THE LEAFLET

Who can forget last year, when the cherry blossoms were heavily damaged by a late season cold snap. Frigid March temperatures and a snowstorm ravaged about half of our cherry trees when they were in their final stage before full bloom. It was one of the worst blooms in the 105-year history of the cherry blossoms.

Fast forward to mid-March of this year, and what do you know –  along comes another winter storm, just as we’re eagerly awaiting the cherry blossoms. While a coating of wet and heavy snow is unusual for late March, thankfully the cherry blossoms were not far along enough in their development for the storm to ruin the arrival of peak bloom. Peak bloom is defined as when more than 70 percent of the nearly 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees on the Tidal Basin are blossoming.

And now that the blossoms have survived yet another odd March – we’re almost there! Today is was announced by NPS that cherry blossoms have advanced to their fifth and final stage. Next stop is peak bloom, expected by the end of the week given the continued mild forecast!

Will you brave the Tidal Basin or use our Cherry Tree Map to check out your own neighborhoods for flowering trees?