Cherry Trees and the State Capital Building

Legislative Building and cherry blossoms.

The Washington State Capital campus in Olympia, WA is a beautiful place to visit any time of year.  The grounds are immaculately kept, and photo opportunities abound everywhere.

One of my favorite times to visit it is in late March when the cherry trees are in bloom.  There are two varieties of cherry trees on campus - Yoshino cherry trees and Kwanzan cherry trees.

Legislative Building and cherry blossoms.

The Yoshino cherry trees are pictured here in the heart of the campus on the south side of the Legislative Building, otherwise known as the State Capital building. They can also be found near the Tivoli Fountain and North Diagonal. These are the trees that bloom in late March.

The Kwanzan cherry trees line both sides of Cherry Lane and typically bloom mid-April

Fortunately, the Capital Campus website offers a calendar on the blooms status for ease of planning!

Legislative Building and cherry blossoms.

The history of the cherry trees is quite interesting.  The Kwanzan cherry trees were planted in 1932, just four years after the completion of the Legislative Building.  The Yoshino cherry trees came much later - 1984, offered as a gift by a Japanese businessman.

Of course, there are many other things to see during your visit as well.  Don't miss the daffodil and tulip beds!

Legislative Building and cherry blossoms.

I've always planned my photography trips to this campus in the morning in hopes of missing any crowds.  But I can see no reason why late afternoon/evening wouldn't work just as well due to the symmetry of the campus and building placement.  If shooting near the sun dial on the south side of the Legislative Building, where these images were photographed, you have identical buildings to the east (John A. Cherberg building) and west (John L O'Brien building).  So, there is really no distinct advantage in lighting that I can think of.  And if you want to capture the grounds completely lit up by the sun during the spring (which is beautiful too!), you will need to wait until late morning or arrive early afternoon.

I also recommend wandering around and exploring the campus - lots to see! Don't miss the Heritage Switchback Trail on the north side of the Temple of Justice that gently descends down to Heritage Park and the East Capital Lake Trail.  This trail offers a pleasant walk completely around the lake, offering unique perspectives looking back towards the capital.

Legislative Building and cherry blossoms.

If you have more time for roaming, be sure and check out the Historic District for a fun experience too.  It's located on the east side of Capital Lake, just a short walk away.

If you wish to view more images from this location, feel free to visit my Washington State Capital gallery.

As always, thanks for looking!