National Cherry Blossom Festival

	National Cherry Blossom Festival Bloom Schedule 2009 Peak Bloom Forecast: April 1st – April 4th. 2009 Blooming Period Forecast: March 28 - April 11. 2009 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL DATES: March 28-April 12. The Peak Bloom Date and Blooming Period The Peak Bloom Date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) trees are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Cherry Blossom Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming (April 4), but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Yoshino cherries reaching peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958). The Blooming Period is defined as the period that starts when 20% of the blossoms are open and ends when the petals fall and the leaves appear. The Blooming period starts several days before the Peak Bloom Date and can last as long as 14 days; however, frost or high temperatures combined with wind and/or rain can shorten this period. During the Blooming Period, the National Park Service conducts annual Cherry Tree Walks and bike tours around the Tidal Basin. These Park Ranger conducted programs present an interpretive look at the historical and cultural influence of the Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in our Nation's Capital. For information on the dates and times of the walks and bike tours please call (202) 426-6841. It is pretty much impossible to give an accurate forecast much more than 10 days before the Peak Bloom and ach year National Park Service Horticulturists monitor 5 stages of bud development and provide a forecast and updates as needed. The following is a comparative record of past bud development in which 70% of the buds reached each stage: NPS Green Color in Buds: Late February to Early March NPS Florets Visible: March, Average 16-21 days to Peak Bloom. NPS Extension of Florets: Average 12-17 days to Peak Bloom. NPS Peduncle Elongation:(Frost Critical) Average 6-10 days to Peak Bloom. NPS Puffy White: Average 4-6 days to Peak Bloom. Year Green in Buds Florets Visible Extension of Florets Peduncle Elongation Puffy White Peak Bloom 2009 3-Mar 12-Mar 18-Mar 23-Mar 27-Mar ? 2008 19-Feb 11-Mar 17-Mar 18-Mar 24-Mar 26-Mar 2007 5-Mar 20-Mar 25-Mar 27-Mar 28-Mar 1-Apr 2006 28-Feb 13-Mar 14-Mar 16-Mar 22-Mar 30-Mar 2005 7-Mar 22-Mar 31-Mar 3-Apr 4-Apr 9-Apr 2004 4-Mar 12-Mar 15-Mar 22-Mar 27-Mar 31-Mar 2003 17-Mar 23-Mar 25-Mar 27-Mar 29-Mar 2-Apr 2002 7-Mar 14-Mar 18-Mar 20-Mar 27-Mar 2-Apr 2001 26-Feb 11-Mar 20-Mar 25-Mar 30-Mar 6-Apr 2000 Feb-29 8-Mar 9-Mar 10-Mar 14-Mar 17-Mar 1999 16-Mar 22-Mar 26-Mar 30-Mar 1-Apr 5-Apr 1998 13-Feb 1-Mar 8-Mar 13-Mar 23-Mar 27-Mar 1997 21-Feb 2-Mar 10-Mar 13-Mar 20-Mar 26-Mar 1996 Feb-29 15-Mar 18-Mar 25-Mar 30-Mar 4-Apr 1995 8-Mar 20-Mar 25-Mar 29-Mar 1-Apr 5-Apr 1994 8-Mar 20-Mar 25-Mar 29-Mar 1-Apr 5-Apr 1993 15-Mar 22-Mar 28-Mar 2-Apr 5-Apr 11-Apr 1992 7-Mar 15-Mar 23-Mar 31-Mar 1-Apr 5-Apr Link to Maps of Cherry Tree Locations. Did You Know? Although Yoshino Cherry Trees are the predominant variety in downtown, there are other beautiful varieties? The one in the photo is a higan... Find out more.... more...
	The thousands of cherry trees that border the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., are one of the best known symbols of the nation's capital, especially when they are in full bloom. To celebrate this, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is held. The 2009 Festival is scheduled from March 28 through April 12. The National Cherry Blossom web page from the National Park Service's (NPS) contains information about the trees themselves and activities that celebrate their annual bloom, as well as a frequently asked questions web page. The National Cherry Blossom Festival website is located at http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/. This website gives information about activities planned for the festival and has a "Visitor Information" link which provides details on hotels, restaurants and transportation for tourists. The National Building Museum also celebrates the annual opening of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with a Family Day. Visitors are invited to participate in the hand-on activities.