2019 Cherry Blossom Watch

Compared to some other blooms in recent years, the 2019 bloom of DC’s famous cherry blossoms was quite drama-free. There were no late-season snowstorms or destructive frosts. The relatively stable weather in the lead-up to the bloom meant that the peak bloom forecasts were very accurate, and peak bloom was called on April 1.

Once the flowers opened, cool, calm, and sunny weather helped the flowers stay out on the trees across two prime viewing weekends.

Photo of  taken by David Coleman.

Reader Photos 2019 | Part 4

Here are some more of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is the final installment.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 10, 2019

The cherry blossoms are mostly done now. You can still find flowers out, but they’re fading fast. The good news, though, is that the warm temperatures of the past few days have helped push the Kwanzan cherry blossoms along.

Photo of  taken by David Coleman.

Reader Photos 2019 | Part 3

Here are some more of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 3.

Photo of  taken by David Coleman.

Reader Photos 2019 | Part 2

These are some of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 2–more to come.

Photo of  taken by David Coleman.

Reader Photos 2019 | Part 1

These are some of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1–more to come.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 7, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 7, 2019

The cherry blossoms are still looking pretty, especially from a distance, but up close it’s becoming easier to tell that they’re past their prime. There are fewer petals on the trees, more petals on the ground, and more green leaves sprouting.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 6, 2019

The cherry blossoms are still looking lovely. They didn’t get through yesterday’s rain entirely unscathed–it did knock some petals off, and you can see plenty of cherry blossom “snow” on the ground. But from a distance it’s hard to tell.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 31, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 31, 2019

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom now. They’re white and fluffy and billowing. This morning’s weather isn’t the ideal setting to showcase the blossoms, but it’s still a beautiful sight.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 30, 2019

The cherry blossoms are coming into full bloom, although there’s still plenty of flowers yet to open. More and more will open up over the next few days. If you head down this weekend you won’t be disappointed.

Photo of Red bridge at the Tidal Basin taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2019

The cherry blossoms are really starting to come along now. They’re not in full bloom yet, but many trees are starting to flower. Warm temperatures today and tomorrow will make them pop.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 28, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 28, 2019

There’s now no difficulty finding flowers out. Many of the trees have at least some flowers opening; some trees have many. The warmer temperatures on Friday and Saturday will make them really start popping.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 27, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 27, 2019

Many of the trees are in the puffy white stage now, and you can clearly see the white petals coming through. And more trees have at least a few flowers opening on them now, although it’s still only a tiny portion of the flowers that will be coming out over the next several days.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 23, 2019 - Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2019

The cool temperatures have kept the pace quite slow, but the cherry trees are making progress toward the bloom. It is technically possible to find some early blossoms out, but it’s only the tiniest fraction of them and you really have to go hunting for them.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 19, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2019

The National Park Service has judged that the trees have reached the “florets visible” stage. Many of the trees are beyond that, and from a distance you can see that the trees are getting a reddish-brown tinge as the bud development progresses.

Photo of Spring Solstice Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 17, 2019

What a difference a couple of very warm days makes! We’ve seen temperatures climb into the upper 70s, and that gave the cherry blossoms quite a jolt. The indicator tree now has its first flowers open.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 14, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 14, 2019

The buds on the cherry trees are making slow but steady progress. They still have some work to do, and they’re still quite far behind where they were this time last year, but a couple of very warm days today and tomorrow will help move things along a little.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 11, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 11, 2019

We’re coming out of a cold spell and turning the corner into a milder stretch. The buds are coming along nicely, with most trees now with green buds and some heading into the “florets visible” stage.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 25, 2019

There’s not much to see on the trees yet. Temperatures for February continue to average a few degrees above normal. And the National Park Service will be announcing their initial peak bloom prediction at a press conference on March 6.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 17, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 18, 2019

The cherry blossom buds are still wrapped tight for winter, but there are some other scattered signs of spring. Some of the earliest apricot blossoms and other flowering fruit trees are just starting to show some flowers.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 9, 2019 taken by David Coleman.

Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 10, 2019

Despite some attention-grabbing cold blasts in recent weeks, the temperatures so far this winter have continued to average warmer-than-normal overall. But there’s still not much to see on the trees.