DC Cherry Blossoms 2013

Each spring, Washington’s famous cherry blossoms burst into white and pink bloom. But the date shifts each year depending on natural environmental factors. Here’s the latest information on the 2013 blooming of the cherry blossoms.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms.
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The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record.

RELATED:
Latest Updates on the 2024 Bloom
Peak Bloom Forecasts in Detail

Cherry blossom season for Washington DC’s famous cherry blossoms has come and gone for 2013. The famous cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin burst into flower in early- to mid-April in an annual tradition in Washington and one that marks the unofficial start of spring.

But it’s a fleeting spectacle, with the entire bloom period lasting less than a fortnight–and the peak bloom lasting much less than that.

So timing is everything. And the dates of the bloom change from year to year. (For more on what “peak bloom” means and when it occurs, take a look at the Ins and Outs of Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom page.)

In 2012, the bloom came very early. In 2013, it was later than average due to unseasonably cold local weather during March and early April.

2013 Peak Bloom Forecasts

Actual Peak Bloom Date: April 9

Last Official National Park Service Prediction: April 6-8

The first official NPS forecast, issued on March 4, was that the peak bloom day should fall between March 26 and March 30. But colder than usual temperatures set in and stuck with us through most of the rest of March and into early April, slowing things down. On March 18, they revised their official forecast for the peak bloom day this year to fall within the range of April 3-6, which would have put it squarely around the average of April 3.[foot]The National Park Service uses the date April 4 as the overall average peak bloom date. You can read why I use April 3 on my Ins and Outs of Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom page.[/foot] On March 25, after recent snow and wintry weather in the DC area, they reaffirmed their April 3-6 forecast. On April 2, after the Capital Weather Gang pushed back their own prediction, the NPS reaffirmed their April 3-6 range. On April 4, pointing to cooler daytime and night-time temperatures, the NPS revised its forecast to April 6-8. They’re always careful to point out that they don’t truly have confidence in their prediction until about ten days out because there are so many weather variables that can come into play.

Last Washington Post Capital Weather Gang Prediction: April 6-10

On March 15, the Washington Post‘s Capital Weather Gang made their own prediction that peak bloom would come between April 3 and 7, or around April 5.[foot]Originally, I wrote this just as April 5, but “April 3-7 (centered on April 5)” is the way they put it. .[/foot] Their prediction was based on a forecast of colder than usual temperatures through the last couple of weeks of March. On April 2, they revised their estimate for the peak bloom window to April 6-10.

Are DC’s Cherry Blossoms Blooming Yet?

The famous Yoshino Cherry Blossoms are done for the year. The National Park Service determined that peak bloom was reached on April 9. There are other varieties of cherry trees and fruit trees in bloom in the vicinity now. See below for details and photos.

Cherry Blossom Watch 2013 Updates

You can see the progress of the trees going back here.

Discussion

  1. I was at the tidal basin this morning at sunrise with my not-yet-four-year-old daughter. I had her there last weekend too but there were very few blossoms. Funny how the blossoms refuse to adhere to my visitation schedule! 😉 I have been to the blossoms with her each year since she was in utero. Past prime or not, I have a tradition to uphold!

    The blossoms are well past their peak but I’m still glad I went. Too bad about the storm a few days ago. There are still some nice blossoms right near the FDR memorial. If you can get there in an hour or less then I would say “go for it” but go with modest expectations. If possible, be there at 6:30am to catch the sunrise above the Jefferson Memorial. Standing by the banks of the basin just north of the tidal inlet bridge will give you a great vantage point.

    Hope this is helpful to a few folks!

    Reply
  2. Hi David! I just wanna THANK YOU for your wonderful job in keeping us updated. I went to DC last weekend and of course it was too early. At that time, I had just found you website. Then I’ve been looking for your photos and updates every morning and evening, and finally decided to travel to DC again to spend 10 hrs there. It was a 9-hr trip on the road each bound–18 back and forth, but it was worth it!!!!. REALLY APPRECIATE your awesome work here :)))
    Chayapa

    Reply
  3. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need photos to know whether to see blooms tomorrow. Can’t drive there not knowing if blooms r there or not.

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  4. Hello David! Because of your site, we are going to DC tomorrow! Thanks to you, we will be going when the bloom is at its peak or my whole family would have been disappointed if we pushed thru 2 weeks ago. Indeed this is a very helpful site! Looks like you helped a lot of people here!

    Reply
    • I hope there are still some flowers left, but unfortunately I’ve been unable to get down there to take a look. I’m hoping someone who was there today can provide an eyewitness update.

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  5. This year, more than recent years, had been a hard year to predict the cherry blossoms peak bloom. The park service, the newspapers and news channels did not get it right this year. I am so grateful for your website. You really made the difference. I have been following your site for a couple years now. You are invaluable. Friends and family have not been disappointed. We have successfully planned our visits each year because of you. Thank you so much. Looking forward to next year.

    Reply
    • Sorry. I’ve been unable to get down there due to other work commitments, and although we’ve had lots of generous contributors on previous days we don’t have any today.

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  6. David,
    We were a couple days early when we went there last weekend,not alot of flowers yet. We are planning to go back this Sunday but I don’t know how much flowers left after the storm. I checked on the earthcam,the trees look bare. Will there still be flowers left by Sunday you think? This makes me sad….

    Reply
  7. David,

    My daughter and I made it to DC yesterday (Thursday) and had a wonderful time. The blossoms were beautiful and it was a nice day albeit a little warm. I took a lot of pictures but none of mine can come close to comparing with your beautiful shots. I would like to download a few of your full resolution images to add to a book I’ll make from our trip. What size do you recommend for a small book, maybe 5x7s. Also, I didn’t see the image at the top of this page in your full resolution images. Is this one you would share? I have seen it so many times as I’ve checked your website that it seems the perfect picture to me now of what the blossoms are.

    Thanks again for all your updates. Our trip to see the blossoms was a success thanks to you!

    Amy

    Reply
    • Oh, and I would also love to add Colleen Ho’s image of the petals on the water! I love it and am sad I didn’t think to take one like that when I was there. Would she be willing to share the image? It would just be for my personal use. Thanks.

      Reply
  8. Hi David,

    Thanks for the awesome updates! I am planning a trip to reach DC on sunday too, was trying to find out if it is an awkward time – the cherries might have mostly been washed away, the tulips and other brand of cherries have not blossomed yet. Is it advisable to go down this weekend or wait till the next or next next?

    Thank you!

    Reply
  9. David
    If I am going to DC this Saturday. Where will have the most flowers to see? I hope the rain didnt wash away the flowers.
    🙁

    Reply
  10. I am anxious to know if many of the blossoms survived this morning’s wind and rain. I am hoping to take my daughter tomorrow morning at sunrise. Hopefully we will get an update or two in the next few hours.

    Reply
  11. I am planning a flight from Morristown airport in NJ to Gaithersburg, MD, Montgomery Airport on Sunday 4/14/13. Your blog is the best. I review it daily to see the progress of the Cherry Blossoms and your beautiful images. Before making the trip Sunday I will be check the progress. I hope it will not be too late. Thanks again.

    Reply
  12. You are seriously awesome! First thing I do every morning is check this website. It is because of you and your amazing work that I got to go see the trees at the most perfect time. Thank you for caring

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  13. Hi david, its just because of you i have successfully completed my 2 days cherry blossom trip today. So happy to be there, the most beautiful experience of my life. Hats off to your dedication and continious support. You truly love ur place. All the best for all your future work.

    Reply
      • David,

        We are planning to visit DC tomorrow.we will be traveling from NJ.I was waiting for your today’s update on cherry blossoms.can you tell me how are the blossoms today.Did the rain and wind wash away the blossoms.Waiting for your reply to plan accordingly.Please reply at the earliest

        Reply
  14. Hi David,

    Thanks a lot for the great work you are doing on posting updates about Cherry Blossoms. This is the only site and you are the only who provides updates on this event so religiously. I came across your site 2 weeks back when I was searching for some website which can give me accurate predictions with pictures about cherry blossoms. Since then I was daily checking your site and thanks to you I was able to capture some wonderful memories yesterday among the beautiful cherry blossoms. If it were not for your updates, I would have not driven there over weekday to capture the blooms at their full bloom. Though a work day I made a trip from Jersey so that I don’t miss the blossoms this year. Coming weekend will not be definitely same as Tuesday/Wednesday. Again – thanks a ton! You are awesome!!! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Hi David! Big thanks for your daily update. Great pictures they are all very nice!We will be there on the 15th, do you think we still have chance of seeing the cherry blossom? Hope the weather will cooperate so that the bloom wont be gone so soon.. Thank you very much in advance for your response!!

    Reply
    • Based on the photos that are coming in, the later stages of the blooming seem to be progressing fairly quickly so far. Which means that chances of there still being flowers around on the 15th are fairly low. I suspect most of the flowers will be gone by then.

      Reply
  16. David,

    I just wanted to say thank you again for your advice yesterday on the parking locations. I did make it out today on my way to work and arrived at the Tidal Basin around 5:50am. I parked at one of the three parking lots (Lot A) underneath the 14th bridges which was already nearly full. Seeing how many cars were driving around and the lots already filling up, I didn’t bother driving down Ohio Dr for street parking which is a good thing as I later saw that they were completely full.

    Gorgeous morning and sunrise. I’ll try to send you some pictures as a thank you when I get home from work tonight. Lots of folks were out for the sunrise including newsvans. Thanks again!

    Reply
  17. I will be driving in around 10 am on Thursday and spending the day in DC. Of course my main purpose is the cherry blossoms but I’ll also walk up around the Capitol and the Mall. I’m planning on parking when I get there and leaving my car parked until I leave in the evening. Do you have a recommendation on where to park? Should I try to park near the tidal basin since that’s where I’d like to be first or just go ahead a park somewhere near the Capitol where there is less traffic? I don’t know DC at all so I don’t even know if there are more places to park there anyway. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Long term parking around the area is hard to find. Many of the spots around the Tidal Basin nominally have a 3-hour limit, but I don’t know if they’re enforcing that during the festival. For other options, there’s also easy 24-hour parking in Union Station at the other end of the Mall. I don’t recall the exact rate, but I think it’s about $20/day–it might have gone up. There’s also parking at Arlington National Cemetery for a nominal hourly rate, but you’ll have to check the hours of the parking lot. And there are parking garages downtown, but their rates and availability varies.

      Reply
  18. Your website was a great help for us to plan a trip to dc.
    We will be travelling tomorrow to dc for cherry blossom in afternoon. I would like to know about where we should park the car as we will have the kids along. And we cannot walk much along with kids so what are the best places to see cherry blossoms.

    Reply
    • Parking during the afternoon can be tough since it gets busy then. But since you’re going on a weekday you probably won’t have the trouble you’d have a weekend. As you pass the Jefferson Memorial, you come to a T-intersection along the river with the option of turning left or right. If you turn right, the parking will be closer to the Tidal Basin. But there are fewer spots (although there are still quite a lot). You might be lucky and find a spot or someone leaving, but if you don’t, you’ll have to go all the way back around since it’s a one-way circuit now. A safer bet is to turn left, which will take you along Hains Point. There are three small parking lots just past the 14th Street Bridge which are often worth a try for someone leaving. Otherwise, you can continue along Hains Point until you find a spot along the waterfront. There’s a free shuttle trolley that runs around there that you can get to and from your car. As for best spots to see the cherry blossoms, anywhere around the Tidal Basin is good. The areas near the FDR Memorial and MLK Memorial are good places to start, but it’s a very pleasant walk around the entire perimeter (about 1.8 miles). And a fun option with kids is to rent a paddle boat.

      Reply
  19. Hi David,

    Great work with cherry blossom updates. I will be in DC on 17th April. I believe the yoshino cherry blossoms will be gone by then. Can you tell me which cherry trees around will be still blooming? Also I’ve heard DC has nice collection of tulips. Are the tulips blooming yet? Do you think i’ll get to see tulips?

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • The Kwanzan cherry trees might be started by then–they’re usually a couple of weeks or so behind the Yoshinos. There’s a grove of those along Hains Point not far from the US Park Police headquarters on Ohio drive. And yes, the tulips have just begun in the past couple of days, but there should be a lot more out by the 17th. You’ll find lots of good places for those. There are lots around the grounds of the US Capitol Building and nearby; there’s a collection of all different types in the Floral Library on the northern corner of the Tidal Basin; there’s an impressive patch of them over near the Netherlands Carillon and Iwo Jima Memorial; and usually there’s a lot planted around the base of the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial. For a taste, here are some photos.

      Reply
      • Also worth a visit if you’re looking for flowers is River Farm (Alexandria), Dumbarton Oaks (Georgetown), the National Arboretum, and the gardens behind the Smithsonian Castle.

        Reply
      • Thank a lot for the info David.. I believe a trip to DC in spring is always worthwhile
        Even if you miss the famous yoshino cherries there are other varieties of cherries blooming at different times and there are tulips and other flowers.. One must only look for them 🙂

        Reply
  20. Hi David!Can you tell me how long are the Cherry Blossom last after they peak bloom? Because I want to go down there this weekend(04/14)… Thanks a lot…

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  21. Hi

    Could you advise , will I be able to still see cherry blossom by this weekend 04/13 . Just worried about friday rain will destroy it

    By the way , I really appreciate your snaps and effort to create one .. I am inspired

    Reply
    • It’s impossible to give a definitive answer, but there *should* still be some around on 4/13 unless any storms we might get Thursday into Friday are especially strong. Last year the flowers lasted only about 6 days. Up until about 3-4 days after peak bloom they were still looking beautiful.

      Reply
  22. Hi David,

    Thanks for the regular updates on cherry blossom festival. It helps us a lot to make our travel plans. Since the flowers have already bloomed, do you think its a good decision to plan a visit on Friday the 12th? Will the blooms still be there?

    Reply
    • It’s impossible to say for sure, but Friday *should* still be good. Although last time I looked the weather forecast for Friday wasn’t great. The photo at the top of this page was taken 3 days after the peak bloom last year, so that should give some idea of what you might expect.

      Reply
  23. David, thank you so much for your work and updates! I would like to stop by the Tidal Basin on my way to work tomorrow and was wondering what my best options are for parking if I plan to arrive before sunrise (around 6:15am). Ideally, I would like to park closer to the Jefferson Memorial or FDR Memorial. Any recommendations? If I didn’t have to head straight for work afterwards, I would take the Metro but unfortunately is not an option. Thanks again!!

    Reply
    • I was there about that time today and parked along Ohio Drive near the FDR Memorial. It was already packed with people waiting for the sunrise, but still possible to find a few spots. If that fails, you’ll have to do the circuit again and turn left towards the parking lots under the 14th Street Bridge.

      Reply
  24. David,
    Thank you so much for your regular updates! Your blog is amazing and I really love your photography tips. I’ve been pushing back my visit waiting for the blossoms for the last couple weeks. I finally planned on Wednesday (tomorrow) but now Thursday looks better for my schedule. I am probably being silly but I’ve been waiting and have changed my plans so much that now that they are in full bloom, I am scared to wait until Thursday and then miss them! Will these very very warm temps today and tomorrow make more fall before Thursday? Should I make Wednesday work? Thanks for all your tips and advice!
    Amy

    Reply
    • They should be looking great through Thursday at least, possibly longer if we don’t get hit with big storms Thursday night through Friday. The photo at the top of this page was taken 3 days after peak bloom last year. 2-3 days after is actually my favorite stage. The flowers still look beautiful, they’ve turned pink, and you start getting petals falling on the ground looking a bit like snow.

      Reply
  25. David, thank you so much for all of your efforts!!! We were hoping to make it up to DC from Richmond area on the 10th but now see that rain and storms are forecast at a 30% chance and realize that it wouldn’t be a good time after all.We are sorry to miss the peak blooms, but hope to make it up this weekend!!! Your work was SO very helpful and I peeked over at the cherry blossom cam this morning, the blossoms are gorgeous and made me smile!

    Reply
  26. David, thank you for the daily updates. I rely on this link so often to plan my weekends with my cousin. What camera and lens do you use to take these photos? They are beautiful and sharp pictures.

    Reply
    • Most of the shots I’ve posted in the past 2 days have been with a Samsung Galaxy S Camera, which is basically a hybrid point-and-shoot/smartphone. But the others are usually with a Nikon D800 with various lenses.

      Reply
  27. David, once again thank you so much for these updates! I’m curious: what time do you get out there to take your update photos? I plan on going in the morning and was wondering how early I should go to get good light, less people, but still be safe.

    Reply
      • I visited the basin this Saturday and was little disappointed after driving for 3 hours from Jersey. I have heard though, that it is a mesmerizing scene when at peak. I am ready to drive again on 13th if blooms are still there.

        I will be watching this page everyday.

        Thanks David.

        Reply
  28. David, appreciate your regular updates!!

    Based on how we positioned – what would be the best day to visit this week ( 4/9 – 4/13)?

    Reply
    • It looks like prime time will be 9th to at least 11th. A good chance there’ll still be a lot around on the 13th, but the further you away from the peak bloom date (which hasn’t been declared yet, but looks likely to be sometime today through Wednesday), the riskier it gets. Midweek also has the advantage of there being a lot fewer people around.

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  29. David, great website! I wish I had seen this earlier. I heard peak was today so headed to DC this afternoon. I was surprised at how few trees were blooming so was quite disappointed. Fortunately I live in Alexandria and work in DC so I plan to head to the basin almost every day this week. I’ve lived here for 10 years and before I saw a peak bloom, couldn’t quite understand the fervor. Yes, it was pretty, but…. Several years ago, I ran the basin every day so was able to see the blooms in progress, including the peak. Wow!!!! It IS quite a sight! I’ve got your site bookmarked so I can check this every year. Thanks for taking the time to not only take and post pictures but post daily updates as well. Very much appreciated.

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  30. Hi David, Thanks for your updated… I want to go to DC this weekend(. 04/14) ,You think it is good time to see the Cherry blossoms … I never been there, that’s why I don’t want to miss…

    Reply
  31. Hi David, I have to thank you for all the updates on Cherry Blossoms. I found your website this year and I have to admit that you were our guide through all this. My 12 years old twin girls checked your blog every morning for the Cherry blossoms. We went there today but as you mentioned not that many blooms. But good news is they are coming..We are planning to go again over the weekend. Do you think we will be able to get a GREAT annual picture of this year’s Cherry Blossoms then?

    Reply
    • Glad they like it, and you *should* still have some flowers to see on the weekend. Saturday is a slightly safer bet than Sunday only because it’s just that little bit closer to the peak bloom. Thursday and Friday will be even better.

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  32. Hi David, I live in Wisconsin and have been wanting to come see the cherry blossoms. The only time I am able to get off is April 22-27. Will the cherry trees still be in bloom. I do not want to buy plane tickets if there will be no blossoms on the trees. How long do blooms last past peak? Please advise.

    Reply
    • No, they’ll be gone by then. These photos from last year give you a good sense of how quickly they go–usually within a week or so of the peak bloom date. There will probably be other types of cherry trees nearby still blooming, but the famous ones around the Tidal Basin will be done for the year and covered with green leaves.

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  33. Thank you David. What a terrific site! We plan to come down next year and hope we can time it right. We were there in 2010 and were a week late a week late. Guess we will keep trying until we get it right. In the meantime, your web site is the next best thing to being there.

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  34. Hello David,

    I must say you are doing an excellent job of keeping people updated on the cherry blossoms. Fantastic write-ups and images. I have changed my schedule several times to come to D.C. from New York. Looking at today’s current update, it looks like Midweek might be the best time to visit, but since I am already scheduled for Monday. I will take my chances tomorrow and just come back later in the week. Awesome work David!

    Reply
  35. Hi David,

    I just wanted to thank you for the daily updates! I am usually not the one to comment on blogs or sites but thought that the least I could do is to thank you for saving me a trip to DC with little ones. Really appreciate it!

    Azka

    Reply
  36. My husband and I are driving in from Philly expecting to see them in full bloom. We originally scheduled driving there tomorrow (Monday). Is it worth just waiting until Wednesday? We definitely can’t do Tuesday but we’re afraid of missing the full bloom if we wait until Wednesday? This may be a silly concern… Thoughts? Thank you for all the updates!

    Reply
    • Whether or not the “peak bloom” (which is a technical milestone rather than an aesthetic one) occurs Tuesday, they’ll be in what we might call full bloom mid-week. They look nice enough today, although most trees are not really blooming yet. But they’ll look better tomorrow and every day for the next few days. As an example by what I mean, the photo at the top of this page was taken 3 days after the “peak bloom” date last year.

      Reply
  37. Hi. I keep postponing my visit in hopes of seeing blossoms in full bloom. Since I work during the week I am left with either visiting tomorrow
    (Sunday)or waiting til next weekend. When do you think I will see the most blooms between these 2? Last year I missed the blooms due to the earlier than expected blooming followed by the storms 🙁

    Reply
    • Unfortunately, since the prime viewing period looks like it’s going to split the weekends, I don’t have a very good answer for that. If you go tomorrow, you can be assured of seeing some trees in bloom, even if most of them have some catching up to do. If the peak bloom comes on Monday, the end of the NPS range, they’ll be well on their way out by the following weekend, although under normal circumstances there should be some still around. If the peak bloom comes after the NPS forecast range, it will improve the viewing on the weekend of April 13/14.

      Reply
      • Hi! I want to go to DC next weekend(04/14) for cherry blossoms … You think The cherry blossoms still good for view?
        I want to go tomorow but when I called there they said the Cherry Blossoms not peak bloom yet? Can You help me,I don’t want miss this time… Thanks a lot

        Reply
  38. David,
    Thank you so much for this wonderful website! You have been more informative on the blooming of the Cherry blossoms than any othe website I have come across. We were planning on coming down to see the Cherry Blossoms tomorrow but now are coming on Tuesday or Wednesday thanks to your wonderful wedsite! Thank you again very much!

    Reply
  39. David,
    Thank you so much for the daily updates. It is really helpful for planning when to go see the blossoms. I’m so grateful to you for this amazing service you are providing!
    Kat

    Reply
  40. Hi! Thank you so much for the updates. And now for a possibly-silly question – when you say that the parking early this morning was already a problem, how early were you down there? I have to work next weekend in the afternoon, so my husband and I are thinking of driving down (from near Baltimore) to the Tidal Basin pretty early and watch the sun come up. I don’t know that we’ll have a chance to come down and see them otherwise – we tried on the 1st but while it was a nice day in the city, no blossoms. I confess though I lived in the city for years and often go there I don’t think I’ve been down around the Tidal Basin that early in probably 18 years.

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Before sunrise you’ll definitely be able to find a spot no problem–it just depends how far you’ll have to walk. After you pass the Jefferson Memorial you’ll come to a T-intersection. Turning left is the safest option for finding a park since it stretches all the way around Hains Point, but it might mean a bit more of a walk. If you turn right over the small bridge, there are spots along the waterfront very close to the FDR Memorial. By about 7:30am this morning, the spots if you turn right were pretty much full already, and if you don’t have luck there you have to go all the way back around the circuit. There are usually spots there before sunrise, but you never can be sure how busy it’s going to be. By about 9am parking is likely to be a much bigger issue.

      Reply
    • I need to make an important modification to my previous reply. It should start with “Normally”. Tomorrow morning is the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which brings with it a bunch of road closures in the area starting at 2am, with more being closed at 7am. A map of the road closures is here.

      Reply
      • Thanks! And I realized reading that I wasn’t very clear – we’re going to try and head down very early next Saturday before I have to be at work. Hopefully there won’t be too many road closures for the Parade, I saw a map from last year’s and it seemed doable. Thanks for the parking tips – I don’t think I’ve driven down to the Tidal basin in years!

        Reply
  41. I have a 14month baby, what are the options to travel around the various points points, taxi, bus or metro? Also, what are the 4/5 best viewing points in your opinion? I am planning for a day trip from NJ. Should I plan for Tuesday or Thursday?

    Thanks for a very informative site!

    Reply
    • If you mean points at the Tidal Basin, it’s a pleasant, easy, and relatively short walk around the whole perimeter that takes in the cherry blossoms, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the MLK Memorial. It’s about 1.8 miles aronud the whole thing. If you want to start in the thick of it, start at the MLK Memorial or FDR Memorial. The path is mostly stroller friendly. (As it happens, I often have my 6-month-old with me when I’m down there taking photos for the updates.) And there are plenty of areas to stop if you need to, and lots of grassy areas just back behind the trees where kids can run around. There are restrooms at the Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial building (across the street from entrance), and FDR Memorial, as well as porta-johns in the parking lot on the southwest bank. For flowers, both Tuesday and Thursday are likely to be very good. Current weather forecast suggests that Tuesday might be better weather.

      If you want to venture further afield, the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, DC World War I Memorial, and Vietnam Memorial are all within 5 mins easy walk from the Tidal Basin. The White House is another 10-15 mins or so beyond that, depending on where you start. The Smithsonians and the the Capitol are all also very walkable if you’re not in a hurry. The National Park Service has, in the past year or so, installed some very useful signposts pointing you toward the major landmarks. Further afield beyond that, there’s a trolley tour that circulates where you can get on and off at various points like Arlington Cemetery, etc. More info on that here. If you want to head to the National Zoo, metro or cab is best.

      There aren’t a lot of food options around the Tidal Basin or on the National Mall, although there are some kiosks that have basic snacks and very basic lunches.

      Hope you both enjoy your visit!

      Reply
  42. Hi, David. As always, I am enjoying your photographs and updates. THANK YOU!

    Interestingly, the National Park Service’s cherry blossom web cam has been down since 3 am on Friday. I doubt this is a coincidence.

    Here’s a better — and more reliable — web cam link for your followers: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/cherryblossoms/

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  43. Thank you so much for your dedication to update this website. I have your page saved on my favorites tab and visit it daily with the hopes of catching the cherry blossoms during peak bloom. Again thank you!!!

    Reply
  44. We went yesterday (Thursday) and it was cool (cold) and overcast. Unfortunately it was the only day we could make the trip over the next few weeks. Very few blossoms but there’s a beauty in the delicate color of the buds when seen from afar. It looks like a mist of dark pink hovering in the branches.

    Despite a little disapointment at missing the full bloom, it was pleasant to walk around the tidal basin and watch the paddleboaters. It was not crowded either so our dog was able to enjoy the walk, too. There’s always 2014!

    Reply
  45. Thanks so much, David, for these updates. I plan on going up to DC this Saturday (4/6) but will probably return the next day. I have been faithfully following your updates and I appreciate it so much. I do hope I can get some pretty nice pictures, as this will be my first time seeing them. Last year I missed them by a week. Thank you again.

    Reply
  46. this website is da bomb!! i absolutely love the incredibly helpful daily updates so that i can time my visit down to dc perfectly without wasting a day off from work. i made sure to share this website with family and friends. thank you for taking your time to do this. 🙂

    Reply
    • Thats true, it gives the most appropriate details of the Cherry Blossom with Pics.

      So when are you planning to visit, as I am confused as anyone to plan between this weekend and next weekend. 🙂

      Reply
  47. Hi David,

    I had initially planned for apr 6th weekend for visiting the cherry blossom at DC , but looking at your today’s picture updates , i think I will shift it to Apr 13th. Is it a wise decision , please let me know your thoughts/suggestions.

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • It looks increasingly like the peak bloom date is going to fall early next week. As you can see from today’s photos, it’s not going to be tomorrow. If it comes on Monday or Tuesday, then this Sunday should be great viewing and the weekend of April 13/14 will be a little dicier as the flowers will be on their way out. Sometimes they last a week or even more, although last year, helped by warm weather and a storm, they were gone within 5-6 days. If it comes later in the week, then the weekend of April 13/14 will be better. The forecast is for around 70s for the first part of next week, which will help wake them up.

      Reply
  48. Hi David,

    Thank you so so so much…you are the best. I will drive down to DC tomorrow morning and stay there till April 10. Woo hoo.

    Reply
  49. I am a photographer and want to be at the tidal basin by 5:00 a.m. to set up my equipment. Memorial Parking Lot A on Ohio Drive has a parking restriction between 1:00 a.m and 8:00 a.m. Do you know if the parking authorities will relax the parking restriction time for Lot A during Cherry Blossom Festival weekend? I would like to park in this lot but do not want to risk having my car towed. I also know there were some issues last weekend with street parking on Ohio Drive before 7:00 a.m. in that after 7:00 a.m. the flow of traffic flow was changed and those parked in the normally correct position, were now incorrectly parked and subject to towing. Do you have any parking advice for those wishing to get to the tidal basin before the operational hours of Metro, public garages or street parking?

    Reply
    • No, I don’t know that they are relaxing it, and I’ve decided not to risk it. 68,000 parking tickets during the 2011 cherry blossom festival is enough to convince me.

      I’ve used those spots next to the MLK and FDR Memorial before the restriction is lifted, but most of the time it’s not for longer than 20 mins or so, not hours. Ohio Drive is now permanently reversed (at least, permanently for the festival as opposed to a 7am start), so there should be no problem there now. Last weekend was unusual in that they were implementing the switchover. I usually park on Ohio Drive–it’s only an extra couple of hundred yards. But given the remoteness of that area, personal security is something to be very aware of, of course.

      Reply
      • Thank you so much David for your informative reply as well as all of the other information you provide. As long as Ohio Drive is now switched to a north traffic flow during the cherry blossom festival, I will park northbound on Ohio Drive and avoid risking a ticket or tow in Lot A. Many thanks again!

        Reply
  50. Hi David, I appreciate all the efforts you have put in this website. Thanks for the regular updates.
    I can visit DC only on a weekend. Please advise which weekend (4/6 or 4/13) is better for DC trip?

    Reply
  51. Hi David

    Thanks so much for your updates! I’ve been following closely along to figure out when to go to DC. I’m having the same dilemma as Jim below, do you think this weekend or next weekend will be a better weekend to go? I was about to move my trip to next weekend but then after realizing it might rain next week, I have no idea what to do!

    Thanks again for your wonderful blog and constant updates—it’s very much appreciated!

    Rashi

    Reply
    • I’ve taken a crack at answering Jim, but infortunately it might not be all that helpful in resolving the dilemma. Another update coming tomorrow.

      Reply
  52. Hi there! I’ve been checking your updates almost daily. You saved us a trip down to DC last weekend. Thank you so much! I plan on heading down this weekend and hope to catch the blossoms. I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all of the work that you are putting into this site to give the public an accurate up to date report on the blossoms. I agree with the other posters that the NPS should link your site to theirs and give you some $$$ for all this work.

    I hope you continue to do this. I will definitely be coming to your site from now on to check on the blossoms. I’ve also linked your page to my FB page and others have found it useful we well. Thanks again!

    Reply
  53. Thanks for all the useful information! I originally planned to visit DC to see cherry blossom on 4/6, but it seems there will be not many to see…So I’m thinking to reschedule my trip to 4/13. However, I just check the weather, it will rain in DC on 4/11 and 4/12. Will the rain make the flowers all gone? Now It’s really hard for me to decide which weekend I should go…

    Reply
    • Yes, that’s quite the dilemma at the moment, and unfortunately I’m not sure I can offer a clear answer. The people who know the trees the best–the folks at the National Park Service–have been watching their progress on the ground and now predict that peak bloom will fall sometime April 6-8. Given how close we are to that–well inside the 10 day window–I’m inclined to believe they’re pretty confident about that. If they’re right, and the peak bloom comes on April 8, the flowers will be on their way out by the weekend of April 13/14, although there probably will still be some around. Last year, by 5-6 days after peak bloom, most of the flowers were gone (helped by a storm and warm weather). You can see those photos at here. On the other hand, if it comes around April 10, a possibility the Capital Weather Gang have floated, then the weekend of April 13/14 will be good. I plan to post new photos tomorrow morning–hopefully they might help.

      Reply
  54. Hi David

    Thanks for all your information, I am planning to visit DC either on 6th or 7th. Based on your information I guess 7th is better option. Please suggest.

    Reply
    • Yes, that is probably the safer bet in terms of flowers. The NPS has just revised its forecast to April 6-8. The weather forecast for both days looks nice (clearer on Saturday but warmer on Sunday).

      Reply
  55. Thank you for your website. I have been checking on it almost everyday since February. We live closeby in Baltimore, so we can easily change our schedule to come to DC based on the information provided in your website. We were set to go on March 28, then changed it to April 5. However, it seems that it will be raining on that day, not a good one to go walking around. We might miss the blossom this year as the next week is quite hectic for us.

    But thanks again!

    Reply
  56. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos and updating so often about the blossoms. I am bringing my family out this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday and am hoping for a beautiful day. My bigger question is about getting my family around though. I have five children, ages 1-11. We are planning on parking in Capitol Hill and bringing our bikes to ride down to the tidal basin for the day and seeing everything in between while we ride. Will the sidewalks be too crowded for this type of transportation for my children and will I be upset we have out bikes? I worry about trying to make them walk too much and know they’d do much better on bikes but I’m also worried about the crowds and what we’ll do with the bikes once were down there. Any advice? Thanks.

    Reply
    • It will be too crowded along the Tidal Basin walkway and not safe to be riding there for you or others (there’s no railing along much of it), but there are bike racks at various points around it. I know there are some over near the FDR/MLK Memorials and Jefferson Memorials, and I suspect (but haven’t confirmed recently) that there are some near the parking lot on Maine Ave SW. This NPS info on cycling on the National Mall might be useful: http://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/bicyclinginformation.htm. And there are also several Capital Bikeshare rental stations scattered around the mall if you need an extra bike or two.

      Riding from the Capitol down to the Tidal Basin shouldn’t be a problem. There will be lots of people about, but the area is big and with sensible care you shouldn’t have a problem. And if anyone really wants to get some distance in, you can head on around the Hains Point loop, which runs along the waterfront. If the cherry blossoms are out by then, there are thousands of cherry blossoms lining Hains Point. There will be more cars than usual for the cherry blossom crowds, but at least traffic will be one way and *should* be moving slowly.

      Reply
      • Wow! Thank you so much for the helpful information! Now, to bother you again with another question.. If we can push our visit back to Monday, the 8th, would that be better for blossom viewing in your opinion? And are crowds any lighter on business days during the bloom?

        Reply
  57. Hi David,

    Thanks for the wonderful information and pictures. I am planning to visit DC for the cherry blossoms and I use this more than anything. It is certainly more helpful that the NPS website. I hope you’ll keep doing this in the years to come.

    Milyr.

    Reply
  58. Your information is really helpful, but I got a question. I am planning on coming to DC next weeeknd 13-14. Do you think I will still be able to see some good amount of bloom?
    My schedule this week is kind of tied, that’s why I had to push it thru next weekend to come.
    I really need some good advise.
    🙁

    Reply
    • A bit hard to say for sure at this point. If the peak bloom day comes during the April 6-8 period, the flowers will be well on their way out by April 13-14, although there might still be some hanging around (and there are other types of cherry trees in the general area that bloom later and will still be out). If it comes on April 10, which is later than the NPS says but at the end of the range suggested by the Capital Weather Gang, then there should be more to see on April 13-14.

      Reply
  59. Hello David… Your blog is the most helpful one. I have planned this weekend that is 6th & 7th. I will be traveling from Philly. This is the first and maybe the last time I will ever experience such a thing. I love to travel a lot and I am from India. Luckily this year m here, so can’t miss it. If the show is not good I am planning to come again on 9/10. But on 10,11, 12 their is a forecast of heavy shower. Now a days, I keep refreshing your page almost 30 times a day. I love to take photographs. I have visited all photo albums of yours, they are just amazing. Just wanted to thank you. 🙂

    Reply
  60. Your information is more useful than National Park Service. What a shame that the NPS does not update information given that many people are so curious.
    I would suggest that Obama take some funding from the NPS and award to for the service for now and in the future.

    Reply
  61. This page of yours is invaluable to getting out to the blossoms at the right time. So much more informative than the park services chart that is hard to judge anything by. Thank you so much for your posts and I will continue to follow your site. Your pictures are nice and give great detail to the state of the cherry blossoms.

    Reply
  62. Hello David,

    Thanks you so much for the updates! I got a Nikon d5100 this past Christmas and I am super excited to photograph some cherry trees in bloom. We am planning to drive down to dc this weekend to see the cherry blossom, but having second thoughts as it looks like we might not get the peak bloom as predicted. Do you think its still worth driving down from Boston or should we wait till the 13th to get a good view ( we can only come over the weekend).
    I would really appreciate your advice.

    Reply
    • Hello David,
      Thank you a lot for all your wonderful updates. My family is heading to Washington DC today and will stay until this weekend. Again, thank you a lot for your wonderful help to us.

      Reply
    • I’ve just posted some new shots from this morning that show a small number of trees starting to bloom. I suspect that there will be much to see this weekend, even if the technical peak bloom day ends up coming early next week. There are still lots of flowers on the trees in the few days leading up to the peak bloom date.

      Reply
  63. Thank you soooo much for your frequent updates. It has been tough to schedule our trip this year because if the weather. Your information has been invaluable. We are going this weekend and hoping for the best. I truly think the blossoms are as impressive as the Grand Canyon. A national treasure.

    Reply
    • Yes, they certainly are beautiful. And hats off to the National Park Service aborists for doing a fantastic job keeping them that way. Some of these trees are now over a century old, which is well beyond their average life expectancy.

      Reply
  64. Driving in tomorrow and planning on Thursday to view the blossoms. A friend who lives and works there just told us they might be gone by Friday if we wait because of the rain. She says they are blooming today. That is not what I am reading here on your site. This is our bucket list item so she better be right!

    Reply
  65. Hi David,

    Thanks for many updates. I checked your Website everyday since Feb. I changed my plan to visit DC twice since 3/26. Do you think I will still have a chance to see a good blooming on April 11 or 12 next week? I really hope the peak blooming will be in the 9th or 10th LOL. Thanks.

    Reply
    • If it the peak bloom day falls on April 9 or 10, which is the end of the range proposed by the Capital Weather Gang, you should be in good shape. If it comes April 6 or 7, it might be a bit iffier.

      Reply
      • Hi David,
        I wish you would be able to upload the pictures everyday….plz plz lol. I looked at your beautiful pictures today and suddenly, I am nervous. If I drive down to DC next week, I might miss the peak bloom. I really hope to see your pictures on Friday. If it’s about to peak….I will drive down there on Friday night……:))) Thankss. LOL.

        Reply
  66. Friends of mine drove 5 hours to see the cherry blossoms after verifying on the National Park Website (even today April 2nd) that peak bloom was supposed to be around April 3-6. They just arrived to find not a single bloom. Would it be too much trouble for them to update their website the way you have with visual confirmation? Wish I’d seen you first!

    Reply
    • The trees are typically still pretty with flowers 3-5 days after the peak bloom date. Sometimes they can hang around a little longer, and sometimes a storm will come through and knock a lot of flowers off. If the peak bloom date comes on April 10, which is the end of the range proposed by the Capital Weather Gang, then you should be in good shape. But if it comes on the 6th or 7th, then there’ll probably be less to see.

      Reply
  67. Love your site! Thank you! Your work is beautiful, too!

    P.S. Have you considered linking to the Park Service’s Cherry Blossom web cam? I bet a lot of people would enjoy the live snapshot of the tidal basin, too.

    Thanks again! 🙂

    Reply
  68. We’ll be there tomorrow, April 3rd, flying down from Ma. I know the blooms won’t peak then, where are the few that have bloomed early? Looking forward to our visit and thanks for the wonderful job you’ve done on this website.

    Reply
    • There are some small ones over just to the east of the Jefferson Memorial. But some of the big, old ones near the MLK Memorial should also start the puffy white stage over the next few of days.

      Reply
  69. Thanks for your awesome website and for being our eyes in Washington :-). My family here in West Virginia likes to make the pilgrimage each year at dawn to eat a picnic breakfast under the blossoms. We had planned to go tomorrow (Wed., April 3) but a picnic at 30 degrees is no fun when the blossoms aren’t even at peak. if we wait till next Monday (April 8) will we miss them? We’d love to get your opinion. Thanks!

    Reply
    • April 8 should be very good for lots of flowers out. If the technical peak bloom falls on April 6 or 7, the flowers will still be looking very good on April 8.

      Reply
  70. THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!! i’m sooo nervous! I’m flying up from Miami to take my engagement pictures up in the Tidal Basin with the Cherry Blossoms this Thursday, pictures to be taken on Friday. Do you think they might bloom? I see DC is expecting to stay cold this week.

    I’ve been praying these past few days….I keep looking at the live webcam….I like your webpage better.

    Reply
    • My guess is that you’ll be able to find at least some of the trees out on Friday even if some others are lagging behind. I’ll post at least a couple more updates before then.

      Reply
    • It’s supposed to rain on Friday…be sure to bring umbrellas. I think you could end up with some awesome engagement pictures with a gentle rain 🙂 If the blooms cooperate that is.

      Reply
      • Thank you Melinda! We are planning on taking pictures at 7:30am so I hope it’s not raining that early. I will cross my fingers.

        Reply
  71. Your site is wonderfully informative and artistic as well. I’m making the trip down this weekend (have missed the blossoms a few times during trips there), but am crossing my fingers that I’ll finally get my first look at some blooms.

    Reply
  72. Our group of 32 people from NYC will be heading to DC for kayaking and cherry blossom photography this weekend. We really appreciate your efforts in posting the most updated info and photos. Great job David!

    Reply
  73. Thank you so much for stalking the cherry blossoms! I’m new to the area and can’t wait to spend some quality time getting photos of them. You’re posts are really helping me plan my schedule. I think so far you’ve saved me 4 trips :-). If I get any decent shots it’ll be thanks to you. 🙂

    Reply
  74. Thanks so much for the every other day update! Like many others have already said, your posts are the MOST informative online! It truly helps. We were there 3/28-3/31 and saw like 2 early bloomers, lol! We could not get the hotel to do reschedule for the following weekend, so we are planning on making a day trip this weekend. Do you think they will be around peak then (April 6-7th)?

    Reply
  75. David,
    Great site. Thanks. Do you think the revised April 3 to 6 peak time will again be off by a few days? Does one week or 10 days from now seem to be a more accurate start of the peak?

    Reply
    • I suspect we’re looking at the late end of that range. The NPS experts are watching closely and they haven’t changed their forecast (if they do, I’ll of course update here), which leads me to think that April 6-7 is still viable. And, of course, there’ll be lots of flowers out for the 3-4 days leading up to the peak bloom date as well.

      Reply
  76. Thank you so much for this photo update. I’ve been itching at the gate getting ready to head down and photograph the blossoms. Was going to go on Monday, but with these images, I know to wait a little more. Thanks again.

    Reply
  77. Thanks for your updates, I have been tracking your posts for the last week, anxioulsy awaiting updates!

    We are able to be in DC either this weekend (30 & 31), Saturday or Sunday or next weekend (6 & 7).

    I read posts today about possible frost next week that could impact the blossoms next week.

    Trying to get an outside opinion, if I am coming to see cherry blossoms, am I right in thinking next weekend is better?

    Reply
  78. Thank you so much for your updates. I love your site. We are coming from Alabama. We cannot cancel our trip. We will be there this Saturday the 30th, through Wednesday the 3rd. I’ve been watching your site for the past couple of weeks. I feel that we will get to see some blooms even if it’s our last day, next Wednesday. I’m keeping my fingers, eyes, and toes, crossed! Is the lantern already lit? I read that it’s only lit during the Cherry Blossom festival each year. Or, is it a certain time each day, that it’s lit? Also, would you happen to know exactly where the first tree was planted? I read that there is a simple bronze plate beside the tree. I would like to see that very first one, if possible.

    Reply
  79. First and foremost, you have the most informative website relating to the blossom watch that I have seen to date, and I have been going to the Cherry Blossom Festival for over 10 years. In my previous years of going it has always been a hit or miss, because you really cannot tell when the blossoms are coming until 10 days out; at that time if you’re locked into a hotel and flight you have no choice but to go.

    With that said, I am currently locked into a non-cancelable trip for March 29 through March 31st. Has much changed between today and yesterday to where you think we may see some blossoming this Sunday, if not Saturday? Based off your pictures, it looks like we were about 10 days out on 3/25? Then based off your previous years’ pictures from 2012 it looks like you can get some good blossoms 2 days before peak? If I am doing the math correctly, wouldn’t Sunday or Monday have a decent amount of blossoms?

    Reply
    • The flowers really start coming out en masse in the period 3-6 days before peak bloom. About 2 days either side are very similar to peak bloom–before, they’re white, and after they’re starting to turn pink. I’m hoping to get down there tomorrow morning and post some more shots tomorrow, which should give a sense of where we’ll be for the weekend.

      Reply
  80. Thanks for the info and the beautiful photos. We were planning to do a daytrip to dc on one of the weekends. Would you recommend going on the April 6th for the peak bloom or on April 13th for the parade and the festival? (Also, if the peak bloom is 3-6 April, will it still be around by the 13th?) Thanks!

    Reply
    • If the bloom falls in the April 3-6 period, there probably won’t be many flowers left by the 13th. Personally, I’m partial to the bloom, but that’s just a matter of preference.

      Reply
  81. Hi David..i will be there on Friday the 29th, the weather looks spring like finally! Will i see any blooms? My fingers
    Are crossed!!!!

    Reply
  82. Hi David!
    I love your site and the photos are amazing. My husband and I will be in Washington DC between April 4th and 7th. Do you think this will be the perfect time to take photos of the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin? This is our third attempt and the last one was a failure. We had already canceled our original plan to come this week based on the revised forecast.

    Teo from Canada

    Reply
  83. Hello David,

    When are you planning to post some tips to get best pictures of cherry blossom.
    I Nikon camera so waiting for your tips to learn more about photography

    Thanks
    Anitha

    Reply
      • Great, I look forward to your tutorial as well! As far as the cherry blossom bloom, we had booked a hotel once the ‘prediction’ came out, and looking at the past 2-3 years’ dates as well. Figures,lol! Now we HAVE to go this weekend due to the hotel not accepting even a change of dates! Learned our lesson. And we aren’t giving up—we planned a day trip for April 7th! Take that groundhog! Thanks for the weekly updates, they really help!

        Reply
    • what are the chances of seeing the blossoms during easter weekend? I have 18-55mm and 50mm lens, which will be better for some nice photos?

      Reply
      • I’m hoping to get some new shots tomorrow morning, which should give a good sense of what to expect on the weekend. As for which lens, both of those will work very well. Will have some ideas for each in my tips section that I’ll post in the next couple of days.

        Reply
  84. Nice updates on DC cherry blossoms David… I will be in DC on April 17th but by then I guess it will be post peak bloom over here…I’m hoping to catch some cherry blossoms in brooklyn botanical garden in new york on 20th April

    Reply
  85. Visited my son in DC last Easter. The Blossoms were early,missed them and I was very disappointed. Will be in DC from Easter until April 4th this year. Hope you are right! Can’t wait to see the gorgeous trees!

    Reply
    • If the bloom comes on the early end of the range, you should catch the beginning. If it comes towards the end of the range, unfortunately there might be less to see. So long as it stays as cool as it’s been and is forecast to be through at least the rest of this week, odds are probably towards later rather than sooner.

      Reply
  86. What beautiful shots! I actually just bought a new DSLR and this really inspires me to want to go down to DC and get some shots of the cherry trees while they’re in full bloom 🙂

    Reply
    • Thanks! Stay tuned–I’ll be adding some tips for taking photos of the cherry blossoms within the next few days. Enjoy your visit!

      Reply
  87. Very nice pictures from 2012 and a nice compilation of information. Thank you.

    My GF and I are coming down this weekend (March 29-31), too early for the Yoshino peak bloom, but from what I’ve read here and other places that might put us at the end of the Weeping Japanese Cherry bloom. I have been having a tough time finding any source with the specifics of that bloom for this year. Any chance you know of a resource that might help with that as well as some good maps of the different locations of the Weeping JC trees?

    Reply
    • I don’t know of any tracking specifically of those, but I’ll try to get some shots in future. I can report that as of yesterday, they’re not yet blooming.

      Reply
  88. Hi, we will be in the DC area April 11th to the 14th. If the weather holds, do we have a good chance of seeing some of the blooms? Love your site and images! Another question, is there a range in lens that you use for the DC area? I want to minimize travel weight and love primes for the clarity and dof but worried on how much trouble they would give me regarding monuments over the Basin. Thank you!

    Reply
    • If the later end of the forecast is correct (ie. April 5-6), then there’s good chance you might catch the tail end of it. If it comes on the early end of the range (ie. April 3), there might be less to see (especially if a storm comes through and knocks off a lot of the petals at the end, as it did last year). But there are also other varieties of cherry trees and flowering trees around Hains Point and the National Mall, several of which bloom later, so you should be able to find some even if the Yoshinos are finished by then.

      Reply
  89. I’m watching this very closely. I hope that the weather continues to warm up and speeds up the cherry trees. Your latest pictures are promising. I can see some color breaking through. Thanks for the updates on the cherry.

    Reply
  90. Hi, we are planning to be in DC April 10th to 14th. Any chance we will catch as least some of the blooms? Also, love your images! Do you find that you shoot with zoom lens more than prime in the DC area? I find that I love the sharpness and clarity of primes, but worried that it will limit my view too much since I’m not familiar with the area. Any recommendations on lens for Canon for the monuments and cherry blossoms?

    Reply
    • I tend to prefer primes, but one of the fun things about the cherry blossoms are that there are plenty of opportunities for putting any lens you have to good use. You can get in close for the wide-angles, and there’s good views across the water to the monuments for a telephoto. And stay tuned–I’ll be posting some tips for taking photos of the cherry blossoms in the next few days.

      Reply
  91. Hello David,

    Love your site.
    We are going to be in DC between the 28th and 31st of March. Will there be any blossoms out those days?
    We wish we could change our dates but we can’t, so we are hoping the blooms will start when we are there.

    Reply
    • If the peak bloom comes on the early end of the range (ie. April 3), you might catch the beginning stages toward the end of your visit. If it comes in the later stage of the range (ie. April 5-6), there might be less to see. But even if the Yoshinos aren’t yet firing, there should be some other varieties starting to come out by then.

      Reply
  92. I understand Washington is expected to have snow Sunday into Monday. How will that effect the last prediction of the Cherry Blossoms peaking April 3 – April 6th. My husband and I changed our visit to Washington from March 26 – 30 to April 3 – 6 after the last prediction. Does it look like we’ll have to change it again to experience the peak of the season which we have never seen but are hoping to catch this year?

    Reply
    • Some wet snow is indeed forecast, but temperatures aren’t necessarily any lower than expected. If there’s going to be any refinement of the official forecast, it’ll probably come in the next day or two.

      Reply
  93. When is the next update? My family and I will be in DC next week(Marh 27-30). The weather is expected to be in the 50s next week. I hope that we get some bloom. How good is the prediction compared to previous years? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Schedule-permitting, I’ll aim for another update around Monday-Tuesday. Unfortunately, we won’t know how good the prediction is until we see flowers. This current spate of cool weather was factored into the revised forecast, so one assumes their revised forecast should be fairly accurate. And now that we’re coming up towards the 10-day-out period, we should know of any refinements soon.

      Reply
    • You’ll probably miss most of the famous Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin by then, I’m afraid (unless the forecasts are way off). By 5-7 days after the peak bloom (perhaps a bit earlier if there’s a lot of wind), the flowers are mostly gone. (Here are some photos from last year 6 days after peak bloom). But there’s a good chance there’ll be some clusters of holdouts nearby around West Potomac Park and Hains Point of other types of cherry trees and fruit trees, some of which bloom a little later.

      Reply
    • It depends on precisely when the peak bloom comes. If it’s on the earlier end of the range of the official forecast (ie. around April 3), then you could see some of the early stages of the flowers starting to come out en masse. If the peak bloom is at the later end of the range (ie. around April 6), then there might be less to see. A day or two either way can make quite a difference.

      Reply
  94. Darn, I just saw the revised predicted peak bloom after I bought my tidal basin cruise tickets. Do you think there will still be some blossoms on the 29-30th? That’s about 5 days earlier. Thanks.

    Reply
    • I have some shots taken last year 6 days before peak bloom. Some of the flowers were starting to come out. You can take a look at them here.

      Reply
  95. Dang! That parking lot is closed. I go and park there a lot after work sometime on week nights to take pictures. It’s only about a 20 min drive from my place in Alexandra. I guess I can park along Ohio Drive SW along the Potomac. Any other parking suggestions? That lot on the north east side of the Tidal Basin is like gold mine that know one knows about on week nights.

    Reply
    • Yeah, it’s a good spot. Ohio drive along the Potomac is usually a good bet. There’s even often spots right next to the MLK Memorial when the tour bases head off and free up several spaces at once.

      Reply
  96. We’re flying in from Colorado on April 3 and staying through the 8th. I really hope the Washington Post prediction is accurate. How is it looking so far for that time period? It’s getting closer so I thought I would check. Have the predictions changed at all? This will be my first visit to DC and I’m so excited.

    Reply
    • There’s no public change in the official NPS forecast so far, but the cold weather that the Washington Post Capital Weather Gang predicted has arrived. I’ve just added some new photos taken this morning to give a sense of where things stand as of today.

      Reply
      • Thanks – My family will be staying in DC on April 2-6. I used to study at UMCP 13 years ago and this is the first time when I bring my wife and kids back to DC. Even though our white house tour was cancelled, DC cherry blossom won’t disappoint us for sure 🙂

        Reply
    • Based on how they look this morning, my guess is that it might still be too early. I’ve added some new photos taken this morning and will take some more during the week.

      Reply
  97. My husband and I are photo buffs and are flying to Washington, DC from Florida on Tuesday March 25 for two days for the main purpose of getting great shots of the Cherry Blossoms. What are our chances? Please tell me they’re good:)

    Reply
    • Several local weather outlets are now pointing to forecasts of cooler temperatures through the rest of March, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the NPS revises their prediction sometime in the coming days. The flowers really start popping en masse 4-6 days before the peak bloom date. Based on the original NPS forecast, you’ll be in good shape. But if it turns out their forecast was too early, it might be a bit more touch-and-go.

      Reply
    • There’s a reasonable chance you might see some of the very early stages of the petals coming up. Also possible that might start a few days after that. If the peak bloom is on the early side of NPS prediction (ie. March 26), you should be in luck. If it’s on the later end of the range (March 30), then you might not be quite as lucky. The photos from March 11 and 14 from last year will give you some idea. But stay tuned–the NPS will often refine their prediction about 10 days out, which could come any day now.

      Reply
      • The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang has been looking at the weather forecasts for the rest of March and has issued their own prediction for peak bloom coming on April 5. More information above.

        Reply
  98. I will be taking a group of middle schoolers from March 17 until March 21. Any predictions for what we might see in the way of cherry blossoms? And has the weather been as cold? We are from CA.

    Reply
    • It’s possible you might see the very beginning stages around March 20 to 21, but things probably won’t really get going until a few days after that (the process is quick once it gets rolling). It’s been a little cooler than average, but not markedly so. Nights are getting down to upper 30s and low-40s and days generally upper-40s to 50s. But as is typical at this time of year, we’re getting the occasional 60s day as well. In the last couple of weeks we’ve had snow, sleet, rain, as well as clear, sunny days without a cloud in the sky. So it’s been the usual Washington early-spring mixed bag. As for what to expect from the blossoms, take a look at the photos from March 11 and March 14 from the Cherry Blossom Watch 2012 page. As you can see, a few days can make quite a difference.

      Reply
  99. I discovered your website the year before last. It has really been a blessing for me. I have been taking my mother to see the blossoms every year since she moved to the Washington area 16 years ago. She is now 91 years old. I always have to plan the day off from work so that we can tour the tidal basin trees, have lunch and then tour the trees at Kenwood, in Bethesda MD. Your website has allowed me to pick the best day so accurately. Your site is the best!

    Thank you so much, and thank you for all of the wonderful pictures.

    Reply
  100. Thank you for this useful website!
    As a photo enthusiast (but completely amateur compared to you!), I really appreciate being able to track the blooming thanks to your infos!
    I will then have to accomodate my busy work schedule to see as much as possible of the 2013 cherry blossoms! Last year I had 5 photo ops in 8 days around the Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park and Kenwood MD. I hope to be able to do more this time, including more sunrise and sunset 😉

    Thanks!

    Reply
  101. Thank you. I did not see your response to my first post. Your photos are beautiful and enjoy looking at them. Thank you for your website.

    Reply
    • Unfortunately, that’s probably still a bit early. If the NPS forecast is correct, the puffy white stage should start somewhere around March 20 to 24. It’s not impossible you could see something on the 17th, but odds are against it.

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  102. My husband and I lived and worked @ the DC area for seven years, first as singles, then as a couple, as newlyweds and finally as new parents. I have some beautiful and very special pics of me pregnant walking under the cherry blossoms @ the Tidal Basin. Our daughter was born in DC, and as you can imagine, I have some very special pics of me with our baby daughter walking along the Tidal Basin under the cherry trees. Then we moved back to our hometown, and didn’t go back to DC until 19 years later, when our daughter, then 20 years old, was working in DC as a Congress intern. Our only chance for visiting was during our son’s spring break, and I prayed so much that we would be blessed to see the blossoms once again – I wasn’t actually hoping for a full bloom, just a few blossoms would have made me happy! We were so blessed when it was announced that the full bloom period would happen during our visit, I couldn’t believe it! Since we can’t go there again, seeing these beautiful pics takes me back to some very special times. Thank you!

    Reply
  103. My mother and I are traveling to DC from March 27-31, I was so excited to see this prediction. This is part of her bucket list. We would like to go to the basin early in the morning by cab and drink coffee and meditate. Is it possible to sit along the walk in the early part of the day (6:00 am)?
    Is the park open at that time? Do you have any suggestions for where to be dropped off that my mom won’t have so far to walk?

    Reply
    • The area is open 24 hrs–it’s not fenced off. Sunrise at that time will be 7am, give or take a few minutes (daylight saving time kicks in before then). If you’re over on the western side of the Tidal Basin, near the FDR Memorial, you’ll have the sun rising to the left of the Jefferson Memorial. For arriving by cab, ask to be dropped off at the MLK Memorial. There’s an easy dropoff zone there and is a 20-yard walk to be under the trees. And that’s where the 100 or so surviving trees from the original gift are clustered. The typical weather pattern at that time of year is a few cool, drizzly and overcast days followed by a brisk, clear, breezy day. So if it’s overcast when you first arrive, hang in there for a day or two. Some of the shots on my main Cherry Blossom page are pre-dawn and at sunrise, so you can get a sense of what to expect. Enjoy your visit!

      Reply
      • You provided a recommendation if someone were to be dropped off in the morning. Any recommendations for places to park if someone were to drive there? Would some parking spots be more available depending on time of day? I would most likely get there around rush hour (give or take 30 mins).

        Reply
        • Parking is going to be tough around that time of day. Actually, parking will be tough anytime outside of very early in the morning. It’s not at all unusual for all the spots all the way around Hains Point to be full, especially with all the tour buses that roll into town for the occasion. There should be a free shuttle bus doing the Hains Point circuit so you can get to and from your car. There are a few small parking lots behind the Jefferson Memorial under 395 and the 14th Street Bridge that are worth a try. Otherwise, Metro is a great option.

          I have more information here. And it reminds me of a sobering statistic: 68,000 parking tickets were handed out during the 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival.

  104. Atlast the peak date is announced.We ll b there on march 24th n 25th.Will it be useful.
    Waiting to see it..But lemme know whether that’s a right time.how will it look

    Reply
  105. Yey.. Finally I am seeing something new in this page :D. I have been visiting this page everyday as there wasn’t much news available in any sites about 2013 blossoms peak watch. Would it be wrong to guess that the peak might be in march last week?

    Reply
    • I’ll have to leave it to the experts at the National Park Service to make their prediction, but it’s looking like a reasonable chance it’ll be sometime in the last week of March or first week of April.

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  106. Dear traveling camera,

    I’m excited about your website. We will be traveling for the first time to DC the last week in March and hope to catch the splendid show of cherry trees at that time .

    What are you thoughts and insights as to what we might see? Do you think we will be close to peak blossoms at that time?

    Patiently awaiting arrival,

    Laurel
    Santa Rosa, Ca

    Reply
    • The last week of March is usually a good bet for seeing the blossoms. Even if the technical “peak bloom” is a bit outside that, the trees should still have plenty of flowers on them then. But that’s not ironclad, of course.

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  107. will you be showing pictures for the month of Feb. ? We see where April 4th is maybe a peak time. We will be coming down this year. Thank yo for the website,Jean

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  108. I am a regular visitor and not an official, so I can give an totally unofficial prediction for this year. Easter weekend, around the 31st is my estimate. You’ll be fine the 24th and should be good the wknd of the 7th, but from my study of weather and early indicators, 31st is best estimate..

    Reply
  109. Hi,
    I am planning a trip to DC March 15-18 with my boyfriend for his birthday. Can we expect to see any cherry blossoms? I know it won’t be all of them but have any bloomed that early. I know its a long shot given the terrible winter we had (coming from Ohio) its been one of the worst in a few years. Also any idea of what the weather is typically like? I have never been to DC, in 6th grade when we were suppose to go for our class trip but sadly 9/11 happened that year and it was canceled.

    Reply
    • It’s possible you might see the beginning stages, although odds are that it’ll be a little on the early side. You can see photos from last year at various stages on my Cherry Blossom Watch 2012 page. If you scroll down, you can see some from mid-March. But bear in mind that last year’s bloom was unusually early, and this winter hasn’t been as warm as last winter. The winter so far in Washington hasn’t been abnormal (like last year was) in terms of temperature, although we’ve gotten very little snow (so far). Many of the big storms have been passing to our north.

      As far as weather, it’s usually still fairly cool at that time of year, with night-time temperatures averaging in the upper 30s to low 40s and daytime averaging upper 50s and low 60s. The pattern then is often spells of several cool days of drizzly, misty weather followed by a day or two of beautiful clear sunshine. It’s not unheard of for a big snowstorm here in March, but it’s rare.

      But even if you’re a bit early for the cherry blossoms themselves, Washington DC at that time of year starts to get very colorful with the daffodils, tulips, and apple blossoms (and other fruit blossoms).

      Reply
      • Thank you so much! Your very informative! I am really hoping I get lucky and can get some good pics of them! Your pictures are beautiful by the way. I have a local photography contest in April I’m entering I’m hoping to get some good pics in DC for it. Ill keep checking on the updates until we go on our trip in one month from today!

        Reply
  110. Thank you for the info. I have planned a trip to D.C. beginning March 29th, 2013. I hope I will get to see the Cherry Blossoms. When have they blossomed in the past?

    Reply
    • The dates for the peak bloom for the past several years are above. There are various stages of blossoms on the trees about a week before and after the peak bloom date, give or take.

      Reply
  111. Bulps are coming up all over Capital Hill, are the cherry blossums going to come up very early this year because it seems like the other plants, Tuplips, Doffodiles, etc… are coming up a month or so earlier than usual!

    Reply
    • Yes, it seems like the daffodils aren’t too far from blooming, although it’s not all that early for them. Tulips are probably still a while away. As for cherry blossoms, no word yet from the experts at the National Park Service, although this winter has so far been, overall, colder than last year.

      Reply
  112. Can’t wait for the blossoms to be out this year. Getting married March 30th in the Tidal Basin and hoping that we estimated close to the peak bloom this year. Cross your fingers that Mother Nature smiles upon us!

    Reply
  113. Hi David,
    I was just in town for the Inauguration last weekend and I saw a few blooming trees by the National Mall and I panicked! I am taking the first week of April off to take my engagement photos by the cherry blossoms. Are you in the neighborhood and have you noticed them blooming too? They may have been non-cherry blossoms and other flowering trees that I saw.

    Thanks for keeping the watch!

    Stacy

    Reply
    • It’s definitely not the cherry blossoms. The shots on this page were taken a little over a week ago. We’re still a few months away from the cherry trees blooming. I’ll be adding fresh photos as we get closer to the date, but for now they’re in winter mode so there’s not much to see.

      Reply
  114. First time for my husband and I to see the cherry blossoms and dc. I look forward to your updates as to the best time this year. Thanks so much.

    Laurel

    Reply
  115. hi I will be flying in from tucson, AZ! I would be most grateful if you can advise us when is the best time to fly in to watch the cherry blossoms bloom!

    thank you so much.

    Reply
  116. Since I am planning a trip to Washington I would appreciate if you can let me know the possibles dates I am traveling from Guatemala City C.Thankyou

    Lillian de Ibarguen

    Reply
    • Good question. No-one knows just yet, but the info above provides some basis to guess. As we get closer to the date I’ll add any expert estimates that are made by the National Park Service, etc.

      Reply

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