Spring has arrived earlier than scheduled this year in Washington, D.C. A recent article in The Washington Post referred to it as "false spring" because it is just too early.
Spring in the capital city means cherry blossoms. This unusually warm weather has the cherry trees ready to burst forth in all their glory. You do know about the beautiful cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., don't you?
The original cherry trees were a gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki, of Tokyo, Japan, presented as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. The first shipment of trees arrived in 1910. Unfortunately, those trees arrived diseased and dead.
Undeterred, a second batch of 3,000-plus trees was sent in 1912. On March 27, 1912, first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two cherry trees on the bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. The rest of the trees were planted around the Potomac River Tidal Basin in East Potomac Park and on the White House grounds.
Each year Washington, D.C., celebrates the blooming trees with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The month-long festival covers four weekends and brings an average of 1.5 million visitors to the city (not all at the same time, thankfully).
Last year's event was reported to have hosted 3 million visitors. Due to the exceptionally warm weather, the starting date of this year's festival was moved up five days earlier than planned to coincide with peak bloom. The festival starts Wednesday and runs through April 16.
The National Park Service, which tracks dates of the blossoms, is predicting peak bloom Tuesday through Friday, though that may be pushed back a few days depending on the weather this weekend and over the next few days. Check cherryblossomwatch.com for the latest updates.
Peak bloom occurs when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees (the majority species) surrounding the Tidal Basin are in full bloom. The blooming period starts when 20 percent of the trees are in bloom and lasts until the blossoms fall off and leaves appear. On average, the blooming period is 14 days but varies based on a variety of factors.
The cherry blossoms can be temperamental. Too much sun, too cold, too windy or too rainy and the blooming period will be shortened.
National Park Service officials say this year could set a record for the earliest peak bloom. The peak depends upon several factors and varies each year. The earliest recorded peak bloom was March 15, 1990, and the latest on April 18, 1958. Last year's peak was March 25.
The National Park Service offers daily updates on the cherry blossoms so visitors can plan ahead. Determining peak bloom is not an exact science, and thus predictions are modified as needed due to weather conditions. Some blossoms started appearing in February this year due to unusually warm weather.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival has many events scheduled. The Tidal Basin Welcome Area & ANA Performance Stage will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with performances from noon to 6 p.m. (no entrance fee). Free parking is available, but sometimes it's difficult to find a space. Arrive early in the morning to ensure finding an open space.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
1250 H Street NW
Suite 1000
Washington, D.C., 20005
Phone: 800-442-5666
Email: ncbf@ncbfdc.org
A native of Webster County, Thomas R. Fletcher is a photographer and writer whose work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S., including Dallas Morning News, Anchorage Daily News and the Charlotte Observer. He writes about travel and the outdoors, and his photography has been published nationally and internationally in several publications such as BBC Wildlife and National Geographic Traveler. His work can be seen online at thomas-r-fletcher.pixels.com or on Facebook at ThomasRFletcherPhotography. His book, "Essays on Faith," was published by Tate Publishing: www.amazon.com/Essays-Faith-Thomas-R-Fletcher/dp/1627467319.