I made a visit back to an area of Herring Run Park in Baltimore City, Maryland. This is the area by Father Hooper Field. The last time I visited was about three years ago when the bridge that went over the water of Herring Run was torn down. It was a three arch concrete bridge and was past the point of any more repairs so this section of the road would be closed for the following three years. When I visited three years ago my husband parked by the field where some beautiful Kwanzan Cherry trees were in bloom. I planned on returning around this time to see the trees in bloom and see if the bridge had re-opened. It wasn't but is due to re-open very soon. Perhaps I will do a post on the new bridge at a later time once it re-opens.
I did get to see some beautiful blooms though and I believe I caught them very close to peak bloom.
The Kwanzan Cherry tree can grow as high as forty feet and can spread out just as far but I'm fairly certain that these were topped off at some point.
I do love the Kwanzan Cherry tree as the blossoms stick around longer than many other flowering cherry trees. They are also a larger flower and a more vibrant pink than some other varieties.
The Kwanzan Cherry tree is an ornamental tree so it doesn't produce any fruit, just very pretty blossoms! It is funny because my son mentioned about some pretty trees he saw the other night with pink blossoms and I said it sounded like he was referring to Kwanzan Cherry trees. He and my husband looked at me like Kwa ... what? Little did they realize that I did a post on them three years ago so I was very familiar with them and knew all of the other flowering cherry trees were done blooming already. I showed my son photos that I took those years ago and he confirmed that it was indeed the trees that he was referring to. Another coincidence that the very day that he was bringing this up was the very same day that I had taken those photos.
Additionally, I had already asked my husband about returning to this spot to check on the bridge and the Kwanzan Cherry trees. We went back three days later and there were many many blossoms on the trees.
I only wished that the day that we returned that it had been sunny out. It was overcast but at least there was no rain. I think I still got some pretty good shots of the blossoms. I only took a few of the actual trees though. Unfortunately, there was at least one that had completely died and I could see some dead branches on a couple of other trees.
All in all, it was a fruitful visit even if no fruit was involved ..lol. I do want to return again next year and catch them blooming again!
There are also some trails down by the water that I would like to check out. This area has changed a lot though in the many years that I would walk over the bridge to go to school so it might take some convincing for my husband to take that walk with me. Also, who knows how things will be a year from now with how the world is going but it is good to remain hopeful. Lately it seems that my hope "waxes and wanes" on a day to day basis. Right now it is more waxing than waning so maybe I'll get more photos of the beautiful Kwanzan Cherry tree blossoms next year and let us also hope for a brighter sunnier day!! 💖
All photos and text by me 
