Cherry Blossoms Beckon to the University of Washington

One of the spring rituals one hears about in Seattle is the blooming of the cherry trees at the University of Washington. In an area known as the Quad, cherry trees line the four sides. When they bloom in mid-March, locals enjoy the spectacular display. My wife and I had never visited the University to see this show so when the clouds seemed to be clearing on a Tuesday afternoon, we decided this was the day we would check out this well known experience in our area.

Getting to the University of Washington was fairly easy. We used our newest transportation system again, Sound Transit Light Rail. We drove to Northgate where parking is free, boarded the train and a few minutes later we exited to the University, no parking hassles or fees to worry about. The train station is at the south end of the University, close to the stadium. In fact it would seem to me that using the light rail to attend a Husky football game would be the smartest way to go as it’s a short walk from the station to Husky Stadium.

From the light rail station a nice wide sidewalk takes people across the lanes of traffic to the walkways that lead to the center of the campus. It is a bit of an uphill walk but not really difficult.

I have only been on the University of Washington campus a few times so we were not particularly familiar with where we were going. Fortunately there are maps around the campus to help visitors and students find their way around.

While we were there to see the cherry blossoms, it is hard to ignore the architecture of the campus. Many of the buildings are quite old and have their own unique style. Coming up to the area known as Red Square, it was hard to ignore the tall building in a gothic style. It looks almost like a church with its tall tower at the top. Gerberding Hall was opened in 1949 and was renamed in 1995 to honor a former president of the University.

Across the way and perhaps the base of Red Square is the huge library building. The Suzzallo Library was named for another former University president who desired the library to be “the soul of the university” according to the map references. This building was opened in 1926. The ornate details are striking.

Walking to the left of the library leads to the Quad and the cherry blossoms. 29 trees are planted around the Quad in a symmetrical pattern. The trees were purchased in 1939 and were originally planted in the Washington Arboretum. However, because of the construction of the 520 bridge, they were moved to the Quad in 1962. Over the years the university has replaced a few of the trees in order to keep the symmetry.

When we arrived at the Quad the size of the crowd surprised us. The time was around 4:00 on a Tuesday, and the Quad was a beehive of people. I thought a midweek visit would mean less people, but the beautiful sunny afternoon seemed to have brought everyone out. Great minds think alike!

During the last few years the UW discouraged people from visiting due to COVID. This may be another reason the crowds were out as everyone seemed almost in a party mood. Of course the favorite activity was taking photos. Selfies, family groups, couples, glamor shots, you name it, and the phones and cameras were out.

But it wasn’t just photos. People brought blankets and were sitting on the ground for a picnic. Others brought their folding chairs and were having conversations or taking photos from their chairs. Children were running around, and a few had bubbles they were sending into the air. Some were there with whole families from grandparents to children. Everyone seemed happy and glad to be in this beautiful environment.

And the trees were beautiful. I have to say I was a little disappointed, however. Most of the cherry trees I see around have pink blossoms so I was expecting pink blossoms. However these were white so I was let down a little. However, the blossoms were fully opened, and the puffs of blooms were everywhere.

Along with the white blossoms were the interesting branches. The thick branches would often twist and turn creating interesting patterns and shapes in the trees. The moss that often grows on trees here added even more interest to the branches. They were indeed beautiful trees.

The Quad is surrounded by beautiful old brick buildings which create the Liberal Arts Quadrilateral. The first building was built in 1917, and the last was completed in 1938. The buildings peeking out above the cherry trees adds to the interest of the location.

After we had had enough of the crowds and people, we continued to wander around the campus to see some of the other locations and buildings. We came across Denny Hall, the oldest building on campus. It was completed in 1895 and is named after a well known pioneer in Seattle. Denny had originally donated the land for the University. It was a large and interesting building.

Of course not all the University of Washington buildings are old. Right next to Denny Hall is PACCAR Hall which opened in 2010 and definitely has a modern vibe to it with its clean lines. It has a different kind of beauty.

We wandered farther around enjoying the wonderful weather and the interesting architecture. Most of the older buildings were built with brick, and I have always enjoyed brick buildings. However, the patterns in some of the newer buildings were also interesting.

We also discovered a small garden that didn’t seem to have many flowers but was hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the campus. It’s named Grieg Garden and contains a bust of the composer Edvard Grieg.

We eventually made it back to the Drumheller Fountain. We had passed the fountain area as we came up from the light rail. The fountain was not operating, but the pool of water had its own unique features. The view from here looks down a stretch of green grass and sidewalks known as Rainier Vista because in the distance one can see the iconic Mount Rainier. Surprisingly, the mountain was out, as we say here, and we could see Mount Rainier in the distance.

However the really interesting thing about the Drumheller Fountain, since the fountain was not operating, was its reflective quality. The buildings that surrounded the fountain were reflected in the fountain creating really fun and unique images. The afternoon shadows meant some areas were not as bright as others, but I walked around the entire fountain and saw the reflections from all sides. It was a lot of fun. The tall and narrow Electrical and Computer Engineering building probably created the most interesting images. Below is a quick clockwise trip around the fountain.

We started walking down the Rainier Vista toward the light rail station. I got sidetracked by another old building, Anderson Hall. It was built in 1925 and was originally the forestry school. I also had to stop and take photos of Husky Stadium as the walkway to the light rail offered great views.

We finally made it back to the light rail and headed home. It had been a good day. The wonderful spring weather certainly helped. Now we can at least say we have seen the cherry blossoms in the Quad at the University of Washington.

We certainly didn’t see all the sections of the University. It is a huge campus. However, I enjoyed the architecture as much as the cherry blossoms. Have you been on the UW campus? Do you have a favorite building or spot that you enjoy. How about cherry blossoms. Do you have a favorite place to see those in your area? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. I look forward to hearing from you.