Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 16, 2018
The cherry blossoms are essentially done now. You can still find some flowers on the trees, but the trees are leafing out.
Cherry Blossom Watch Updates
A master list of all the Cherry Blossom Watch Updates since 2010.
Reader Photos 2018 | Part 4
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2018’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 4.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 13, 2018
The cherry blossom snow is coming down more steadily now as petals get knocked off in the breeze. The trees aren’t looking as white and fluffy as they had been, especially up close, but as of late this morning they were still looking pretty.
Reader Photos 2018 | Part 3
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2018’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1–more to come.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 12, 2018
A week after peak bloom the cherry blossoms are still looking very pretty, but if you look up close you can clearly see that they’re past their prime now. More petals have been coming off, and more green leaves are poking through.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 11, 2018
Petals are starting to come off, but for now it’s a very gentle pace. The cold weather has slowed development down and kept the green leaves at bay. So the cherry blossoms are still holding up well and looking beautiful.
Reader Photos 2018 | Part 2
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2018’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1–more to come.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 10, 2018
The cherry blossoms are still going strong and looking lovely. Some light showers overnight didn’t have much effect, and the petals are coming off only very slowly for now.
Reader Photos 2018 | Part 1
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2018’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1–more to come.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 9, 2018
The cherry blossoms are still holding up well and looking beautiful. You have to look closely to see that they’re moving past their prime.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 8, 2018
Despite a chilly breeze, this morning at the Tidal Basin is quite spectacular, and the cherry blossoms are looking fluffy and full and magnificent. It’s a prime viewing day.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 7, 2018
The snow and rain have mostly been no-shows. It’s cold and breezy, but the trees are doing just fine.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 6, 2018
The weather is dull and kind of dreary, but the trees are still looking beautiful.
NPS Says the Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak Bloom Today, April 5
The NPS determined that the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin reached peak bloom today, April 5. Peak bloom is a threshold when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are blooming.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 5, 2018
The rain and wind yesterday barely grazed the cherry blossoms, and they’re currently in their prime.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 4, 2018
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom now. While not every tree is fully out, most are. They’re on track for peak bloom in the coming days, and the National Park Service yesterday tweaked their peak bloom prediction again, bringing it forward to Thursday through Sunday (April 5-8).
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 3, 2018
The blossoms themselves are shaping up nicely for later in the week. Many of them are in full bloom now, although there are still some holdouts that haven’t started properly yet.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 2, 2018
Sunny and warm conditions through the weekend brought more flowers out, and they’re looking lovely as they move into full bloom. It now looks increasingly likely that peak bloom will come ahead of the predicted dates.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 31, 2018
If you head down to the Tidal Basin this weekend you won’t have any trouble whatsoever finding cherry blossoms out. The warm weather of the past few days has worked its magic in bringing more flowers out.
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.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2018
The slow trickle continues. It’s becoming a little easier to find some scattered flowers out this morning, but most of them aren’t there yet. But if milder temperatures arrive later in the week, as expected, it will inject some energy into their progress.
Peak Bloom Predictions Revised Again
Both the National Park Service and the *Washington Post*’s Capital Weather today revised their peak bloom predictions, pushing them back even further. Both are now predicting April 8 to 12.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2018
Ever so slowly we’re starting to see some movement. The snow has gone, and there are more flowers just gradually starting to peek out.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2018
It has been snowing steadily, and there’s a layer of wet, slushy snow around the Tidal Basin. But it’s not a threat to the cherry blossoms.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2018
There’s not much new on the trees since yesterday, but I’ve been getting a lot of questions about things like how this week’s weather forecast will affect things and how this coming weekend is shaping up. So I’m focusing below mostly on answering some of the most common questions.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 18, 2018
It’s shaping up as a sparkling spring day, but unfortunately there aren’t many cherry blossoms to see yet.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 15, 2018
Progress has been brought to a crawl by the cool temperatures. If you look very closely, they are making headway, but it’s very, very slow.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 12, 2018
There’s been steady progress, but with the continuing cool temperatures it has been slow. There are some flowers starting to come out on the so-called indicator tree, but it’s not yet in full bloom. The vast majority still have some work to do before they’re getting really close to blooming.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 8, 2018
There’s been some progress, but it’s at a gentle pace in these cool temperatures. The indicator tree is just starting to show some puffy white blossoms that are ready to pop.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 6, 2018
The buds are still doing their thing and still have a way to go before blooming. There’s some unsettled weather coming up over the next week or so, but it shouldn’t pose too many problems for the cherry trees.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 3, 2018
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin have emerged mostly unscathed from the very strong winds we saw yesterday.
National Park Service has Announced their First Peak Bloom Prediction for 2018
The experts at the National Park Service has issued their initial peak bloom prediction for 2018: March 17-20.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 1, 2018
Around the Tidal Basin, the buds are clearly making progress. And, as usual, the so-called indicator tree is marching ahead of the others. It’s typically a week to 10 days ahead. Stay tuned for the National Park Service peak bloom prediction to be issued later this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 27, 2018
The National Park Service determined that 70 percent of the buds had reached the “Green Buds” stage on February 25. That is just a day later than last year and is earlier than the average.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 25, 2018
It has been soggy and foggy but still warmer than average. More of the green buds are starting to come through now.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 21, 2018
The green buds are just starting to poke through, and unusually warm weather is coaxing out some of the area’s other early blooming flowers.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 14, 2018
There’s not much to see on the trees yet, but things will start picking up in coming weeks. The National Park Service will be announcing their peak bloom prediction on March 1.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 31, 2018
The short version is that there’s still not much to report. The cherry trees are still in their winter mode and aren’t showing any signs of the buds developing yet. No peak bloom forecasts have been issued yet. Expect those to start coming in about 4 to 5 weeks.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 19, 2018
The first update in the 2018 Cherry Blossom Watch! For now, the Tidal Basin is covered in ice and there’s nothing to see in terms of bud development. It’s still too early to have any real idea of when the cherry blossoms will reach peak bloom in 2018, but here’s a rundown of where things stand.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update / Kwanzan Edition: April 9, 2017
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are coming into full bloom now and looking lovely.
Reader Photos 2017 | Part 3
This is the final installment of reader photos for this year. Thanks to all who shared their beautiful photos!
Reader Photos 2017 | Part 2
This is part 2 of the reader photos for the 2017 bloom.
Reader Photos 2017 | Part 1
Here are some great photos of 2017’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update / Kwanzan Edition: April 4, 2017
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are close to blooming, and warm temperatures in coming days will coax more and more of them out over the next couple of weeks.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 4, 2017
The cherry blossoms are on their last legs now, but there are still some holdouts with plenty of flowers.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 31, 2017
The cherry blossoms are past their prime now and well on their way out. The persistent rain is knocking a lot of petals off, but there are still plenty of petals left on the trees.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2017
They’re still going strong, and with the sun finally coming out it’s a gorgeous spring day at the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 28, 2017
Now that we’re at three days after the peak bloom day, the cherry blossoms are turning pink and still looking great, but they’re also becoming fragile. The rain is knocking petals off and blanketing the ground with cherry blossom snow.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2017
The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom yesterday. As expected, the bloom this year is a little more subdued than usual simply because it’s firing with only half its usual firepower. Despite that, though, they’re putting on a beautiful show. Over the next few days the blossoms will gradually go from white to a pale pink.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update / Kwanzan Edition: March 26, 2017
The Kwanzans are now showing green buds, the first of the visible development stages. Warm weather over coming weeks will wake them up and speed things up a bit.
NPS Says that DC’s Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak Bloom Today: March 25
The NPS said this afternoon that the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom today, March 25. Peak bloom is when at least 70 percent of the blossoms are open.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 25, 2017
They’re looking great this morning, and they’ll look even better as the weekend warms up and coaxes even more blossoms out.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 24, 2017
They’re looking good now and will look better and better each day through at least the weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2017
Some of them are blooming fully now. Most of them need a kick of warmth for them to catch up.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 22, 2017
They’re not yet in full bloom, but they’ve taken a big step in that direction in the past 24 hours. Once we get through freezing temperatures tonight, things are shaping up beautifully for the weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2017
The cherry blossoms are finally coming out to play, and it looks like it’s shaping up to look better than the numbers suggest.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 20, 2017
It’s a beautiful morning to kick off spring, and more cherry blossoms are starting to come out as they head toward fully blooming later this week.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2017
The cherry blossoms are gearing up for another attempt at the bloom. There are flowers starting to come out, but they’re scattered for now.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 18, 2017
No new photos today, but some useful information came in late yesterday about the NPS’s take on where things stand.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 17, 2017
That should be the last of the very cold nights, at least for a while. Things are now warming up a little. So we’re back in business.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 16, 2017
Where there should be white and pink there’s now a lot of brown. Many of the ones that were in the late stages right before fully blooming have been damaged badly. But it’s by no means all of them.
Cherry Blossom Watch / Kwanzan Edition: March 16, 2017
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are much earlier in their development and look to be riding out the cold snap comfortably.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 15, 2017
They’re taking a beating now and damage is becoming more widespread. While there’s still a good number soldiering on, it’s not clear how many have sustained internal damage that’s not visible or how many will be able to ride out the next two cold nights.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 14, 2017
The cherry blossoms don’t seem to be able to catch a break. As if freezing temperatures weren’t enough to deal with, they’re now encased in ice.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 13, 2017
Not much change since yesterday. Another cold night. Some of the blossoms are clearly struggling and succumbing to the freezing temperatures, but overall I’m impressed with how well most of them seem to be holding up so far.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 12, 2017
It’s still cold, with much more to come. While most of the cherry blossoms are still hanging in there, more of them seem to be struggling.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 11, 2017
So far, so good. There’s not a lot of visual evidence of damage from the cold temperatures yet, but it’s early days–there’s a lot more to come. In terms of flowers, there’s basically the same amount out today as yesterday.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 10, 2017
Many of the trees are a few warm days away from full bloom. But we’re not going to be getting warm days anytime soon. Instead, we’ll see several days of cold winter weather. That’s going to slow things down. It also has the potential to do some real damage.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 9, 2017
As expected, the warm weather yesterday coaxed a few more flowers out. It’s still not many, but more trees have a few flowers starting to show. The warm weather today will coax some more out. It’s nothing like full bloom yet–it’s still very few flowers in the context of the whole–but if you go hunting you can at least find some blossoms out.
NPS Revises Peak Bloom Forecast: Now March 19-22
Late this afternoon the NPS revised their peak bloom prediction. Colder than expected temperatures forecast for the next week have pushed the dates back.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 8, 2017
A few more trees have started popping their first flowers, although it’s still only very few in terms of the total number of trees around the Tidal Basin. A few warms days should coax more out before an arctic blast hits on the weekend to stir things up.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 7, 2017
The cool weather of the past few days brought things to a crawl, but now that we’re entering a warmer stretch the pace should start picking up again. It looks like we might see a drawn-out bloom this year.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 6, 2017
After a chilly weekend, there’s not much change in the trees. A small handful of trees are still flowering, while the others are in a wide spread of development stages.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 3, 2017
A small handful of trees are starting to flower, but most of them still have some work to do. But the saucer magnolias are looking wonderful.
National Park Service has Announced Their First Peak Bloom Prediction for 2017
The experts at the National Park Service have announced their peak bloom prediction for 2017: between March 14 and 17.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 1, 2017
More flowers are out on the indicator tree, and a handful of different varieties of cherries are starting to join it with their first flowers. Most of the trees range somewhere between the green buds and extensions of florets stages.
Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang Have Posted their First Peak Bloom Prediction for 2017
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang has issued their first peak bloom prediction for 2017: sometime between March 15 and 19.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 28, 2017
There’s going to be a flurry of activity over the coming days, with new peak bloom predictions and the trees racing towards the bloom.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 27, 2017
There’s been noticeable development on many of the trees, and the first flowers are even starting to pop on the indicator tree.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 24, 2017
It’s still warm, warm, warm. And most of the trees now have green buds coming through.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 20, 2017
It certainly feels like spring, with warm temperatures and clear skies. And it’s starting to look like spring too, with the first daffodils starting to come out and the first green buds appearing on the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 13, 2017
It’s sunny and windy. The warmer than normal temperatures we’re still seeing–and expect to see for a while yet–continue to tilt the odds in favor of an earlier bloom. And there’s an early spring treat just across the road from the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 6, 2017
It feels like spring today, with blue skies, warm sun, and still conditions. And it continues the trend of above-average temperatures we’ve seen through this winter.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 30, 2017
We had a little snow last night. Just enough to be pretty without causing any headaches. But with January closing out it’ll end up being warmer than normal for the month. That’s on the back of a December where average temperatures were also above normal.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 21, 2017
There’s not much new to report since the last update, although temperatures have remained warmer than normal, and it looks like we’ll close out January with temperatures above average for the month.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 16, 2017
There’s not much to see yet, and it’s been a fairly unremarkable winter, but we’re now starting to head into the period where things start to take shape.
Cherry Blossoms in November?
Yes, it happens, even as the leaves are turning reddish-brown and falling off. There are several autumn-blooming cherry trees around the National Mall.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: Fall 2016 Edition
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are also looking very colorful at the moment, but not in the way they’re best known for. Many of the leaves are turning an orange or reddish brown, making for quite a pretty sight all the way around the water’s edge.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update (Kwanzan Edition): April 16, 2016
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms along East Potomac Park, Hains Point, near the George Mason Memorial, and the FDR Memorial are all out and looking wonderful.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update (Kwanzan Edition): April 9, 2016
Thanks to the wintry weather we’ve had recently, most of the Kwanzan cherry blossoms still aren’t blooming.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update (Kwanzan Edition): April 7, 2016
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms around East Potomac Park and the FDR Memorial haven’t fully popped yet, but it’s possible to find some scattered flowers out.
Reader Photos 2016 // Part 2
Photos of 2016’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch Readers. Part 2 of 2.
Reader Photos 2016 // Part 1
Photos of 2016’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch Readers. Part 1 of 2.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 2, 2016
The cherry blossoms are mostly done now. There are a few late stragglers still hanging on despite the rain, but strong winds tonight and tomorrow morning will likely be a knockout punch.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 1, 2016
There are still flowers on the trees, even if they’re well past their prime. At least there are until the rain and wind rolls in over the next few days.
Ultra-High Resolution Panorama of the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin
An ultra-high resolution 3-gigapixel panorama of Washington DC’s Tidal Basins with the cherry blossoms in bloom.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 30, 2016
The trees are still looking lovely. When you get a up close you can certainly see that they’re in transition. But from a distance they still look great and are holding up well.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 29, 2016
There’s still plenty to see at the Tidal Basin. Yesterday’s rain and wind did take a toll, but the trees are holding up quite well so far.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 28, 2016
It’s a wet, rainy morning. While the rain will clear out soon, we’ll then be getting wind. Combined, they’re going to knock more petals off the trees.
Cherry Blossoms in 360°
For those who aren’t able to make it in person this year, here’s a 360° interactive video I shot early this morning at several spots around the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2016
It’s a sparkling spring morning at the Tidal Basin, and the cherry blossoms and the crowds are out in force.
NPS Says Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak Bloom Today
The NPS said this afternoon that peak bloom was reached today, March 25.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 25, 2016
The Yoshino cherry blossoms are in full bloom right now, and it will be prime viewing through at least the weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 24, 2016
It looks like we might hit peak bloom later today, and it’ll be prime viewing now through at least the weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 23, 2016
It’s shaping up to be a beautiful day for cherry blossom viewing. Not all the tree are in full bloom yet, but they’re getting close.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 22, 2016
More flowers are coming out, and it won’t take much for them to starting popping en masse now that we’re heading into warmer weather.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2016
It’s a cool morning at the Tidal Basin, but ended up being a clear sunrise. The blossoms are still taking their time with slow & steady progress.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 20, 2016
It doesn’t feel much like the first day of spring, but there are more cherry blossoms popping. It’s still a minority, but more and more are coming out each day despite of the cold weather.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 18, 2016
It’s another beautiful morning at the Tidal Basin, and since yesterday it has become much easier to find flowers starting to pop.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 17, 2016
The indicator tree is in full bloom, and there are handful of others that are just starting to pop. But the vast majority of the trees aren’t flowering yet.
NPS Revises Peak Bloom Forecast Again
The National Park Service has revised their 2016 peak bloom forecast for a second time.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 15, 2016
It’s another cool and drizzly morning at the Tidal Basin. The indicator tree has more flowers coming out but still has many more to go before it reached peak bloom.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 14, 2016
It’s cool and damp at the Tidal Basin, but the very first blossoms are starting to pop on the indicator tree.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 13, 2016
Even in the past few days there’s been some clear development as the buds race through their development thanks to the unseasonably warm weather.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 11, 2016
We’ve had record-setting warm temperatures the past few days, and it’s accelerating the development of the cherry blossom buds.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 9, 2016
It’s a sunny, still, and spring-like morning on the Tidal Basin. Yesterday the peak bloom forecasts were moved forward. Here’s how the trees look today.
NPS Revises its Peak Bloom Forecast
The National Park Service today revised their 2016 peak bloom forecast in light of forecasts of very warm weather this week and next.
Washington Post Capital Weather Gang Issue Peak Bloom Prediction
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang have issued their prediction for the 2016 cherry blossom peak bloom.
NPS Issues First Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Forecast for 2016
At a press conference this morning the National Park Service issued their first cherry blossoms peak bloom prediction for 2016.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 2, 2016
It’s a sunny but cold and windy morning on the Tidal Basin. I’ve also included some photos of how the so-called indicator tree is progressing.
Cherry Blossom Paddle Boat Reservations
Paddle boats on the Tidal Basin offer a unique way to take in the view of the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 28, 2016
It’s a gorgeous spring morning with hardly a cloud in the sky. With the month almost done we’re tracking at right around average temperatures for the month.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 21, 2016
We’ve had a bit of a mixed bag with the weather, but overall we’re still tracking much warmer for the month than last year.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 14, 2016
It’s bitterly cold out, but it’s a sparkling clear winter morning at the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 7, 2016
Most of the snow has gone from around the Tidal Basin, and the cherry trees don’t seem any worse for wear after making it through the Snowzilla blizzard.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 26, 2016
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are sitting amongst deep snow, and the Tidal Basin itself is frozen over.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 13, 2016
Temperatures have been seesawing, but the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are still very much in winter mode.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: December 30, 2015
I’ve had a number of people ask whether the cherry blossoms are blooming early because of the warm weather. So I decided it was worth a visit to the Tidal Basin for some new photos.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: November 23, 2015
There are still a few more leaves to come down on the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, but for the most part the branches are bare as the trees settle in for the winter.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: September 18, 2015
If you’re curious about how the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin look in the summer, here are some photos taken this morning on a beautifully clear and still day.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 20, 2015
The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin have come and gone for the year and are now getting replaced on the trees with green leaves.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 16, 2015
The cherry blossoms are well past their prime now and on their way out, but as of this morning there are still plenty of flowers to see.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 14, 2015
The cherry blossoms are losing their petals quickly now, and today’s rain will help speed the process along.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 13, 2015
The Yoshinos are becoming more pink, and green leaves are sprouting on more trees. Today’s wind and tomorrow’s rain are likely to knock many of the petals off.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 12, 2015
Spring is most definitely here today, and the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are looking stunning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 11, 2015
The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are in their absolute prime right now, and it’s shaping up to be beautiful and crowded weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 10, 2015
The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are still looking wonderful and are in full bloom, laying the foundation of a beautiful and busy weekend.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 9, 2015
The cherry blossoms are now in full bloom and putting on a wonderful show. Too bad the weather isn’t playing along.
2018 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
If you plan to visit the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin on the morning of Sunday, April 2, 2017, you’ll have to contend with the annual running of the Cherry Blossom 10-miler.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 8, 2015
The cherry blossoms have started to bloom and are looking wonderful. But the weather is much less impressive.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 6, 2015
There’s been quite a bit of progress since the last update, with the warmer temperatures moving the process along nicely.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 2, 2015
There have been some definite signs of progress over the past few days, but still no flowers.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 30, 2015
There’s a little progress with the cherry blossoms, but they still have some work to do. And as we head into April, traffic is picking up around the Tidal Basin.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 24, 2015
There’s noticeable progress in the cherry blossom buds, but the trees still have a way to go before flowering.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2015
Wintry mix and even snow are forecast overnight, but it won’t trouble the trees or change the existing peak bloom forecasts.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 12, 2015
It’s a beautiful spring day down at the Tidal Basin. And the Washington Post Capital Weather Gang has issued their first peak bloom forecast for the season.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 9, 2015
We’re finally getting a brief taste of spring. But the cherry blossoms have some catching up to do.
NPS Issues First Peak Bloom Forecast for 2015
The National Park Service have issued their first cherry blossom peak bloom forecast for 2015.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 3, 2015
We’re expecting the National Park Service to issue their first peak bloom forecast later today. In the meantime, here are some photos of how the trees are looking this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 27, 2015
It has been a cold February, which will slow the cherry blossoms down. But if March is warm it could easily reverse that.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 22, 2015
We have a few inches of slushy, wet, and very slippery snow around the cherry blossoms this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 18, 2015
Like much of the northeast, DC is getting a good dose of winter this past week with snow and bitterly cold weather. The cherry trees are weathering this cold snap just fine. The buds are still in their early stages and well protected.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 11, 2015
It’s a beautiful, crisp winter’s morning, and the cherry blossom buds are still doing their thing.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 27, 2015
There’s a light layer of slushy snow around the Tidal Basin, and the area is mostly deserted.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 25, 2015
It’s definitely winter. The Tidal Basin is partly frozen over. Snow is on the way. And the cherry blossoms are still tightly tucked away in their protective buds.
The Cherry Blossoms and Jefferson Memorial in 1968
Here’s a fun view of the cherry blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial from an old postcard.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: November 2, 2014
Wondering what the cherry trees look like in the fall? Here are some photos.
Are Washington DC’s Cherry Blossoms Still in Bloom in 2014?
No. Peak bloom was April 10, 2014, and the cherry blossoms have come and gone for the year. Here are some photos of what you missed.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 15, 2014
The cherry blossoms are mostly done now. Most trees have dropped all or nearly all of their petals and are starting to be covered with green leaves. If you go hunting, you can find the occasional tree that’s lagging behind and still has some pink blossoms, but they’re few and far between. But the Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms not far away are just starting to come out.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 13, 2014
It’s another beautiful spring morning, and the cherry blossoms are still in full bloom. There are more petals on the ground now, and when you look closely you can find green leaves poking through on more branches, but overall the blossoms are still in their prime.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 12, 2014
Spring turned the volume up to 11 today. Clear, sunny, and warm. And the cherry blossoms are putting on quite a show.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 11, 2014
The cherry blossoms are looking glorious. They’re in full bloom, and it’ll be prime viewing over the weekend. On some trees, you can spot some of the green leaves poking through, but for the most part they’re covered in beautiful white flowers in their prime.
NPS Calls Peak Bloom as April 10
The National Park Service this morning judged that 70 percent of the cherry blossoms were open today, making this year’s peak bloom date April 10.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 9, 2014
It’s a sparkling spring morning down at the Tidal Basin. There’s a bit of a chill in the air and a slight breeze, but otherwise it’s a very pleasant morning. The trees are looking beautiful, and it’ll be prime viewing from today through the weekend.
The Blossoms at Dumbarton Oaks
The cherry blossoms at Dumbarton Oaks are in the puffy white stage and haven’t yet started opening. But there are some other beautiful trees in bloom there, including Japanese Plum trees and Tulip Magnolias.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 7, 2014
The National Park Service has decided that as of today 70 percent of the blossoms have reached the “puffy white” stage. And while some trees are white with fully open blossoms, others are still lagging behind.
Boat Services to the Cherry Blossoms
There’s a new boat landing point on the bank of the Potomac next to the FDR Memorial, adding a new, scenic option for getting to and from the cherry blossoms.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 4, 2014
A small number of trees are just starting to pop. Most of the trees haven’t started yet, but things will start happening quickly now.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 2, 2014
We have some movement. And after a surprise winter blast of slushy snow this past weekend, we might finally be getting on with spring.
Washington Post Capital Weather Gang Revise Peak Bloom Forecast
Because March shaped up to be colder than expected, the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang have pushed back their peak bloom date prediction by several days.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2014
After yet another round of cold, wintry, and snowy weather, the cherry blossoms–along with all the other flowering trees and plants in the area–are still well behind their average schedule. Comparing the photos from this time in 2013, we’re still tracking behind last year.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2014
We have the first signs of green tips coming through as the buds get more pronounced. From a distance, there’s the first hint of the reddish brown tint the trees will get as the buds change color and get larger.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 13, 2014
A few days of spring and now back to winter. Strong (and cold) winds have knocked down a large branch from one of the trees.
The Japanese Stone Lantern Gets an Upgrade
60 years after being installed next to the Tidal Basin, the Japanese Stone Lantern has received some much-needed attention.
Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang Issue Peak Bloom Forecast
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang have issued their first cherry blossom peak bloom forecast for the season: “most likely between April 7 and April 11, centered on April 9.”
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 5, 2014
The National Park Service has issued its first peak bloom forecast for the season, but there’s still plenty of snow around the Tidal Basin. The buds are getting more prominent, but they’re still wrapped tight.
NPS Issues First Prediction for 2014 Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom
The National Park Service has this morning issued the season’s first prediction for when the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin will reach peak bloom this year.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 26, 2014
After a warm weekend, winter is back. The trees look beautiful covered in snow, but the buds still have a long way to go.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 20, 2014
Cold weather is keeping the cherry blossom buds safely tucked away, and the long period of colder-than-average temperatures suggests the cherry blossoms will bloom late this year.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 8, 2014
It’s still cold. There’s still a layer of ice covering much of the Tidal Basin. And the weather forecast for the coming week is still very much a winter forecast. In other words, there’s still a ways to go before we start seeing some cherry blossom action.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 29, 2014
It’s cold. Local temperatures have been consistently dipping down to the low teens or single digits at night, and days have rarely peaked above freezing. The Tidal Basin and Potomac are both frozen and covered in a fresh layer of snow, topped up by a light snowfall overnight.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 19, 2014
Welcome to the first Cherry Blossom Watch update for 2014. Here are some new shots of how the trees look currently.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 15, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 15, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 9, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 9, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 8, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 8, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 7, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 7, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 6, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 6, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 5, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 5, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 4, 2013
Latest update on how Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 4, 2013, with fresh photos taken this morning.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 3, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of April 3, 2013. With fresh photos taken today.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 30, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of March 30, 2013. With fresh photos taken today.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 28, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of March 28, 2013. With fresh photos taken today.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 25, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of March 25, 2013. With fresh photos (and snow!)
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2013
Progress update and fresh photos of Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms on March 21, 2013.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 19, 2013
Progress update and fresh photos of Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms on March 19, 2013.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 14, 2013
Progress update and fresh photos of Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms on March 14, 2013.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 10, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of March 10, 2013. With fresh photos.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 4, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of March 4, 2013. With fresh photos.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 25, 2013
How Washington DC’s famous Cherry Blossoms are doing as of February 25, 2013. With fresh photos.
DC Cherry Blossoms 2013
Each spring, Washington’s famous cherry blossoms burst into white and pink bloom. But the date shifts each year depending on natural environmental factors. Here’s the latest information on the 2013 blooming of the cherry blossoms.