Well, all I can tell you is that May for me disappeared into a whirlwind of travel, including a fabulous trip to Turkey where I saw Kwanzan cherry trees blooming in Istanbul, Konya and Ankara! I was incredulous, as you might be as you read this, but the photo is proof. It was taken on May 1 of this year in Istanbul. It was thrilling to find cherry blossoms there, on top of all the other wonderful experiences that await any visitor to Turkey. I highly recommend Turkey as a travel destination.
I also was in New York City briefly for BookExpo — stay tuned for further developments regarding my various publishing projects, currently still under wraps.
Next week there will be a planning meeting for the 2016 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Very excited about that since 2016 will also be the centennial celebration of the National Park Service! Watch this space for more information as it’s available.
Happy summer!
Scenes from the Tidal Basin at Peak Bloom 2015
This couple bought my first book in 2005. Now they consider it a family heirloom and will be passing it along to their daughter and her children!
The crowds were amazing! You can hardly see the Jefferson Memorial’s steps.
The skies were eye-popping blue on April 11.
Wish I’d brought a picnic too!
First sale of the day on April 12th — this great book is still selling well, 10 years after it was new!
The wind died down enough for people to use the paddle boats on April 12th. Very fun!
A scene repeated anywhere you looked around the Tidal Basin any day of the Peak Bloom weekend.
Peak Bloom Images on April 10, 2015!
This wonderful family came from Dallas to DC for the day just to see the blossoms at their peak. Note their fab headgear!
Peak Bloom at the Tidal Basin will be this weekend!
I’m looking forward to three book signings this weekend at the National Park Store Tent, not too far from the paddle boats dock. I’ll be there Friday the 10th, Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th from 1 to 3 each day. Of course, what I love most is to sign books, but I’ll be happy to chat and share what I know about Washington’s amazing cherry blossom trees. Please stop by!
Peak Bloom Predicted!
The National Cherry Blossom Festival’s press conference was this morning. The National Park Service prediction for peak bloom was the big news — it’s expected to be from April 11 to 14! Looking forward to lots of springtime fun, which I’ll share with you on this blog. Think pink!
The Cherry Blossoms’ Peak Bloom will be all over DC news channels today!
March is right around the corner!
This year, more than most, I am elated to see that March is upon us. Lion or lamb, it will be an improvement over the frigid February we experienced here in Washington, DC in 2015.
I’m delighted to share that I will be giving a cherry blossom talk at the Caroline County Library Community Services Center in Milford, Virginia on Saturday, March 14th at 4:00 pm. This talk will be open to the public and is one of several the Library System is holding, honoring Japanese culture. Hope to see you there!
My other public talk this year will be in Peterborough, New Hampshire, on April 23rd at 2 pm at RiverMead Retirement Community. Members of the public are invited to attend as well as RiverMead residents.
My other “official” talks this year are private events, but if you want to meet me and chat about all things cherry blossom, I will be signing books by the Tidal Basin for several weekends during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. You can find me at the National Park Store Tent from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29 — then again Friday, April 3; Saturday, April 4; Sunday, April 5; Friday, April 10 and lastly Saturday, April 11 — all from 1 to 3 pm.
Just in case you think cherry blossoms are my only interest, here’s an image from my foray to the Smithsonian American Art Museum yesterday. My novel set in 16th century France is shaping up and the legend of Jeanne d’Arc plays a big role in it. Stay tuned!
by J. William Fosdick, on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2015
And here’s another clue — King Francis the First of France on view at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC.
A New Year!
Cherry Blossoms are a year-round thing at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum, I’m delighted to report. I saw this display in December 2014. Looking forward to giving talks and book signings beginning in March!
Cherry Blossoms All Year Long
As you can see, cherry blossoms turn up in my world all year long! The image on the left is from the Delta in-flight magazine I enjoyed on my return from France last month — more on that soon. Then, in today’s Washington Post, I was amazed to see this photo of the distinctive cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin. The caption notes that their astonishing blooming is still several months away. Can’t wait!