Full peak at DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival
Despite a recent drop in temperatures, the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., reached full peak much to the delight of residents and tourists during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The famed cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., reached peak bloom by March 17 — tied for the second earliest in history. In Rochester, the same dynamics are at play.
In Rochester’s Highland Park, some of the cherry trees have started to bloom on the south-facing hillsides along Reservoir Avenue. That’s very, very early, said Mark Quinn, Monroe County superintendent of horticulture.
“But looking at the weather for the next two weeks, we really don’t have much in the way of warm weather,” Quinn said. “So I would expect them to hold.”
While the county doesn’t record the peak cherry bloom like it does for lilacs, the blossoms typically peak in late April or early May. The exact timing depends on weather, with warmer temperatures accelerating the timeline.
While the recent snow and cold temperatures might halt the local cherry blossoms, Quinn said earlier blooming plants tend to be heartier in the face of cold snaps than later blooming plants like apple trees.
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“I don’t see any particular problems with our blossoms and even some of the times we’ve had freezes come after the lilacs have started blooming, we really haven’t sustained that much damage,” Quinn said.
When do the cherry blossoms come out in New York?
Outside of the cherry trees, there are plenty of plants already in bloom in Highland Park, including azaleas, cornus mas and viburnum.
“People are really enjoying the blooms right now,” Quinn said. “There’s a lot going on already.”
The cherry trees in Washington DC are considered to be at peak bloom when 70% of blossoms are open. There are six stages tracked by the National Park Service including peak bloom, starting with green buds. Peak bloom is most typically the last week of March or first week of April.
More: NY Blooms Report: Track flowers blooming now across New York
Since the original cherry trees were planted on the National Mall in 1912, the earliest the Yoshino Cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom was March 15 in 1990. The latest was April 18 in 1958.
— Steve Howe covers weather, climate and lake issues for the Democrat and Chronicle and prefers pancakes to waffles. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Steve has covered a wide variety of topics at newspapers in upstate New York and Utah. Have any insight into changing weather or climate? Share with him at [email protected].
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
