Early Cherry Blossom Blooms at Lake Balboa

Around the perimeter of Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley are hundreds of slender trees with fragile branches soon to be fully burdened by the buouyant pink of gorgeous cherry blossoms. These trees know it's verging on spring, and about 30% of them are sporting their cheerful buds and blooms. An daytime jaunt these days to the park and a stroll around the lake will grant you a hint of what's to come.

Although the camera lens can isolate a single bud, branch, or corner of land, it's only fair to warn you that while a valuable City resource and green space, Lake Balboa--particularly on a weekend--isn't frankly peaceful or idyllic. Parking takes some patience, and you'll be navigating enclaves of festive gatherings, packs of people feeding the birds and ducks just feet away from the sign asking folks not to, and air thick with those teeny tiny almost indiscernible flying bugs that will fill your mouth if you don't keep it clammed shut. But with weather as undeniably beautiful as we are granted most days, it would be a shame not to go and enjoy Lake Balboa, and to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom.