2023 Peak Bloom
The NPS judged that the Yoshino cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin reached peak bloom on March 23, 2023. They're now done for the year..
The warm winter has meant that the saucer magnolias are coming out early. They're not yet in bloom, but there are plenty of buds shedding their outer casings to reveal the beautiful pink and purple petals underneath. Very warm temperatures expected tomorrow will bring even more of them along in the coming days.
An early bloom brings risks of freezing temperatures spoiling the bloom. It happened last year, with a mid-March cold snap shriveling the flowers (you can see photos of the aftermath here).
There's no similar cold snap in the immediate weather forecast, so fingers crossed they'll be fine this year.
Saucer Magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden
I took these photos this morning at the Enid A. Haupt Garden. When fully in bloom, the magnolias in this garden are just spectacular.
Saucer Magnolias at the George Mason Memorial
There's a smaller grove of saucer magnolias around the George Mason Memorial (which is not far from the Jefferson Memorial).
Things Worth Knowing
- Saucer magnolias are also often known as tulip magnolias.
- They typically come out around a couple of weeks before the famous Yoshino cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin.
- You can find saucer magnolias all over the region. Three notable locations within easy walking distance of the Tidal Basin are the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall, the George Mason Memorial (near Jefferson Memorial), and Rawlins Park.
- You can see an example of them in full bloom here.
