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Forbes
31-03-2025
- Forbes
When Is the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2025?
Washington DC, USA at the Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin during spring season. For many travelers looking to see pink-and-white cherry blossoms at peak bloom, Japan in the springtime is a bucket list destination. But there's also many places in the United States where cherry blossoms usher in the start of spring, including Washington, D.C. which hosts an annual National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the bloom of its nearly 4,000 trees planted in Potomac Park that circle the Tidal Basin. Syncing up travel with peak bloom is always a little tricky since the weather influences when these trees show off their pillowy pink-tinged petals. Peak bloom in the nation's capital typically happens in late March to early April,, and has been trending earlier in that timeframe in recent years. Extraordinary warm or cool temps have led to peak blooms as early as March 15 (in 1990) and as late as April 18 (in 1958), according to the National Park Service. According to Cherry Blossom Watch 2025, Washington D.C.'s trees officially reached peak bloom on March 28, 2025. (Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms open). But if you haven't had a chance to check out the cherry blossoms in all of their spring glory just yet, don't worry, you're not too late. The blossoms typically last for four weeks and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is still underway until mid-April. Here's what else to know about the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Pink cherry blossoms in bloom in Washington D.C. near the Washington Monument. The 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 20 to April 13 at various locations throughout Washington, D.C. and spills over into surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia. The festival lineup includes everything from runs, including a 10-miler on April 6 that passes prime blossom locations on the Washington Monument Grounds to a Jazz & Blossoms event that features hip-hop group Arrested Development this year on the main stage and creative experiences like a graffiti canvas for painting to haiku writing. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is scheduled for April 12, 2025. Check out the full calendar of National Cherry Blossom Festival events here. The Jefferson Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is held each year to commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to Washington, D.C. and, according to festival organizers, celebrates the 'enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.' Hanmai (flower viewing) has been a tradition in Japan for centuries. Sakuras, which cherry blossom trees are known as in Japan, are symbols for impermanence, according to Japanese scholar Małgorzata (Gosia) K. Citko-DuPlantis from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Bunches of cherry blossom flowers are in peak bloom during the annual showing in Washington DC. The Jefferson Memorial is in the background. Cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C. typically runs from late March to mid-April. The best time to see cherry blossoms is around their peak bloom. Flexibility is key for cherry blossom travels, though. Yoshino trees typically bloom for several days, according to the National Park Service. But this bloom period is influenced by the weather. Cool, calm days can extend the length of the bloom, but a rainy, windy day can bring cherry blossom bloom season to an abrupt end. Nashville, Tennessee - March 25, 2019 : The Parthenon in Centennial Park, on a beautiful Spring day with cherry blossoms in the foreground. Blurred background Looking for other spots in the United States to check out cherry blossoms? Here's a few more cherry blossom festivals to check out in 2025: While Japan is a top international destination for observing cherry blossoms, here's some photos of beautiful cherry blossoms blooming around the world.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Washington DC's iconic cherry blossoms are days away from peak bloom
The cherry blossoms that line the iconic Washington, D.C., waterfront are days away from reaching peak bloom, according to the National Park Service. The blossoms surrounding D.C.'s Tidal Basin are currently at Stage 5, or "Puffy White," the NPS said. The buds are beginning to flower and are expected to open up within the coming days to form a sweeping panorama of pink blooms along the nation's capital. We're thrilled to announce that the cherry trees have reached stage 5 - Puffy White. The blossoms are starting to show, now we're just waiting on them to open. Peak Bloom is next!🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸/🌸Follow #BloomWatch online at #Cherryblossom #WashingtonDC — National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 23, 2025 Peak bloom in Washington, D.C., typically occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April, according to the National Park Service's Bloom Watch, which tracks when the blooms are expected to occur. Peak bloom is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, and it typically lasts for a period of several days, according to the NPS. More than 3,000 cherry trees were gifted to the U.S. from Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship. The NPS predicts this year's peak bloom to occur between Friday and March 31. This is expected to be the sixth year in a row with a March peak bloom date. MORE: How climate change is affecting DC's iconic cherry blossoms Extreme warm or cool temperatures have caused the D.C. blooms to occur as early as March 15 and as late as April 18, the NPS said. In 2024, peak bloom occurred on March 17 -- the second-earliest peak bloom on record -- due to warmer-than-usual temperatures. In recent years, the peak bloom date for the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin reservoir is occurring earlier than it did in the past. Seasonal shifts, including milder, shorter winter seasons and spring warmth beginning earlier due to human-amplified climate change, are impacting when the cherry trees reach peak bloom, data shows. Peak bloom dates have shifted earlier by about eight days since 1921, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. New calculations, which now include data through 2024, show that the average peak bloom date for D.C.'s cherry blossoms has shifted a day earlier, moving from April 4 to April 3. The peak bloom date has occurred before the new April 3 average in 15 of the last 20 years. Peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958), according to the NPS. Global warming has also caused cherry blossoms to bloom earlier in other iconic viewing locations, such as New York City's Central Park and Kyoto, Japan. Human-amplified climate change is causing seasonal shifts, including milder, shorter winter seasons and spring warmth beginning earlier, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a breakdown of the latest in climate science from 14 different federal agencies, published in November 2023. These shifts are contributing to the long-term change in peak bloom dates. These shifts do not just impact the cherry trees and their iconic blooms, but can create a ripple effect across entire ecosystems, influencing the delicate ways that plants and wildlife interact with one another. For example, there can be cases when plants are blooming earlier but pollinators, such as bees, have not quite emerged yet. Alternatively, early warmth could have bees out early and searching for food sources that have not emerged yet, Madeline Potter, faculty specialist at the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center, told ABC News. Mismatches like this one could bring serious consequences, as more than 80% of the world's flowering plants rely on pollinators to reproduce, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. MORE: Why Stumpy, DC's iconic cherry blossom tree, is drawing so much attention Last year, more than 150 of the flowering cherry trees were cut down due to rising sea levels, which took a toll on the crumbling seawalls surrounding the Tidal Basin, a reservoir built between the Potomac River and Washington Channel, according to the NPS. Cherry trees rely on dry land and fresh water. When the Tidal Basin floods, saltwater saturates the soil and can enter the roots of the trees. Too much saltwater intrusion in the soil can weaken and eventually kill a cherry tree, according to the NPS. Sea level in the Washington, D.C., area has risen by more than a foot over the last century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Current projections show that by 2050, the East Coast could experience an average sea level rise of 10 to 14 inches. Sea level rise at a specific location will vary regionally along the nation's coastlines due to changes in both land and ocean height. Trees between the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, including "Stumpy," an ailing tree that became infamous for its distressed appearance, were chopped down in 2024. MORE: Niagara Falls boat tours to break record for earliest opening due to mild winter Washington DC's iconic cherry blossoms are days away from peak bloom originally appeared on
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 begins as peak bloom approaches in DC
Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 begins as peak bloom approaches in DC The peak bloom of Yoshino Cherry trees in Washington, D.C., is a beautiful sight each spring. The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time for peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. The National Park Service announced in late February that the peak bloom season for the District of Columbia's Tidal Basin cherry blossoms is expected to fall from March 28 to March 31 this year. When will the cherry blossoms bloom? Predicting the peak bloom of cherry trees more than 10 days ahead is nearly impossible because of the influence of weather conditions on blossom development. Horticulturists from the National Park Service closely observe the buds' progress and provide updates. How long is peak bloom? The Yoshino trees typically bloom for several days. The length of the blooming period depends on weather conditions. Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms. A late frost can prevent the trees from blooming at all. When have cherry blossoms peaked historically? Unusually warm or cool temperatures have caused peak bloom as early as March 15 in 1990 and as late as April 18 in 1958. Last year was the first time peak bloom occurred before the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival on March 20 since the festival's start date was moved about a week forward in 2012. Historically, the Cherry Blossom Festival often started in early to mid-April. Over time, the festival length was extended and the start date moved forward. The festival hasn't started in April since 1994. When is the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival? The park service, in collaboration with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be celebrating the bloom in the district March 20 through April 14. The festival is held mainly around the Tidal Basin. The festival commemorates the gift of about 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the United States in 1912. The gift celebrates the friendship between the Japanese and American people. Multiple events are scheduled for the festival, including a parade, concerts and fireworks. Live bloom camera If you can't travel to see the cherry blossoms, you can view them live on the bloom camera. The camera provides a live view of the National Mall Tidal Basin from the roof of the hotel Salamander Washington D.C. courtesy of EarthCam. CONTRIBUTING Saman Shafiq SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; National Park Service
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
When do cherry blossoms bloom in DC? National Park Service announces peak dates.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in DC? National Park Service announces peak dates. Show Caption Hide Caption Cherry blossom trees reach peak bloom early in Washington D.C. Visitors to the tidal basin in Washington D.C. were treated to an earlier-than-usual blooming of the cherry blossoms due to warmer weather in March. The predictions are in for this year's cherry blossom peak bloom in Washington D.C. The National Park Service (NPS) on Thursday announced peak bloom season for the District of Columbia's Tidal Basin cherry blossoms is expected to fall between March 28-31 this year. The peak bloom date is "defined as the period when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open," according to the park service. About 3,800 cherry trees grow around the Tidal Basin and National Mall. The dates are a prediction, NPS added, because peak bloom depends on weather conditions. "Peak Bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions and usually occurs during the last week of March or the first week of April," NPS said. "Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in Peak Bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958)." How long is peak bloom? The length of blooming period also depends on the weather, according to the park service. Cool and calm weather can extend the length of blooming period, but a rainy, windy day can cause the ephemeral blossoms to end abruptly. A late frost can prevent the trees from blooming altogether. "The Yoshino trees typically bloom for only several days, making a short-lived scene of splendor that is one of Washington, D.C.'s most anticipated events," NPS said in its announcement. A famous cherry tree in DC was uprooted. Its clones help keep legacy alive Where are the best views of the cherry blossoms? Though cherry blossoms are scattered throughout the capital, the highest concentration of the trees is in Potomac Park, around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial, close to the National Mall. Washington tourism department also recommends off-the-radar spots such as the National Arboretum, Anacostia Park, Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, Stanton Park and Oxon Run Park. The cherry trees were given "as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan," the park service says. More than 3,000 cherry trees of various varieties arrived in Washington from Yokohama on March 26, 1912. 'Magnificent': Japan gifts more cherry trees to Washington as token of enduring friendship When is the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival? The park service, in collaboration with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be celebrating the bloom in the district from March 20 to April 14. Multiple events are scheduled for the festival, including a parade, concerts and fireworks, for locals and for visitors who descend upon the city during the season. Festival highlights include: The Blossom Kite Festival around the Washington Monument on March 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. along Constitution Avenue. The Petalpalooza music and arts festival from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Capital Riverfront on April 5, with fireworks at 8:30 p.m. The dates for some events, such as the Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossom Ranger Talk, ranger-led lantern walks, and the Pups N' Petals Dog Walk have not yet been announced by NPS. Contributing: Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
