Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

It’s now getting much easier to find at least a few blossoms coming out. Quite a few of the trees are starting to show a few flowers each, and while it’s still only a tiny proportion of the total, they’re easy to find all the way around the Tidal Basin.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms.
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UPDATE: The NPS judged that the cherry blossoms have reached the “peduncle elongation” stage as of today, March 29. Only one more stage (puffy white) to come before peak bloom.

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

It’s now getting much easier to find at least a few blossoms coming out. Quite a few of the trees are starting to show a few flowers each, and while it’s still only a tiny proportion of the total, they’re easy to find all the way around the Tidal Basin. There’s a small handful of trees blooming more fully, but on most of the trees that are showing any flowers at all it’s only a handful on each tree.

I have some examples in the photos from this morning, below. You’ll also find further down the page some major tree surgery this morning on some of the most picturesque of the trees as well as an update on the magnolias.

While this morning has been overcast and foggy, this afternoon is shaping up to be very pretty, with sunny conditions and the highest temperatures we’ve seen in over a month (mid-70s).

The warmth today and tomorrow, and to a lesser extent into the weekend, will coax out more flowers.

For this weekend, you can find flowers, but it’s still by no means anywhere near full bloom. While cooler temperatures are expected to roll in for next week, there’ll be much more to see the following weekend (April 7-8). Now that we have a combination of more happening and warmer temperatures I’ll be posting updates more frequently. So stay tuned!

How it Looks this Morning

All photos were taken early this morning.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018
You can see one of the early bloomers standing out to the left of the frame.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018
The special one-way traffic flow along Ohio Drive is now in place, so you can’t enter down by the John Ericsson Memorial. Instead you’ll have to go around the Jefferson Memorial.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018
There’s not much to see at the Floral Library just yet. There’s a handful of yellow flowers out, but most aren’t ready yet, and the whole garden is fenced off at the moment.

Tree Surgery

Some of my favorites among the trees have been undergoing some major surgery this morning. These are some of the oldest of the tree near the MLK Memorial. With their big, heavy branches arching out over the path to the water, these grizzled trees have been some of the most photogenic, and they’re ones that feature prominently in the photos on this site.

But some of those branches have seemed to be hanging on by a thread lately and looked quite precarious. I posted some examples [a few weeks ago](https://cherryblossomwatch.com/cherry-blossom-watch-update-march-6-2018/).

The NPS team looking after the cherry trees have pulled the trigger and decided to take the branches down this morning.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018

Magnolias

The magnolias have been biding their time, but are finally starting to open up. The ones in the Enid A. Haupt Garden (behind the Smithsonian Castle) are open and looking wonderful. If you look closely, you can see scars from the sub-freezing temperatures last recently, but overall they’re looking magnificent. The photos below and at the top of the page were taken early this morning (in less than ideal light conditions).

If you want to enjoy them without the weekend crowds, this afternoon is going to be hard to beat with the combination of warm, sunny weather and flowers.

Saucer Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle
The magnolias at Smithsonian Castle are finally out.
Saucer Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle
Taken with a Fujifilm X-T2 and an 18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 lens.

Saucer Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle

Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle
Taken with a Sony a7r iii and a Sony Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA lens.
Saucer Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle
Taken with a Fujifilm X-T2 and an 18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 lens.

Logistics

The Maine Ave parking lot (near the paddle boats) is still closed for parking to make way for the Welcome Area. It’s scheduled to remain closed until April 1, but given the late bloom I’d expect the Welcome Area’s residency to be extended.

The special one-way traffic restrictions are in place along Ohio Drive, so you can’t enter down by the John Ericsson Memorial (the Lincoln Memorial end). Instead, you’ll have to do the circuit around the Jefferson Memorial. You can still park there, although during the day you’ll be battling for spaces with all the tour buses bring school groups on spring break.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018
The special one-way traffic flow along Ohio Drive is now in place, so you can’t enter down by the John Ericsson Memorial. Instead you’ll have to go around the Jefferson Memorial.

Early Bloomers

I’ve been tracking this specific cluster of buds/flowers for a couple of weeks now. Here’s the latest shot. This tree is by the FDR Memorial. You can see it standing out in one of the wider shots above.

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2018
March 29, 2018.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018.
DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2018
March 23, 2018.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2018
March 21, 2018.

For Photographers

I highly recommend the magnolias behind the Smithsonian Castle right now. They’re looking beautiful, and the way they hang low makes them an especially nice backdrop for portraits.

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