DC Cherry Blossoms 2020

[Jaws]

DC Cherry Blossoms 2020
National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20 - April 12, 2020
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

National Cherry Blossom Festival (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomFestival

2020 Bloom Watch
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/bloom-watch/


Cherry Blossom Festival (National Park Service)
http://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/index.htm

Bloom Watch (National Park Service)
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm


Blossom Kite Festival
March 28, 2020
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/blossom-kite-festival/

Facebook event listing
https://www.facebook.com/events/530175687709239/


Petalpalooza - National Cherry Blossom Festival
April 11, 2020
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/petalpalooza/

Facebook event listing
https://www.facebook.com/events/2819660124757953/


National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
April 4, 2020
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/parade/

Facebook event listing
https://www.facebook.com/events/947147188988014/


Once again this year the work on the Jefferson Memorial will be taking place during the Cherry Blossom Festival, as that work is not expected to be complete until May of this year.

National Park Service battles with microbial growth on Jefferson Memorial
https://wtop.com/dc/2019/02/parts-of-jefferson-memorial-closed-as-national-park-service-battles-growth-on-stones/

Parts of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial will be closed to the public as the National Park Service begins a 15-month restoration project.

The east side of the memorial will be closed for construction staging, but visitors will be able to access the front of the memorial, including the chamber with the Thomas Jefferson statue. The front steps, accessible route, restrooms and the elevator will remain open as well.

The restoration is expected to be complete by May 2020.

National Park Service begins roof restoration, laser cleaning of Jefferson Memorial
https://wjla.com/news/local/national-park-service-roof-restoration-laser-cleaning-jefferson-memorial

Access to the front of the memorial, including the steps, accessible route, chamber with the statue of Thomas Jefferson, exhibit area, restrooms and elevator will remain open to the public during the duration of the project. Some areas, however, like the east side of the memorial, will be closed for construction staging.

 

[Clix Pix]

I hope we have a good year for the blossoms! Some years we get rained out or the wind wreaks havoc, and other years we are blessed with several days or longer of their beauty. I am hoping to get down to the Tidal Basin this year and do a little shooting. For various reasons it has been several years now that I haven't been down there and I miss the fun of it all! Too bad about the Jefferson Memorial, that means no good opportunities for wonderful sunrise photos over the memorial this year, as who wants scaffolding and such marring the potential impact of the image?

Best time to get down there is early in the morning, as once the tourists start arriving everything becomes very crowded quite quickly and it is extremely difficult to get decent shots. There's always someone right in the way! On the other hand, it's kind of fun, too, listening to them, watching them ogling everything and ooh-and-ahhing over the Jefferson Monument, the sight of the Washington Monument in the distance, the nearness of other important monuments, and of course the beauty of the cherry blossoms themselves. I do wonder, though, how many people go home and find that they are disappointed with the photos they shot with their cell phones? Anyway, Cherry Blossom time in DC is indeed a festive and wonderful introduction to the arrival of Spring in our area!

 

[Jaws]

Bloom Watch
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch/

Live Bloom Update
2/28 udpate: Mild winter temperatures make for eager cherry blossoms – the Yoshino trees have reached green bud, the first of six stages that culminates in peak bloom! Six days earlier than last year (though later than 2017 and 2018).

 

[Clix Pix]

Fingers crossed that we don't have any ugly weather events that damage or totally destroy the buds and blossoms!!! Loving the early signs of Spring that we're seeing around this area......

 

[jbailey930]

Updated from NPS - now forecasting peak bloom to start in the range of March 21-24!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1237754434203070464

 

[Clix Pix]

Amazing, isn't it? Almost overnight the cherry blossom trees in our neighborhood started budding and one has already burst into early bloom! This early spring weather is more than welcome!

 

[Clix Pix]

Unfortunately the Coronavirus thing is going to affect the annual Cherry Blossom Festival:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...54ecc8-63c9-11ea-845d-e35b0234b136_story.html

 

[Jaws]

Bloom Watch
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch/

Live Bloom Update
3/9 update: the trees have reached the extension of florets! This is the 3rd stage and home stretch to peak bloom! 2 weeks earlier than last year, and even earlier than 2018 (though still later than 2017).

 

[Jaws]

Festival Announces Changes to Festival Events Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://nationalcherryblossomfestiv...-festival-events-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19/

 

[Clix Pix]

Fortunately for me, we have cherry blossoms right here in my neighborhood, and they're popping out right now so I think I'll pass on going down to the Tidal Basin this year.....

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Jaws]

Unfortunately, most of the events for the Cherry Blossom festival have been cancelled.

Festival Dates: March 20 - April 12, 2020

Pink Tie Party: POSTPONED

Opening Ceremony: CANCELED

Blossom Kite Festival: CANCELED

Parade: CANCELED

Petalpalooza: CANCELED

https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

 

[Clix Pix]

So far, anyway, people are still allowed to walk around the Tidal Basin to admire and photograph the blossoms, but I suspect that this year there will not be the crowds who have been there in the past......

 

[Mike Buckley]

I suspect that this year there will not be the crowds who have been there in the past......

For the sake of all of us, I sure hope the crowds of the past won't be there this year. Too many people will be carrying the coronavirus and understandably not knowing it. They will be spreading it to the hordes of others who will then go back to their homes and offices and spread it to even more hordes.

 

[Jaws]

Bloom Watch
https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch/

Live Bloom Update
3/16 update: the blossoms have reached stage 5-PUFFY WHTIE! The petals are pushing through, with Peak Bloom in sight by week’s end. A whole 13 days ahead of stage 5 in 2019!

 

[Jaws]

For the sake of all of us, I sure hope the crowds of the past won't be there this year. Too many people will be carrying the coronavirus and understandably not knowing it. They will be spreading it to the hordes of others who will then go back to their homes and offices and spread it to even more hordes.

I agree. I wasn't planning on going this year, but for those who were it is best to sit out the seeing the cherry blossoms this year.

 

[Jaws]

Arlington Cemetery, Smithsonian Metro stations closed to prevent cherry blossom trips
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/arlingt...ations-closed-to-prevent-cherry-blossom-trips

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes, seriously, this isn't the year to go wandering among the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin and being subjected to sneezes and coughs from others, which may be harmless or which may be indicative of a ripening case of COVID-19..... Me, I'm definitely staying at home this year and just being happy with the blossoms in my own neighborhood.

 

[jbailey930]

Cloudy today so I passed Not going over the weekend. Another year perhaps. Maybe check out Meadowlark Gardens.

 

[Clix Pix]

I don't know if Meadowlark Gardens is open or not; earlier before all this mess began I was thinking of how nice it will be this spring to take my new camera and lenses to Meadowlark, spend a few happy hours there, but now I'm not so sure.....

 

[Mike Buckley]

Meadowlark Gardens is closed. https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens