WASHINGTON — Even though the National Cherry Blossom Festival just kicked off, many were wondering Sunday if there were still flowers in bloom after weekend storms.
“I was a little concerned that some of them would fall but it still looks good,” says Katya Tour, a visitor taking photos.
Torrential rain on Saturday threatened to put most of the petals on the ground.
“I was actually really nervous that a lot of the blooms would be gone and so I told him we have to go today because I have to get good photos,” explains Carly Smith, a visitor from Mississippi.
It looks like D.C.’s iconic cherry trees get another day in the sun though. Even Stumpy has an audience to take him in on Sunday.
“As a photographer coming out here in 30 degrees you want the environment to be beautiful,” explains Antonio Johns from Wilmington, Delaware.
It all comes as the flowers at the tidal basin hit peak bloom on Sunday, March 17, and the official start of the 2024 festival on Wednesday, March 20.
“We can expect to see between a million and a million and a half people every year during the national cherry blossom festival,” explains National Park Service’s Mike Litterst.
Time is of the essence, next year a restoration project will rebuild the seawall here on the basin. About 140 trees will be removed and 1,700 will still remain. When the project is completed more than 270 cherry trees will be planted.
“It’s pretty cool to see everybody come out and see all the flowers, it's pretty well done,” D.C. resident Darius Reigns says.
According to the National Park Service the chilly temperatures will keep these trees in peak bloom for at least the next few days, so head down and catch them in full glory while you can.