2021 Washington DC Cherry Blossoms Homepage2021 Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

by David Coleman @ Have Camera Will Travel

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Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2021

Tidal Basin, Washington DC

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Saucer magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. Taken March 26, 2021.

Cherry Blossom Watch Updates / 2021 Cherry Blossom Watch
Last updated about 1 week ago / Originally published about 1 week ago

Peak Bloom Reached on March 28

The National Park Service has restricted traffic and parking around the Tidal Basin and added fences around the perimeter. There is pedestrian access for now, but they've said they're prepared to close the area entirely if it gets too crowded.

You can find the most recent photos from the Tidal Basin here.

There are quite a few cherry blossoms out now. The vast majority aren’t quite there yet, but as you walk around the Tidal Basin, it’s easy to find at least some flowers out and the occasional early-blooming whole tree. And the indicator tree is in full bloom.

The National Park Service judged that 70 percent of the cherry buds had reached the “peduncle elongation” stage as of yesterday.

The morning started damp, overcast, and bleak, but as the morning has gone on, the sun’s out and bringing with it strong winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.

The National Park Service has closed the roads around the Tidal Basin and put up fences around the entire perimeter. As of this morning, at least, the area was still open to pedestrian traffic. But they’ve done it in such a way that they just need to close a few choke points in order to close the fence fully. They’ve said that they’re prepared to do that if the crowds get too large. Where that threshold is seems to be a “we’ll know it when we see it” situation. This is what an NPS spokesperson told NBC4:

It is a judgment call, but it is based on the CDC guidance of 6-foot social distancing and the city’s mass-gathering limitations of 50 people. We are going to keep everything open as long as we possibly can, but when we reach that point, we have bike rack [fencing] out [and] Park Police will be on patrol to enforce those closures.

There are other places in the area that are very good for taking in cherry blossoms with much more opportunity for social distancing. The National Arboretum and Meadowlark are good places to start; there are some more ideas here.

It was very quiet earlier this morning. There was even a beaver out for swim, which is the first time I’ve actually seen one here–I’ve only ever seen their gnawed trunks before (I couldn’t get a decent shot of it, unfortunately, without it coming out looking like a Loch Ness monster photo).

Here are some photos taken early this morning (before the sun came out).

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

And old tree tree had been cut down and its stump left in the shape of a seat. Someone has painted a scene of what appears to be the Washington Monument on it.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

The Japanese Pagoda.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

The Japanese Lantern.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

This is the only shot of the indicator tree on this page–all the other flowers are from other trees around the Tidal Basin.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

A short section of the fencing around the perimiter. This section is on the eastern end of the Kutz Memorial Bridge, near the Floral Library.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Saucer Magnolias

The saucer magnolias are out now and looking wonderful. Here are some photos I took this morning at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Saucer magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

Photo of Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden - March 26, 2021 taken by David Coleman.

By David Coleman

Page last updated about 1 week ago

Latest Development Milestone

Winter Dormant
Green Buds (March 11)
Florets Visible (March 16)
Extension of Florets (March 22)
Peduncle Elongation (March 24)
Puffy White (March 27)
Peak Bloom (March 28)
Green Leaves
Fall / Autumn

Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Buy on Amazon
The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration
The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration
Buy on Amazon

Comments

  1. Bill Blackerby says

    March 29, 2021 at 9:45 am

    It would be very helpful to have a link to a map showing the current fenced area and parking suggestions.

    Reply
  2. kayla says

    March 28, 2021 at 10:53 pm

    How long will the cherry blossoms be in peak bloom?

    Reply
    • David says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:48 pm

      In the wrong conditions (windy, wet, warm), they can last as little as 5 days after peak bloom. In the right conditions (cool, calm, dry), they can last up to 2 weeks. Most of the time it’s somewhere between that, but it’s highly dependent on the weather. The petals get more fragile each day after peak bloom.

      Reply
  3. Marie dube says

    March 26, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    Thank you very much for the pictures. This is the 2nd year in a row, after probably 20 years, where we are unable to attend in person. Follow your photos every year to plan our travel.

    Reply
  4. Chris says

    March 26, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    Is the other tidal basin area across from the Kutz Bridge fenced off too?

    Reply
    • David says

      March 26, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      Yes.

      Reply

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Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2021
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2021

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

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