Cherry Blossoms in Japan and More Epic Blooms Around the World

In April, Japan turns a brilliant shade of pink as thousands of cherry trees burst into bloom, blanketing the rooftops and roads with delicate petals. Lasting for just three and a half weeks, cherry blossom season is a highly anticipated time in Japan, as it reminds everyone of the beauty and fragility of life. In honor of these ephemeral flowers, we're taking a look at some of the most beautiful blooms across the world that prove nature's a work of art.

Thankfully, Japan isn't the only place to witness the beauty of cherry trees in bloom. Each year, Washington, D.C., hosts the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival for four weeks to pay tribute to the sweet pink blooms that canopy the historic city. In 1912, Tokyo Mayor Yukio Azaki gave D.C. 3,000 Japanese cherry trees, which have grown to become one of the most remarkable sites to behold in the spring.

Spring in Abbotsford means the Bloom Tulip Festival on the Warmerdam family flower farm. Along with numerous fun family activities, patrons can walk through their magnificent tulip fields and see the amazing colors that range from white to purple (and every shade in between). The farm continually updates their website, letting eager visitors know when tulip season (and their festival) will begin.

The brilliant orange poppy is California's state flower and one of the prettiest when in full bloom. Thanks to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, these little bursts of floral sunshine can be enjoyed every spring. The park is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, but the poppies don't peek their heads from the dirt until mid- to late March.

Known locally as Hallerbos ("The Blue Forest") in Belgium, this magical wooded wonderland is blanketed in supple bluebell flowers for two weeks of the year. Blooming when the weather turns warm (often in April), the forest becomes a popular and heavily trafficked tourist destination with eager visitors excited to see these short-lived, legendary blooms.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in North San Diego County are 50 acres of pure floral beauty. Featuring Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blossoms (also known as Persian Buttercups), the colorful flower ranch is open to the public between six to eight weeks every spring and is a popular place for marriage proposals and weddings. Visitors can even buy cut flowers or bulbs to enjoy the blooms at home!

The delicate purple, pink and white shibazakura blooms (also known as moss phlox or lawn cherry) are so revered in Japan, there's even an annual festival to celebrate them. Held every spring near the base of Mount Fuji, visitors can walk through more than 800,000 blooms that cover the ground like a colorful carpet. The festival runs for approximately six weeks between April and May (depending on when the flowers bloom).

Not all pretty flowers bloom in spring. If you happen to be in Hokkaido during the summer, then you can't miss the Furano Flower Fields, featuring fields of fragrant lavender and some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes imaginable. Hokkaido is known for being cold, but come summer that snow melts and waters the soil, helping bring the sweet lavender and other flowers to life, like lupine, tulips and even shibazakura (which all bloom in May).

Located where Tennessee meets North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular place for its diversity of wildlife (including black bears, gray wolves, bison, elk and more), as well as its incredible floral display. Each spring, the park (nicknamed "The Smokies") comes to life with a vibrant array of wildflowers, including mountain laurel (seen here), daisies, lilies, geraniums, irises and more.

Is it just us or does Japan have all the best flowers? At Hitachi Seaside Park (located on the northeastern side of Japan's main island), visitors can see more than 600 different varieties of seasonal flowers in bloom all year long! Our personal favorite is the springtime nemophilas (also known as Baby Blue Eyes) that burst across the fields between April and May, giving the area the nickname "The Blue Hills."

Sydney is the pretty Australian city that turns dramatically beautiful every October when the jacarandas bloom. The trees, which were native to Brazil, create vivid purple, honey-scented canopies and petal-covered footpaths that turn the city into an experience. About 350 miles north, in Grafton, is the annual Jacaranda Festival, which has celebrated these royal-colored blooms since 1937.

The Keukenhof Botanical Gardens are widely considered one of the most beautiful flower gardens in the entire world. Nicknamed "The Garden of Europe," Keukenhof opens every spring (usually beginning in late March) until mid-May and features rows upon rows of daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, roses and—their specialty—tulips. The park is so popular, they post updates via their Facebook page so fans can pinpoint the perfect time to make a visit.

When conditions are just right, the desert landscape of Death Valley, California, bursts into life with the arrival of colorful wildflowers. Blooms of desert gold (seen here) poppies, primrose and sand verbena thrive when there's just enough winter/spring rain to hydrate the arid soils. If the hot spring winds also take a detour, then the sun can warm the moist ground, creating the perfect (and rare) opportunity for what is known as a super bloom.

Considered "blue gold," the lavender that grows in the Provence region of France is some of the sweetest and most revered in the world. Each year between June and August, fields of fragrant lavender bloom, creating a vibrant landscape that's become synonymous with Provence. The popular herb is used in perfumes, soaps, creams and even cooking. It's so beloved, there are even numerous day-long lavender festivals across the region!

Located in the eastern region of Yunnan is the small farming village of Luoping, where farmers grow rapeseed for its canola oil. When the flowers bloom each spring, the landscape becomes a "sea of yellow" and draws visitors from around the world, hoping to get a chance at the perfect photo. The flowers, which have a deep musky, honey-sweet fragrance, also draw thousands of bees and help with another important export: honey!

Ample rainfall throughout the year at Mount Rainier National Park means by early summer, the fields are in full bloom with wildflowers of every kind. Park visitors can see pretty purple lupines (seen here), thistles, lilies, mountain heather and more. The wildflower season typically begins in mid-July and lasts until the end of August.

Namaqualand is a desert with limited flora for visitors to enjoy. However, when the rains are just right, the sandy ground erupts with vibrant colors as some of the most unique and beautiful flowers bloom. Known for their saffron-colored daisies (seen here), Namaqualand's famed Flower Route (which has three protected reserves) has a variety of wildflowers in every shade, some of which aren't found anywhere else in the world.

Between June and August, Tuscany takes summertime to a new level when their fields of sunflowers go into full bloom. What makes these flowers so impressive is that they're natural sun worshipers, directing their flower faces toward the light as they grow. While running through fields of sunflowers may sound fun, visitors should know these blooms are spiky! Still, their ability to make us instantly happy means they're worth the trip.

You don't have to visit Austin in March to see bluebonnets (the Texas state flower that blooms every spring) because these prolific little buds are everywhere in the state. However, if you want to see fields of blue, your best bet is to visit Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center that boasts a sizable bluebonnet display and a wide variety of indigenous wildflowers, some of which are at risk of becoming extinct.

In late spring, Japan gets a spritz of floral perfume when the dangling vines of wisteria bloom. At Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu (five hours from Tokyo), those vines decorate tunnels, creating a fragrant, colorful walk that makes visitors feel as if they're in a fairy tale. Featuring more than 20 different wisteria species, with colors ranging from white to lavender, the wisteria tunnels are a major tourist attraction through early May.