Cherry Blossom Watch: March 29, 2024

Well, they’re still clinging on and actually holding up remarkably well. After a very wet morning on Thursday, the rain that was expected to continue on and off into Friday fizzled. So it ended up being gentler on the trees than expected. And we’re still seeing cool temperatures, which has really slowed things to a crawl.

Overall, they still look pretty, especially in the lovely still morning we had earlier. But they’re also looking a bit tired, and the petals are getting very fragile now, with plenty of cherry blossom snow on the ground. Because not every tree is on exactly the same schedule, there’s quite a range of progress. Some trees are mostly bare and leafing out. Others still look great.

You’ll find some of the freshest trees along the stretch between the MLK Memorial and the Japanese Lantern. They’re the same trees that were lagging a little behind going into the bloom.

As we head into the weekend, we’re very much on the tail end of things now. More petals will continue coming down, especially as the breeze picks up this afternoon. You won’t have any trouble at all finding flowers–there are still a lot out–but they’re also not looking quite like they do in their prime.

Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms. I have a quick update on the Kwanzan cherry blossoms further down this page.

Reader Photos 2024. Thank you to everyone who submitted their beautiful photos this year. Submissions are closed, but you can see the first three batches here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3.

Buying Prints. I’ve had several people asking about buying prints. Thank you–I’m flattered and appreciate the support. Yes, I do have prints available, framed and unframed. I’m in the process of switching print labs, but I hope to have this finalized in the next day or so. Please reach out to me via email, and I’ll keep you posted and provide further details. Thanks!

How it Looks at the Tidal Basin This Morning

I’ve tried to include a representative sampling of the variety.

Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms

The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are a variety of that blooms a bit later than the more famous Yoshino blossoms. There are fewer of them near the Tidal Basin, but they’re especially pretty, with dense, vibrant pink flowers. You can find out more about them here.

Here’s how they’re looking this morning. Not blooming yet. The cooler temperatures have also slowed them down. But they have a good foundation for when we finally get some warmer days.

Are You a Landscape Designer or Florist?

If you’re a local landscape designer or florist in need of professional photography for your marketing outreach or portfolios, I’d love to help! Especially now that spring is springing!

Let’s talk! You can reach me here.

If You’re Heading to the Tidal Basin This Weekend

• The traffic flow around the Tidal Basin is still restricted to a one-way pattern. It’s still not very well signed, but you’ll be forced into the flow by traffic cones and roadblocks at some turns.
• The entrance to Ohio Drive SW from the Lincoln Memorial end is closed. The Paddle Boat parking lot is closed.
• You can enter the area from Maine Ave, going around by the Jefferson Memorial. Just before the Jefferson Memorial, a sign directs festival traffic to turn left toward the National Park Service Headquarters/golf course. Only continue straight if you’re heading to 395—police stationed next to the Jefferson Memorial will prevent you from continuing on towards Inlet Bridge/George Mason Memorial.

• Ohio Drive SW is one-way, south to north. In other words, flowing from the Jefferson Memorial end toward the Lincoln Memorial. There’s a row of traffic bollards down the middle of the road. Keep right to continue on to exit onto Independence Ave. There is parking on the left, but make sure to point the car in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial (i.e., the opposite direction to normal traffic flow).

Logistics

Where to Stay

If you’re coming into town for the cherry blossoms, these are some of the hotels closest to the Tidal Basin:

• Salamander
• Canopy by Hilton
• Hyatt House
• InterContinental
• Courtyard by Marriott
• State Plaza Hotel
• Pendry
• Waldorf Astoria

Cherry Blossom Tickets & Hours

No tickets are required to visit the cherry blossoms. They’re in a public National Park that’s accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So you can enjoy the beautiful flowers to your heart’s delight.

You can even get free walking tours daily with National Park Service rangers. Look for the signs around the Tidal Basin with times and meeting point locations.

But there are some events put on by the National Cherry Blossom Festival organization that do require tickets. You can find their schedule of events here.

National Park Service Welcome Area

The Welcome Area is a popup are the National Park Service opens during the bloom. There are some stalls, some food and drink areas, and a live performance stage. It’s located over by the MLK Memorial (if you haven’t been for a few years, it has moved from the original location by the paddle boats).

The National Park Service plans to open the Welcome Area on March 23. That means West Basin Drive is closed.

Traffic & Parking

As of the morning of March 18, West Basin Drive is closed. This is the short cut-through between the MLK Memorial and FDR Memorial where the Welcome Area is set up.

As of the morning of March 23, Ohio Drive past West Potomac Park has temporary traffic restrictions in place. See above for more details.

The Paddle Boat Parking Lot is closed.

Parking lots A, B, and C remain open.

More on parking for the cherry blossoms.

How to Get There

I have a much more detailed post on how to get there. But here’s the short version.

If you’re coming for the first time, the famous area for the cherry blossoms is the Tidal Basin. It’s adjacent to the National Mall. If you head to the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, or MLK Memorials, you’ll end up at the Tidal Basin.

During the bloom, car traffic in the immediate area can be horrific. If you can possibly avoid driving, it’s well worth it. There is quite a lot of parking nearby, but competition for it can be intense. I have a separate post with detailed parking information, but the National Park Service sometimes mixes things up with road closures.

A much better option, if you can, is to use Metro (or walk or ride). The nearest Metro station is Smithsonian. L’Enfant Plaza is also close. There are also several other stations within walking distance.

Construction Projects

There is an ongoing construction project at the Jefferson Memorial. The Memorial remains open; the construction is mostly contained underneath it, with a fenced-off area for equipment on the western side.

A major renovation project to the Tidal Basin seawall will be starting soon, but it hasn’t started yet.

Where to Find Stumpy

Stumpy has endured a lot. This is the last bloom for the Little Tree That Could. Once the bloom is over, a major construction project will start on a stretch of the Tidal Basin seawall extending from the Jefferson Memorial around to near the Japanese Pagoda. And Stumpy is squarely in the way.

Over the years, that section of the bank has sunk several feet, and, in combination with rising water levels, it floods twice a day now. So, starting after the 2024 bloom, the NPS will be rebuilding the seawall and walkways there and along a stretch of the Potomac side of West Potomac Park. The project will run through 2026. It will involve removal of about 300 cherry trees in total, including 159 from the Tidal Basin itself. Stumpy is among them.

Staff from the National Aboretum will be taking samples from Stumpy and using them for genetic propagation to repopulate the area with new cherry trees once the construction project wraps up. The removed trees will be turned to mulch that will be used on the National Mall.

If you’d like to say goodbye, I’ve put together a quick guide on where to find Stumpy.

Flying Drones at the Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin is strictly a No Drone Zone. That’s true of the whole region. As the FAA puts it: “The airspace around Washington, D.C. is more restricted than in any other part of the country.”

That’s a busy commercial airport you can see just across the river. That’s the Pentagon and White House just over there with incredibly restricted airspace. And those military helicopters you see coming in low and fast directly over the Tidal Basin are not going to react well to you putting them in danger. On top of all that, this is a National Park.

Climbing the Trees

Please don’t. They’re older and more fragile than they look.

Paddle Boats

The Tidal Basin paddle boats are available on a walk-up basis; there are no reservations anymore during the bloom (reservations will resume in late-April).

They’ve opened for the season. They’re open daily from 9am to 5pm. And prices have gone up in recent years (you can get 30% off on Thursdays).

Cherry Blossom Photography Workshops & Photo Walks

If you’re looking for some fun ways to improve your photography, get some guidance on the best spots from a local expert, or just have some fun shooting with other photography enthusiasts at the cherry blossoms or DC’s monuments, check out the offerings from Washington Photo Safari.

More Visitor Information

I have more visitor information on the cherry blossoms.