The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are getting close to blooming. There's the occasional flower out already, but for the most part they haven't yet opened up. With mostly warm temperatures coming up, more and more will be coming out over the next couple of weeks.
While there aren't as many Kwanzans as the more famous Yoshino cherry blossoms, their bloom is very pretty. They have a dense, bright pink flower with thick foliage low to the ground that is especially good as a backdrop for portrait shots.
There are several large clusters of them near the Tidal Basin and around East Potomac Park towards Hains Point. I have a map on how to find some of the larger clusters on the main Kwanzan cherry blossom page.
Here's how they're looking this morning. These were all taken of the ones near the FDR Memorial and the larger clusters around East Potomac Park.
Want to Help Support DC's Cherry Trees?
If you'd like to help support the care and upkeep of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, the Trust for The National Mall has launched an Endow a Cherry Tree Campaign. Donations go to the official Cherry Tree Endowment, which will give the National Park Service additional resources to fund the care, maintenance, and possible replacement of the cherry trees. You can find more information here.
The Trust is dedicated to marshaling private support for maintaining and improving the history National Mall area. I'm not affiliated with the Trust--just an admirer of their efforts.