Fort McHenry Cherry Trees

 

2026 has been a horrible year so far. My mom passed away in early February after months of decline, and her loss has been crushing. The bitterly cold winter produced a huge sleet and snowstorm in January that damaged my home (at least that's fixed now) and killed all the plants I had in containers outside. Sometimes it feels like there will never be another good day ever again. It has been difficult to find any inspiration to paint, but I gave it a go today.

On Friday, I visited Fort McHenry while the cherry blossoms were in bloom - their peak time is about a week later than those in Washington DC. The historic fort is worth exploring and you can easily spend a few hours walking the grounds and learning the history of the place. The cherry trees added a nice blast of spring color to the scene, which I tried to represent in this painting. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Moonlit Cherry Blossoms

As final tribute this year to the cherry blossoms that have long since faded, here we see a gnarled old cherry tree in the light of the full moon. Its limbs and flowers are backlit by the pale light, long shadows are cast, and pink petals glow like sparks in the blur of night. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Gnarled Cherry Trees

Spring has arrived in the Mid Atlantic, and flowering trees light up the woodland edges and highways in pastel colors. Here, we see a small grove of old, gnarled cherry trees by a lake. Their trunks and limbs are twisted and scarred from age, but they continue to bloom each year with explosions of pinks and whites. In this fleeting moment, let us enjoy spring!

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Spring on the Shoulder

All over the eastern seaboard, along highway shoulders and medians, spring has arrived. Scattered throughout the old pines and dried brush from last summer, flowering trees appear in pastel colors. While one's eyes should be on the road, it's hard not to sneak a peek at the chaotic whirl of colors living next to the pavement. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Reflecting on Spring

This painting was an interesting challenge since there's technically no sky in it. Instead, we see a grassy riverbank with some trees next to the water, with the sky reflected above. Pink flowers are mirrored in the water, with petals floating by on the slow current as spring passes.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

DC Cherries at Dawn

As the land warms and the days grow longer, the cherry trees begin to flower. A rite of spring in Maryland and DC each year, the cherry blossoms draw crowds to enjoy their stunning colors in defiance of winter. Here, we see the sunrise, back-lighting a trio of old cherry trees somewhere near the waters of Washington DC.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Misty Mountain Cherries

Spring is here, bringing with it new life and a mix of colors both subtle and bold. Warm, wet weather rolls through the mountains, as leaves appear and the cherry trees burst into bloom.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Defiant Spring

Along a muddy forest path, the cherry trees bloom under a cold, cloudy sky. Though winter seems unwilling to give up its grasp, spring flowers bloom in defiance of the gloom.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossoms

This was a bold painting for me, as I don't normally paint buildings or national monuments such as the Jefferson Memorial. Early every spring, the cherry trees around the Memorial and all through DC are covered in pink and white blossoms. It has been a cold start to spring, with snowfall in late March, so the cherry blossoms have been delayed - for now, enjoy an ideal view of them on a sunny day with the crowds nowhere to be seen.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"