It’s a springtime ritual in the Washington area — obsessing over cherry blossoms. All eyes are on the cherry trees as we look forward to their beautiful blossoms. The National Park Service closely watches the buds on the Yoshino trees that adorn the Tidal Basin and predicts peak bloom, when 70% of the cherry blossoms are fully open. This year they predict that will happen next week, between March 22-25.
But you don’t have to head into D.C. to enjoy the season. You can just visit Bethesda’s Kenwood neighborhood where MyMCMedia has its own official blossom watcher — Mike Walsh.
Typically, the cherry trees in Bethesda’s Kenwood neighborhood reach peak bloom a few days later than the Tidal Basin trees.
The photos below were taken by Mike on Friday, March 18 around 5 p.m. in the Kenwood neighborhood.
Photos courtesy Mike Walsh.
But if only the trees that surround the Jefferson Memorial will do you might want to check out the National Cherry Blossom Festival starting Sunday, March 20. The festival continues through April 17, and with the weather predicted to be mild, it seems likely the trees will be spectacular this year. The Festival’s opening ceremony takes place Sunday, March 20 at 5 p.m.
Earlier Friday, the blooms were in stage four, or peduncle elongation. This tweet from the National Park Service captures the blooms in this stage.
Say it with us now: Peduncle Elongation!🎉 #CherryBlossom stage 4 of 6 is here.
🌸🌸🌸🌸/🌸🌸
Follow #BloomWatch online at https://t.co/h04Gu0ksc1 #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/QEpfxHfi6I— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 17, 2022
