Peak Cherry Blossom Bloom at the Arboretum


If you've lived in Seattle for any amount of time, you know that cherry blossom season is kind of a big deal. It signals the beginning of spring and the end of The Big Dark, so everyone in the city is already feeling more energized than they've been in months. Add to that the 17,000+ cherry trees all blooming at the same time, and that means everyone is getting outside to look at the flowers. There are even online maps that show where you can find these trees around the city. The blossoms are usually only around for a couple weeks, so once they show up, you have to enjoy them quickly before they're gone!


One of the most popular places in Seattle to admire the cherry blossoms (after the UW quad) is Washington Park Arboretum. Every year, the park floods with people (and photographers!) with cameras and picnics to enjoy the flowering trees. So as we got close to Bianca and Clara's engagement session at the arboretum and it seemed that the date they had picked was going to end up being during the peak of the cherry blossom bloom, I did have to warn them that it was going to be a little crowded and chaotic. They were fine with that, though, and also fine with my plan to not wait for a turn at any area that was too busy. The park is so full of beautiful plants that it's hard to go wrong with any spot. I think avoiding the more popular areas allowed us to get some more creative and interesting photos than if we had waited around for whichever tree had The Most Cherry Blossoms.

Two smiling women stand together in front of beautiful white cherry blossom trees in spring.
Couple laughing and gazing at each other beneath blooming white cherry blossom trees outdoors.
Two women share a romantic kiss in front of stunning white cherry blossom trees in spring.
Black and white close-up of two people holding hands tenderly outdoors among blurred trees.
Woman in teal cardigan examines a ring outdoors near white flowering cherry blossom trees.
Two women smile and touch noses affectionately beneath white cherry blossoms in spring garden.
Two women embrace and laugh joyfully together under blooming white cherry blossom trees outdoors.
Two women hold hands and smile while standing before white cherry blossom trees in spring.
Two women hold hands and smile at each other beneath a blooming white cherry blossom tree in spring.
Two women share a conversation on a garden path surrounded by lush white flowering trees in spring.
Two women hold hands on a wooden deck reflected in a still pond beneath white blossoming trees.
Two women hold hands facing each other on a garden platform surrounded by white spring blossoms.
Two women share a kiss beneath cascading white cherry blossom branches in a spring garden.
Two women share a tender kiss framed by delicate white cherry blossoms in full spring bloom.
Close-up of two women holding hands, wearing teal and brown jackets with blossoms in background.

Beyond the Cherry Blossoms


Bianca and Clara were also open to exploring the park beyond just the cherry trees along Azalea Way. The cherry blossoms tend to coincide with peak bloom for the magnolia trees too, which these two were also excited about. Of course, as is true for many PNW queer people, they love woodsy vibes with evergreens and ferns too, which the arboretum provides plenty of. We spent the rest of the session exploring much of the park, getting sweet photos at every tree that sparked joy.

Two women help each other across stepping stones over a reflective pond in a lush green garden.
Couple standing on stone bridge reflected in tranquil pond surrounded by lush green trees in a botanical garden.
Two people sitting on a log bench sharing an intimate conversation in a lush green woodland setting.
Couple sitting close together on a rustic stone bench surrounded by vibrant green forest trees.
Two women sitting on a stone bench in a garden, one resting her head on the other's shoulder tenderly.
Close-up of two women holding hands while sitting together, one wearing a brown jacket and the other teal.
Black and white portrait of two women sitting close together, one leaning on the other's shoulder lovingly.
Two women smiling and gazing at each other surrounded by bright green spring foliage in a forest.
Two women walking hand in hand along a lush green garden path lined with tall trees.
Two women about to kiss surrounded by stunning white and pink magnolia blossoms in full spring bloom.
Two women holding hands and smiling at each other beside a large blooming magnolia tree in spring.
Two women embrace romantically among blooming pink magnolia trees in spring.
Two women laugh and hold hands in front of flowering magnolia blossoms.
Two women dance and hold hands on green grass beside a magnolia tree.
Two women smile at each other surrounded by white magnolia flowers.
Couple embraces tenderly beneath blooming pink and white magnolia branches.

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