Connect with us

Washington, D.C

Where to see cherry blossoms in the D.C. area

Published

on

Where to see cherry blossoms in the D.C. area


As spring approaches, the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding areas come into full bloom, bursting into a spectacle of pink and white that draws more than a million visitors every year.

But the Tidal Basin isn’t the only place to see cherry blossoms. More than 9,000 cherry trees line streets, parks and other public spaces in D.C., and even more are found outside the city. Here’s where you can find cherry blossoms both in D.C. and in Virginia and Maryland.

Casey Trees in D.C. maintains an inventory of cherry trees across the city. The National Arboretum also maintains a data set of cherry trees.


Advertisement

Cherry trees in the District

The Tidal Basin is an iconic spot to view

cherry blossoms in D.C., but there are many

Advertisement

more of the pink-blossomed trees growing

throughout the city.

Congress

Heights and

Advertisement

Oxon Run Park

Excludes trees on private property and some

federal parks. Data as of March 2024

Advertisement

Sources: Casey Trees, U.S. National

Arboretum (USDA-ARS)

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Advertisement

Cherry trees in the District

The Tidal Basin is an iconic spot to view cherry blossoms

Advertisement

in D.C., but there are many more of the pink-blossomed

trees growing throughout the city.

Congress Heights

and Oxon Run Park

Advertisement

Excludes trees on private property and some federal parks.

Data as of March 2024

Sources: Casey Trees, U.S. National Arboretum (USDA-ARS)

Advertisement

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Advertisement

Cherry trees in the District

The Tidal Basin is an iconic spot to

view cherry blossoms in D.C., but there

are many more of the pink-blossomed

Advertisement

trees growing throughout the city.

Excludes trees on private

property and some federal parks.

Data as of March 2024

Advertisement

Congress Heights

and Oxon Run Park

Sources: Casey Trees, U.S. National

Advertisement

Arboretum (USDA-ARS)

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Advertisement

An iconic location with more than 4,000 cherry trees, the area offers picturesque views of cherry blossoms framed by the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. As one of D.C’s most popular destinations during cherry blossom season, expect huge crowds during peak bloom.

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

National Arboretum

This federally run garden/research institution has the most diverse selection of cherry trees in the region. There are more than 70 varieties, and collection standouts include Awanui, a flowering cherry from New Zealand that’s rare in the United States, and Kojo-no-mai, known for its twisty branches. The arboretum tends to have a longer blossom season than other local spots, with more early and late bloomers.

Advertisement

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Located at the southern tip of East Potomac Park, Hains Point is packed with trees along a beautiful trail, and it has plenty of open space for moving about. Like the Tidal Basin, it might be on the busier side on the weekend.

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

The Georgetown estate has cherry trees at the north end of its garden, which typically bloom slightly later than the ones at the Tidal Basin.

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.

Advertisement

On Capitol Hill about half a mile from the Capitol, the perimeter of Stanton Park is lined with cherry trees, and most visitors won’t have trouble snagging an unoccupied bench. Since it’s a 10-minute walk from Union Station, Stanton Park is a good choice for those passing through town who want to steal a quick peek at the blossoms.

In Southeast Washington, Oxon Run Park has more than 200 cherry trees and a playground, trails, picnic tables and grills.

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

On the west side of Michigan Park and just north of University Heights, a stretch of Puerto Rico Avenue has dozens of Yoshino trees.

Foxhall Village, Northwest

Advertisement

Several Yoshino trees are located on the circle at Greenwich Parkway, then south on Surrey Lane. It’s all right off Foxhall Road. The area also has a lot of Kwanzan cherry trees.

American University Park, Northwest

Take a walk between Massachusetts and Western avenues along 49th Street and you’ll see a whole lot of blossoms. Some of the other side streets like Asbury Place might be worth a look, as well.

Congress Heights, Southeast

The cloud trees are frequent along the Fourth Street fork to the north of Simon Elementary School. Mississippi Avenue also has a number of trees.

Advertisement

Beyond the Tidal Basin, many public parks and gardens offer great opportunities to view seasonal cherry blossoms. In Maryland, cherry trees can be found across public parks in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. These quieter locations offer an opportunity to enjoy the blossoms without the crowds.


Cherry blossoms around

the Beltway

Advertisement

Here are other areas in the DMV known for

having a high density of cherry blossoms.

Meadowlark

Advertisement

Botanical Gardens

Arlington National

Cemetery

Advertisement

Source: County tourist bureaus

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Advertisement

Cherry blossoms around the Beltway

Here are other areas in the DMV known for having a

high density of cherry blossoms.

Advertisement

Meadowlark

Botanical Gardens

Arlington

Advertisement

National

Cemetery

Source: County tourist bureaus

Advertisement

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Cherry blossoms around the Beltway

Advertisement

Here are other areas in the DMV known for having a high density of cherry blossoms.

Meadowlark

Botanical Gardens

Advertisement

Arlington

National

Cemetery

Advertisement

Source: County tourist bureaus

LAUREN TIERNEY/THE WASHINGTON POST

Advertisement

More than 1,200 cherry trees — the largest concentration in any neighborhood in the area — line Kennedy Drive, Dorset Avenue, Kenwood Avenue and other streets in this Bethesda enclave.

Open daily during daylight hours.

More than 200 Okame cherry trees will blossom here this spring, and you can check them out from high above: Hop on the Capital Wheel and sip on pink champagne or a Cherry Lager beer while taking in the sights.

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Advertisement

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

This 95-acre park in Vienna features about 200 cherry trees of assorted varieties, including the Yoshino blossoms that the Tidal Basin is known for.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ian Livingston and Angela Haupt contributed to this report.



Source link

Advertisement

Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Chance of severe storms before cooler Monday

Published

on

Storm Team4 Forecast: Chance of severe storms before cooler Monday


4 things to know about the weather:

  1. Storms overnight, severe chance
  2. Cooler Monday
  3. Clouds to start, then sunshine tomorrow
  4. Cold next few mornings

After a very warm afternoon, there is a cold front that is approaching. The front will move through the area tonight, sparking showers and storms, then delivering colder air for the start of the new workweek.

There is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for our counties to the far northwest, including Maryland counties Washington, Allegany and Garrett, and a portion of Morgan county in West Virginia. The watch is until 10 p.m. Sunday.

There is a chance for storms to be severe tonight, including the risk of damaging winds and hail. The risk decreases through the night as the storms move south and east with the front. The storms may be noisy tonight with thunder, heavy rain, and hail. Expect drier conditions after sunrise tomorrow.

Do not forget your jacket Monday. The cooler air behind the front keeps the area in the 50s all day. Lows will drop into the 30s Monday night.

Advertisement

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

QuickCast

TONIGHT:
Storms, severe possible
Wind: N 5-10 mph
Low: Mid 50s

MONDAY:
Showers before sunrise
AM clouds, afternoon sun
Wind: NNW 10-15 mph
Gusts @ 25 mph
High: Mid-Upper 50s

TUESDAY:
Mostly sunny
Wind: N light
High: Low 50s

WEDNESDAY:
Sun & Clouds
Wind: SW 5-10 mph
High: Lower 60s

SUNRISE: 7:06 AM          SUNSET: 7:22 PM
AVERAGE HIGH: 58         AVERAGE LOW: 40

Advertisement

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

DC weather: Taste of summer turns to storms Sunday night into Monday morning

Published

on

DC weather: Taste of summer turns to storms Sunday night into Monday morning


Forecasters are calling for a near-perfect spring setup on Sunday, with plenty of sunshine, blooming cherry blossoms, and temperatures soaring into the low to mid-80s across much of the region.

However, the warm, quiet weather won’t last long.

Advertisement

By the numbers:

After a cool start in the upper 40s and low 50s, temperatures are rising quickly under sunny skies. Many areas are expected to climb into the 80s this afternoon, with some spots pushing the mid to upper 80s.

It’s a brief but welcome preview of summer, and conditions couldn’t be better for getting outside.

Advertisement

With cherry blossoms nearing peak bloom, it’s an ideal day to head to the Tidal Basin, take a walk, or spend time outdoors with family and friends.

What we know:

Advertisement

A strong cold front moving in from Pennsylvania will bring increasing clouds later on Sunday, followed by a chance for showers and thunderstorms late Sunday night into early Monday.

Some storms could produce damaging winds or even small hail, especially to the north.

By Monday, the cold front pushes through, bringing a noticeable change.

Advertisement

  • Gusty winds up to 30+ mph develop in the afternoon
  • Temperatures fall back to more typical early spring levels
  • Morning showers taper off, with improving conditions later in the day

What’s next:

Looking ahead, the pattern stays active.

Advertisement

After a brief warm-up into the 60s midweek, another strong cold front is expected Thursday into Friday, bringing the next chance for unsettled weather.

The Source: Information from this article was provided by the FOX 5 Weather Team.

Washington, D.C.Weather
Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

Military deployment in D.C. could get extended until end or President Trump’s term

Published

on

Military deployment in D.C. could get extended until end or President Trump’s term


The District is reacting to the Pentagon’s alleged plan to keep National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C. until 2029, the end of President Trump’s term, and his mission to make D.C. safe and beautiful.

At least 2,500 National Guard members have patrolled D.C. streets since last August.

ALSO READ | Judge rules National Guard deployment into DC was illegal; ruling faces appeal

Their deployment was initially scheduled to end in 2025. Then it was extended until the end of 2026. But now this could be home base for another three years.

Advertisement

Two U.S. officials told ABC News that the agency is planning to maintain a presence in the city through early 2029.

“We don’t need to have theater on our streets,” said Tropper Sanders, who has lived in the District for nearly 30 years.

The president first deployed the National Guard last summer, even as the District was already seeing historically low crime rates.

“There are crime and safety issues, but that should be handled with law enforcement and government,” said Sanders. “I think at a time when we are at war, we are expecting so much of our service members. We should not use their time in ways that are not essential.”

Some residents and city leaders said the military has helped clean up the city, but not with crime. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he does not see the point of keeping the National Guard in D.C.

Advertisement

“I know that the President said it was all about law and order,” he said. “The National Guard does not do law enforcement. What I see is them walking around, during the snow, creating a path they were very good at, shoveling snow.”

Residents like Shanti Israni told 7News their presence is noticeable.

“They open people’s doors,” said Israni. “If there are people who need help with groceries, they’ve helped the people with groceries. They’re helping. But also, my hope is that people in the community can also fill that role.”

Mendelson said the deployment is costing taxpayers significantly.

“It could be $1.6 million a day,” said Mendelson. “That’s like between almost $400 million and $600 million a year. I don’t get the point.”

Advertisement

If they are ordered to stay, community members told 7News they want the city to put the services to good use.

“The mayor or the next mayor should really look at where the true hotspots or issues are where we can make the most of these servicemembers’ time,” said Tropper. “That does not necessarily have to be about crime. There are a lot of things that we can deploy these talented people to deal with. If we have to do this, then let’s at least figure out how the District can be so much better in 2029.”

“I also realize that the people making these decisions probably know a lot that we don’t,” said Israni. “If our country’s at war, I wonder if risks in D.C. will increase. If D.C. will become more of a target, maybe in that way it might be helpful to have people, but, if again, if the mission is keeping D.C. safe and beautiful, D.C.’s saving people already.”

A Pentagon spokesperson told ABC News, “The Department of War is committed to supporting the president’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in the nation’s capital. There are no announcements to make at this time.”

The District has been pushing back on the president’s deployment, with expectations of continuing to do so.

Advertisement

SEE ALSO | Legal questions grow over National Guard’s long-term presence in DC

“There’s pending litigation now,” said Mendelson. “The attorney general won preliminarily, and then it went up to the court of appeals, where there was a stay. It’s all pending. There’s further legal argument.”

Officials told ABC News the deployment plan was finalized last year and is awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending