Cherry blossoms shower area, signaling the arrival of spring

For Peggy Crow of Bellevue, the flowering Japanese cherry trees mean spring and make her smile. Her son always calls them the pink popcorn trees — an accurate description even as they shed their petals.

Last week Crow called her son, Bryan Hubbell. He's now 29 and lives in Eureka. She just wanted to say the pink popcorn was popping around town.

Spring has blossomed.

Sure signs of nature and mankind shaking off winter doldrums start with the birds chirping at 4 a.m., squirrels quarreling in the early morning sunshine and crows pulling dead weeds from my yard for nesting material. A few more crows and I wouldn't have to worry about weeding the lawn by the patio.

We humans are shedding our winter coverings and heading outdoors.

Bill Craven, who runs several days a week at lunchtime, noted that there are more runners and cyclists on the bridge from Bellevue to Mercer Island than in recent months. Other people are moving their informal business meetings to outdoor tables at espresso shops. "I can tell it is spring because it is hard to find a parking place at the Bellevue Downtown Park," said Cheri Rutherford of Bothell, who often walks there. "While you're at the park, you have to dodge baby strollers, moms with running kids, little old ladies and men shuffling along in the middle of the path blocking everyone else and stray Frisbees from the Ultimate Frisbee games."

Another sign of spring — daffodils, crocus and hyacinth appearing in parks and private flower beds. Tree blossoms in shades of pink, lavender, white and pale green seem to appear overnight. (Officially they're cherry, plum, magnolia and weeping willow trees.)

Here are sites to enjoy spring, recommended by Eastsiders:

Bellevue: "You don't have to go to Japan, Washington, D.C., or the quad at the University of Washington to see flowering cherry trees," said Suzanne Hutchinson of Medina. "Go to the Bellevue Village QFC parking lot."

Other hot spots: Northeast Eighth Street from 124th Avenue Northeast to Northup Way near Lake Sammamish; Bellevue Botanical Garden; Somerset Hill; the Vuecrest area just west of 102nd and north of Northeast Eighth; and Kelsey Creek Park.

Issaquah: On the Sammamish Plateau, look for pale purple plum trees in the Klahanie neighborhood, particularly near Audubon Ridge Park and Southeast 38th Place. Downtown, remnants of old farm cherry and apple orchards are beginning to bloom.

"We just rode our motorcycles through Issaquah, south to Ravensdale and saw many signs of spring," said Jan Still, Bellevue School Board member. "We could see and smell fresh cut grass, flowers, cows and even someone barbecuing ribs."

Kirkland: Best bets are Juanita Bay Park, Juanita Drive and the downtown waterfront parks.

"Or just go to City Hall," said Kirkland City Council member Jim Lauinger. "The cherry trees around it are spectacular."

Mercer Island: Start at the shopping center at the north end of the island and drive south on tree-lined 78th Avenue Southeast, suggested Eileen Mintz.

Redmond: Anderson Park in downtown is edged with blooming trees.

"I know it's spring because someone has done a fabulous job of planting and maintaining those flower buckets on every street corner in the downtown area," said Michael Wilenzick.

Snoqualmie/North Bend: Meadowbrook Farm, best accessed from North Bend Way between Snoqualmie and North Bend, is filled with both pussy and weeping willows, alder, Japanese quince, forsythia, hazelnut and wild plum. Downtown streets in North Bend are lined with flowering cherry trees.

Dave Battey said there's a beautiful flowering tree at the junction of Mill Pond Road, Reining Road and 396th Drive.

Not every sign of spring is delightful.

"My hay fever is the worst I've had in 30 years," said Carol Leyton of Bellevue.

Several people commented that the weeds in their yards and gardens were sprouting faster than the flowers, and mole holes are appearing just about everywhere.

"I saw a sure sign of spring this week," said Naomi Hardy of Redmond. "My garden slugs are frisky."

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com