In Virginia Beach, the flowers are blooming.
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Red Wing Park evoked feelings of wonder for visitors.
Kim Baylor, who has been practicing martial arts for almost 50 years, narrated a demonstration.
“The cherry trees are fleeting,” she said. “I’m sure that’s why all of you are here today.”
Crowds strolled along the promenade of more than 150 Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom. Their peak lasts about a week in late March and early April.
“I always want to see the cherry blossoms,” said Deltric Robertson, who was visiting the park with his young daughter. “I just wanted to come out and take some pictures and just enjoy the view.”
Mina Liu and Michael Marquez brought their toddler.
From North Carolina, they were in town visiting Marquez’s parents and were searching for a playground when they stumbled on the festival by accident.
“I didn’t know they had cherry blossoms in Red Wing Park,” Marquez said.
Oksana Shalal visited with her mother and three children. They live outside of Washington, D.C., where they can also see cherry blossoms, but another event brought them down to Hampton Roads. The family is from Ukraine and Shalal’s mom got her U.S. citizenship that day.
“We just came from ceremony,” Shalal said.
On the other side of the park, Baylor, narrating the martial arts demonstration, explained the connection between warriors and the delicate blooms.
“In old, ancient Japan, samurai would go to the cherry trees to write a haiku.”
Elina Carter, a teenager spending the day with her parents, said she dreams of seeing the flowers in Japan.
“When the wind falls and you see all the cherry blossoms falling down to the ground, it’s beautiful,” she said.
Shalal asked her mother what she thought of the flowers, and translated.
“Like a puffy cloud, she say.
“For me, it’s like a heaven. You look up and the sun and all these bees, you know, just give you life. It’s giving you hope.”
