garden is extraordinary. When we came upon this tree, we thought the tree was in bloom. As we walked closer, we realized that the purple flowers were actually orchids. This is how orchids grow in the wild – not as separate plans on the ground, but on trees. This tree is located just outside of the National Orchid Gardens.
Sue, Travel For Life Now
High Park, Toronto, Canada
Mid April to early May is the start of cherry blossom season in High Park, a 399-acre park in Toronto’s West End. The highlight comes when the park’s Sakura cherry trees are in full bloom, bursting forth with their pale pink blooms like a vision of snow, making blossom viewing one of the top attractions in Toronto during spring. The first Japanese Somei-Yoshino Cherry Trees in the park date back to 1959, and were presented by the Japanese Ambassador to Canada, while other groves have been planted over the years. Full blooms are achieved about a week after the buds first appear, but the season in Toronto is fleeting, making it all the more special … and crowded, so it’s best to go in the early morning to get the full ethereal effect.
Carol, Wandering Carol
A.K. Bissell Park, Tennessee, USA
While exploring some historical sites in Tennessee, I was lucky enough to catch the local cherry trees in bloom. This particular photo was taken at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – the one-time “secret city” and birthplace of the atomic bomb. These trees are found surrounding the town’s Peace Pavilion and home of the International Friendship Bell – an 8,000-pound bronze bell made in Japan and cast with images representing peace and friendship between Japan and the United States. The bell also displays such historical dates as the attack on Pearl Harbor, VJ Day, and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Ashley, My Wanderlusty Life
Yangjae Stream, Seoul, South Korea
Yangjaecheon (or Yangjae Stream) is a beautiful river running through the South Western area of the infamous Gangnam District in Seoul, South Korea. This is probably the most festive of the areas to watch the cherry blossoms in Seoul. By day you can see the gorgeous flowers sprout all sorts of pink while taking a slow stroll along the flowing stream. By night there is an electric festival where lanterns of all shapes and sizes are constructed. There are also performances with traditional dances and music (samul nori) on display along with food stalls and a flea market.
The Yangjaecheon Stream Cherry Blossom and Lantern Festival only takes place over one weekend in the year (usually beginning of April), but the flowers last a bit longer. Tip: while the more ubiquitous word “sakura” is known in Japan, in Korea the cherry blossoms are called “beotkkot”, beot (벚) meaning cherry and kkot (꽃) meaning flower.
Mar, Once in a Lifetime Journey
Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Ontario, Canada
Springtime in the Peterborough & the Kawarthas region of Ontario is a time to enjoy the wonderfully fragrant lilac trees and shrubs that burst into bloom around the small towns, parks and homes of this cottage country region east of Toronto. Blooming from May onward, these blossoms in shades of lavender, white and pink are a treasure to behold, with many of them reaching heights of 25 feet and more. The sweet fragrance of lilac is legendary and, when used in aromatherapy is considered to have a calming, soothing effect. So, taking a stroll among the blossoming lilac trees or attending one of the lilac festivals in Ontario, Canada is not only a memorable experience but could actually even be good for your health.
Michele, A Taste for Travel
Wisteria Tunnel, Kawachi Fuji Gardens, Japan
One of the most instagrammable blooms in Japan would have to be the famous Wisteria Tunnel found in Kawachi Fuji Gardens on Kyushu Island in southern Japan. This is an annual bloom that takes place at the beginning of May, where it often coincides with the Golden Week holidays of Japan, making it a huge attraction at the time. To visit there will be an entrance charge to the wisteria tunnel and surrounding gardens, which depends on the stage of bloom (we paid 1000 Yen at the peak of the bloom) but it is worth it, and to date the Wisteria Tunnel is one of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed in my lifetime.
Allan, Live Less Ordinary
Munro Drive, Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa
From late September to the middle of November, Johannesburg is draped with purple and blue flowers from the blooming Jacaranda trees. Johannesburg is not only the most dynamic African city but also the world’s largest urban man-made forest. So imagine streets and parks filled with spots of blue and purple contrasting against lush green trees.
Although Jacaranda trees are not native from South Africa, they were brought from the Americas in the late 1800s by the English settlers, they have now become an integral part of the city landscape. The best place to see these beautiful trees is in Munro Drive in Houghton or in any park in the city.
Mel, BRB Travel Blog
Roath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK
This pretty pink magnolia tree stands gloating among the other trees in Roath Park, Cardiff; dubbed the most popular park in the Welsh capital by those living in Cardiff.
Originally opened in 1894, this traditional Victorian park is well-known for its Botanic Garden, boasting a spectacular tree and shrub collection; picturesque floral display; ancient pond and a conservatory brimming with indoor plants.
Besides flora, the park also boasts its very own 30-acre boating and fishing lake complete with a memorial lighthouse dedicated to Captain Scott, whose expedition to the Antarctic set sail from Roath Dock aboard the Terra Nova on June 15th 1910.
Other features of the park include an adventure playground, bowls, tennis and basketball courts.
Kacie, The Rare Welsh Bit
