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 - April 6, 2019 taken by David Coleman.
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The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record.

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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. A saving grace was that the rain stayed light and ended up being mostly drizzle.

From a distance it’s hard to tell. It’s only if you look very close up that you can see that they’re not quite as full and fresh as they were earlier in the week and are moving past their prime with missing petals and green leaves starting to poke through.

The clouds from early this morning when the photos below were taken have since cleared out, and it’s making way for a very pleasant and warm day. If you go down today or tomorrow I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Brace for crowds.

Reader photo submissions will be opening tomorrow. You can find details on that below, along with more information and photos from this morning.

Reader Photo Submissions Opening Soon

Each year for the past few years I’ve posted a selection of the wonderful photos that Cherry Blossom Watch readers have sent in. You can see the first installment from last year here. I’ll be opening submissions tomorrow (Sunday).

Professional Photographers. I thought it might be fun to add a new part this year and showcase some of the work of the area’s professional photographers. If you’ve been down at the Tidal Basin anytime in the past week you will have seen them at work all the way around the Tidal Basin taking engagement, maternity, family, and graduation photos. So if you’re a local professional photographer and would like to submit a shot for consideration in the showcase, stay tuned for the submissions to open sometime in the coming days.

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

If you’re heading down to the Tidal Basin this weekend, a heads up that Sunday morning is the running of the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. That will bring tens of thousands of runners to the area around the Tidal Basin and National Mall.

You can still get to the Tidal Basin and the cherry blossoms remain accessible to foot traffic, but it does make the logistics of getting to and from more complicated. Many of the roads in the area will be closed to vehicles for the morning–including for parking.

Here’s the map of the road closures for the 2019 race:

You can find more information here.

And good luck to all the runners!

How It’s Looking at the Tidal Basin This Morning

These were all taken early this morning. The clouds have since cleared out.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms

The Kwanzan cherry is a variety that blooms a bit later than the others. There are fewer of them, but they’re especially pretty, and they make particularly good backdrops for photos because they’re boldly pink and low to the ground. I have more information about them, including where to find them, here.

I checked in on some of them this morning. They’re coming along nicely, and the warmer temperatures over the next few days will help bring things along.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - April 6, 2019

First Time Visiting?

I’ve put together some information on the monuments and memorials you’ll come across as you wander around the Tidal Basin.

Here’s some information on getting to and from the cherry blossoms, and here’s some information specifically on parking options.

I’ve also put together some suggestions of you’re visiting with young kids.

And please don’t climb on the trees, break branches, or pick the flowers!

Logistics

The Tidal Basin’s parking lot by the paddle boats is now closed for the Cherry Blossom Festival Welcome Area. It will be closed through April 18.

Ohio Drive has been switched to the special one-way traffic pattern. You can still get to Ohio Drive, but you’ll have to go around the other side of the Tidal Basin, past the paddle boats, and enter by the Jefferson Memorial. According to one of the signs, the traffic pattern is due to stay in place until April 14. That seems a bit excessive, so it’s possible it might revert back to normal before then.

If you’re coming in from the Arlington side of the Potomac, be aware Memorial Bridge is undergoing major structural repairs. It is still open, but there are temporary traffic lanes that can impact traffic flow and where you can turn once you get off the bridge. So using one of the other bridges might be a better bet.