I wrote yesterday that it is absolutely worth the effort it takes to see DC’s famous cherry blossoms. There are also gorgeous blossoms to be found in the suburbs, though, and some of the best are located right here in my neighborhood of Lake Anne in Reston, Virginia.
The prettiest trees at Lake Anne are the weeping cherries that sit on each side of the Van Gogh Bridge. To find this bridge, park at Lake Anne Plaza and walk all the way to the end of the boardwalk. Then follow the sidewalk as it bends to the right. Walk past a few townhouses, and you’ll find the bridge. You can’t see this bridge from Lake Anne Plaza because of the bend in the sidewalk. You have to walk a short distance to find it.
You can also parallel park along North Shore Drive near North Shore Pool, and walk down the path along the canal that runs behind the pool.
This bridge is a gorgeous spot for portrait sessions, weddings, engagements, turtle-watching, and your latest Instagram masterpiece. No photo permit is required, and there are no parking or admission fees. But please keep in mind that it is located in the middle of a residential area, so please be respectful of the people who live right next to the bridge.
These cherry blossoms bloom early in spring, usually in late March, and they stay in bloom for 1-2 weeks.
On the other side of Lake Anne, there is another weeping cherry blossom tree that sits on the edge of the lake. It’s a great place to get pictures of the blossoms with Lake Anne Plaza in the background. This year, I decided to take photos at twilight, just for the fun of it.
This cherry blossom tree is also located on a public sidewalk next to private residences, so once again, please be respectful of the people who live there and their property.
Lake Anne, my home sweet home, looks beautiful in every season and any time of day.
Related posts:
The Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms: Worth every bit of the effort
The Cherry Blossoms of Meadowlark Gardens: A Gorgeous and Easy Alternative to the Tidal Basin
Virginia’s springtime splendor: Some of my favorite photos from the last few weeks
Northern Virginia’s glorious springtime: Some of my favorite photos of the spring of 2016
Spring in Virginia: Reston in the spring bloom of 2015
Couple portraits at Lake Anne Plaza on a lovely summer evening
