Each year, the spectacular pink blooms of 200 cherry trees on the Ohio University campus signal the arrival of spring.

The trees were first planted in 1979 under the direction of OHIO President Charles Ping and President Kazuo Yamada of Chubu University, OHIO’s sister institution in Japan. Chubu gifted the cherry blossom trees to represent its relationship with OHIO and later brought the grove’s total to 200 trees after another gift for the University’s bicentennial.

Despite the chilly spring of 2018, this year’s bloom was dazzling and people from all around the region enjoyed seeing this focal part of the Ohio University campus.

Ohio University students Rachel Randall and Dashaun Slaughter took photos of the daily progression of the blooms this spring, and the entire slideshow of images is available at this website, which was managed this year by the Office of Global Affairs. The Office of Facilities Management also submitted a few photos of the trees lit up in the evening hours, and they are included in the slideshow.

For additional information and many more images, please see the Cherry Blossoms website or contact the Office of Global Affairs at globalaffairs@ohio.edu.

Here are a few of our favorite images from this year.

undefinedA March 3 image of the early buds on the Cherry Trees. Photo by Rachel Randall

undefinedThis March 21 photo is after a “welcome to spring” snowfall at Ohio University. Photo by Rachel Randall

undefinedOn March 30, the colorful blooms were beginning to show. Photo by Dashaun Slaughter

undefinedThis April 3 image shows one of the early flowers on the trees. Photo by Rachel Randall

undefinedThe bike path is scenic throughout the year, but it was especially eye-catching with the trees blooming on April 10. Photo by Rachel Randall.

undefinedThe bees also enjoy the flowers on the trees, as evidenced by the April 14 image. Photo by Rachel Randall.

undefinedThe cherry trees looked magnificent next to a full Hocking River on April 15. Photo by Rachel Randall.

undefinedEach year, Ohio University Facilities Management lights up the cherry trees in the evening hours when the trees are in full bloom. Here is image from Facilities Management taken on April 17.

undefinedThe blooms are also breathtaking in the daylight hours, as shown in this April 17 image. Photo by Rachel Randall.

undefinedThe Cherry Trees in full bloom on April 23. Photo by Rachel Randall.