basingstoke2

Here is a link to the latest forecast.

https://cherryblossomwatch.com/peak-bloom-forecast/

Because of our unusually warm winter, things are moving along quickly but oncoming cooler weather may slow things down. The Yoshino "indicator" tree is showing signs of early bloom.

Although our neighborhood cherry trees are of a different variety they are already in bloom, coming out ahead of the forsythia which is highly unusual.

My own guess is that the peak downtown will begin the 3rd week in March.

We had to cut down our own giant Cherry Tree this year because of disease. I am going to miss it.

FreddieC

What disease is that?

basingstoke2

FreddieC. It appeared to be bacterial canker. There is very little one can do about it especially in a tree of that size.

PlishBrown

its funny you posted this, as I was just looking online that Macon, GA has a cherry blossom festival the last weekend of March and part of April. I live in SC and we have had record high temperatures (it was 80 on Sunday!) and I am wondering if the cherry trees will already be in bloom before their festival starts!

kja

I'm so sorry that you had to take one of your cherries out. Sincere condolences.

basingstoke2

The peak blossom period is now predicted as March 14-17. The earliest on record is May 15 so that can be broken. The Festival planners are scrambling to move up events and the official CBF start date has been changed to March 15. I hope those fodorites planning to come to DC for the CBF have early enough reservations.

jent103

Will the Mall be absolutely insane that week? I'll be in DC March 11-15 for a conference and was hoping to get down there for the cherry blossoms, but also to do some other touristing in the area.

NewbE

How lucky for you! It will be very crowded, but less so on weekdays. Enjoy, it's a real treat

NewbE

I should add, the trees are planted over a quite large area that is designed for crowds, so even on weekends, it's doable.

Macross

I love that time of the year there. I found some pictures from 1964 of us in our Easter best under the trees recently. My Mom loved them.

denice7

Go down in the evening or early morning.

schlegal1

jent103 - We went to the festival on a sunny Saturday a year or two ago. It was gorgeous. Crowded but fine. You can walk about the open monuments, go to the food and drink vendors and get plenty of beautiful photos, even in the crowd. Sort of the same crowd-level as a pretty day at a popular beach in July--busy but still enjoyable.

basingstoke, sorry about your cherry. Our Kwanzan cherry has been slowly succumbing to disease. It is our only flowering tree in our yard and also one of my favorite flowering trees. I am going to be sad to cut it down.

jent103

Thanks for the tips and info, all! I'll have to take a look at the conference schedule but I'm sure I can sneak down there. I just got a new camera and it'll be the perfect time to try it out.

starrs

It's an amazing experience. I was planning a trip to the area with another Fodorite and the original plans meant I'd get there 10 days too "late". It turned out that we were there for the peak day. Absolutely amazing to walk in a cloud of pink along the Tidal Basin. Spent blooms at our feet. Full blooms overhead. Gorgeous walk through the trees. Simply amazing. Parking was a challenge, but we snagged a great parking spot feet away. Jent, since you are in the area, you can just walk or Uber down and enjoy. I remember my grandmother talking about the cherry blossoms when I was a child and I didn't "get it". Being there is absolutely wonderful.

jent, you may want to go up to the POV Lounge while you are there. Fabulous views of the city from the rooftop lounge. We got a table overlooking the White House but had a great view of the Washington monument too. The lights on the White House go off at 11pm.
http://www.wwashingtondc.com/pov

If you want a fun evening activity, consider going to see the Capitol Steps, very funny show -
http://www.capsteps.com/live/reagan04.html

basingstoke, sorry about the loss of your tree. My father had a magnificent cherry tree in front of his house and he told me a year before that if we put the house on the market in March, the tree would sell the house. I expected to get it ready long before March, but too many things to do. Sure enough, it went on the market in early March, the buyer drove past the house, saw that gorgeous tree in full bloom and fell in love. Her husband was a builder and he admired the house, but she fell in love with the tree - just like my Dad predicted.

jent103

Thanks starrs! I'll check those out!

Macross

My D.C. friends just sent me this, hope they survive.

http://wtop.com/national-cherry-blos...ssoms/slide/1/

basingstoke2

As of today there is still doubt. There was damage because of the temperatures but last night's storm encased them in ice, so it remains to be seen what is left when the ice melts.

basingstoke2

The latest report shows "widespread damage" but there are still survivors. I look at my own backyard and see that the forsythia blooms still look good while the magnolia blossoms that were in the same stage of bloom as the cherry blossoms are all withered and brown.

The remaining cherry blossoms still have to survive two more freezing nights, so I am not optimistic.