It is cherry blossom time in Washington DC now and the streets are bursting with flowers- from White House to the Tidal Basin, a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel with the magnificent Jefferson Memorial on its south bank.
According to the US National Park Service, the peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open.
Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April.
The cherry blossoms in DC and Japan are a beautiful symbol of friendship between the two countries. In 1912, Japan gifted 3,000 cherry blossom trees to Washington, DC, as a sign of friendship. Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually to celebrate this gift and the beauty of the blossoms.
You can enjoy the blossoms around the Tidal Basin, which is home to over 3,700 trees.
In Japan, the cherry blossom season, also known as “sakura,” is a highly anticipated event. The best time to see the blossoms in Japan is usually late March to early April, with Tokyo being one of the most popular destinations.
Some popular spots to see the cherry blossoms in DC include:
– The Tidal Basin: Home to over 3,700 cherry blossom trees
– National Harbor: Features over 200 Okame cherry trees that bloom earlier than the Yoshinos at the Tidal Basin
– Dumbarton Oaks: Offers a unique cherry blossom spotting experience in its Cherry Hill garden
