Being in Northeast Pennsylvania, some of the first signs that spring is fighting to take overwinter is that the crocus will show its purplish-blue petals, which are a symbol of hope, renewal and spiritual awakening.

Daffodils and their bright yellow are the next to show, which symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings.

Yes, there’s usually still a chill in the air but the colors of spring will start to reveal themselves.

Once these start to show, then you’ll notice the color of the buds on the trees, which range from red, pink, white and green.

Looking at the local mountains you can see the muted rainbow of color. Fall was always my favorite time of year because of all the beautiful bold colors, but over the years I started to notice the colors of spring.

They might not be as drastic, but they are beautiful in their own right. As you drive you can see the pop of white here and there on the mountains. Spring says it’s ready to truly take over when the kaleidoscope of color begins. One of the first trees to have their buds turn to flowers are the cherry trees.

They represent the arrival of spring and the end of winter, and their meaning is renewal and new beginnings. When you hear cherry blossoms, most people think of Washington, D.C., and the Tidal Basin.

However, if you don’t want to drive for about three and a half hours to see the delicate pink or white flowers that only last at most two weeks, know that you can experience them closer to home.

Join me in my journey.

I tried to figure out why I am drawn to see the delicate blossoms that fill the air with their sweet fragrance. To me they symbolize life, and their blossoms are so captivating.

Each is a bit different, kind of like all of us. As they start their transformation, the colored buds are noticeable if you pay attention.

Throughout their short life, they develop into this flower that pops with color and is very fragrant to grab your attention. As you move closer, you can see how fragile the blooms are with their delicate petals.

Sometimes a frost will happen and shorten their brilliance, or a strong wind will knock them down before they are ready to let go. Some will fight the green leaf trying to push its way onto the branch to the very end — and then fall to the ground. If you would like to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms, you have between seven and 10 days to see them in their peak bloom.

Traveling to the nation’s capital and experiencing the cherry blossoms, sakura in Japanese, around the Tidal Basin is breathtaking. Seeing our monuments decorated with pastel pink and white and the reflection off the water is gorgeous. Prepare yourself for the crowds if you are going on a weekend or during the festival. Also to know when bloom will be best, follow online because it is weather dependent.

Last year we went because several of the trees were going to be removed in the Tidal Basin, and one was nicknamed Stumpy. The tree looked like it fought a hard fight but wouldn’t be hanging on too much longer. They did propagate from the trees that were going to be removed. If you can and would like the chance to experience it with fewer people, go during the week, and earlier in the day the better.

This year, Holmdel Park and David C. Shaw Arboretum in Holmdel, New Jersey, was the first location chosen. From Palmerton it was an hour and forty-five-minute easy drive.

This park is dog friendly, and Marty and I took Willow along to explore. Taking an easy stroll along the stone path led us to the pond. It was a windy day, so the pond water wasn’t completely still, but the water still acted like a mirror and allowed the reflections of the cherry blossoms to dance on its surface.

There are benches, so if you want or need to sit you can. Since there are variations of cherry trees you can see white, very light pink, and darker pink line the path. Looking into the pond, some turtles were lounging on a log enjoying the sun and warm day.

Heading off to a different area of the park, the David C. Shaw Arboretum provided more beautiful spring colors and delightful floral fragrances. Here you could find the bright yellow of forsythia, magnolias with tight buds and open flowers, daffodils with their flowers facing the sun, and being surrounded by trees of all kinds, it was wonderful. Heading back to the car we stopped and visited the two sheep near the parking lot.

Another spot I wanted to photograph the cherry blossoms was Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, so on a different day I headed that way. Unfortunately, with any crop that flowers you have limited time to experience them, and you need to go even if the weather isn’t perfect. The day we headed there it was chilly and windy, but I knew it was going to be my only chance to get there.

Photographing in this park years prior I had headed to the Shofuso Japanese cultural center. The Japanese style building is a wonderful background with the cherry blossoms, and considering Japan is the reason the United States has these magnificent trees, I feel it is a perfect starting point in the park.

Many of the places that have a large grouping of these trees will also have cherry blossom festivals during the blooming season.

They are fun to experience, but this year I wanted to photograph without the crowds. From this spot, we headed to different locations throughout the park to see views with the many other cherry blossoms to be experienced. Besides Shofuso, another favorite spot of mine is Stone Gazebo.

My hope is that next year you get to enjoy the cherry blossoms and explore the many places that have a large grouping of trees and festivals. Closer to home, I hope to get to Bethlehem next year. That spot is next to the library. Locally, you can still see some of these trees flowering now, but they will soon loose their colors as they shift to their green leaves.