The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts on March 20 in Washington. Every year millions of pink and white petals mark the start of spring in the nation's capital. If you can't make a trip to D.C. to see these delicate flowers bloom, enjoy their beauty through these photos taken over the years by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-955495">CNN iReporters</a>.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts on March 20 in Washington. Every year millions of pink and white petals mark the start of spring in the nation's capital. If you can't make a trip to D.C. to see these delicate flowers bloom, enjoy their beauty through these photos taken over the years by CNN iReporters.
Courtesy Neal Piper
New York resident <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-767994">Navid Baraty </a>visited D.C. to see the cherry blossoms in 2012.
New York resident Navid Baraty visited D.C. to see the cherry blossoms in 2012.
Courtesy Navid Baraty
The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">National Cherry Blossom Festival </a>has grown into one of the largest springtime celebrations in the United States. More than 1.5 million people travel to the capital to see these blooming trees, according to the festival website.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival has grown into one of the largest springtime celebrations in the United States. More than 1.5 million people travel to the capital to see these blooming trees, according to the festival website.
Courtesy Navid Baraty
Baraty, a photographer by trade, rarely shoots images of flowers, but he made an exception while at the festival. "I knew it was going to be gorgeous, but wasn't quite prepared for how stunning of a show it really was," he said.
Baraty, a photographer by trade, rarely shoots images of flowers, but he made an exception while at the festival. "I knew it was going to be gorgeous, but wasn't quite prepared for how stunning of a show it really was," he said.
Courtesy Navid Baraty
The cherry blossom festival commemorates a 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States.
The cherry blossom festival commemorates a 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States.
Courtesy Navid Baraty
The cherry trees' peak bloom, which is when 70% of the trees are blooming, is very much dependent on the weather.
The cherry trees' peak bloom, which is when 70% of the trees are blooming, is very much dependent on the weather.
Courtesy Navid Baraty
The 2015 peak bloom is expected between April 11 and April 14.
The 2015 peak bloom is expected between April 11 and April 14.
Courtesy Ian Dixon
In 1915, the United States government presented the people of Japan with <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">flowering dogwood trees</a>. The gift was in response to the cherry trees the United States received from Japan three years earlier.
In 1915, the United States government presented the people of Japan with flowering dogwood trees. The gift was in response to the cherry trees the United States received from Japan three years earlier.
Courtesy Felix Masi
In the early 1980s, the United States government gave Japanese horticulturists some cuttings of cherry trees after a flood in Japan decimated many of the trees there.
In the early 1980s, the United States government gave Japanese horticulturists some cuttings of cherry trees after a flood in Japan decimated many of the trees there.
Courtesy Neal Piper
Cherry blossoms are a familiar springtime sight for <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-955495">Neal Piper</a>, who lives in D.C. He took this photo in March 2013.
Cherry blossoms are a familiar springtime sight for Neal Piper, who lives in D.C. He took this photo in March 2013.
Courtesy Neal Piper
Travelers enjoy the sight of cherry blossoms so much that crowds start gathering in the park as early as sunrise, which is when <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-763864">Ian Dixon</a> captured this photograph in March 2012. "Even at 7 a.m. it was getting tough to find good spots to shoot from due to all the photographers around," he said.
Travelers enjoy the sight of cherry blossoms so much that crowds start gathering in the park as early as sunrise, which is when Ian Dixon captured this photograph in March 2012. "Even at 7 a.m. it was getting tough to find good spots to shoot from due to all the photographers around," he said.
Courtesy Ian Dixon