Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Nothing signals the arrival of spring in Washington, D.C., quite like the blooming of the city’s revered Yoshino cherry trees.
Celebrated annually during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which honors the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo's Mayor Yukio Ozaki to DC in 1912; these stunning blossoms cloak the city’s iconic landmarks in soft pastel pink and white hues.
The precise timing of peak bloom, which can also be defined as the day when 70 percent of the blossoms are open, varies annually and is influenced by weather conditions.
However, historically, the optimal period for peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. This year’s festival runs from March 20 to April 13, with the National Park Service predicting peak bloom between March 28 and March 31.
Regardless of when peak bloom occurs, the festival draws an impressive 1.5 million attendees each year. With that being said, I’d recommend planning ahead of time for any photoshoots you were planning to have with the beautiful fresh blooms!