Cherry blossom season begins in Washington DC – and the pictures are amazing
Trees reached peak bloom on 1 April
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Your support makes all the difference.Think cherry blossom season is all about Japan? Think again.
Washington, DC gets its own dousing of pink every March and April.
The average peak bloom date, when 70 per cent of the cherry blossom flowers are open, is 4 April; this year, peak bloom day was 1 April.
The best viewing of the cherry blossom trees typically lasts four to seven days after peak bloom begins, but the blossoms can last for up to two weeks under ideal conditions.
There's even a three and a half week-long festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, dedicated to the sakura. This year it takes place from 20 March-14 April 2019.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC.
Popular places to view the cherry blossom trees include the Tidal Basin, which provides great photo opportunities of the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial.
Blossoms are also located along the shoreline of East Potomac Park all the way to Hains Point. Trees can be found along the National Mall, just northwest of the Lincoln Memorial and around the Washington Monument.
Lesser-known cherry blossom viewing spots include the National Arboretum, Anacostia Park, Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, Stanton Park and Oxon Run Park.
Festival events include Petalpalooza on 6 April, featuring live music, a beer garden, all-ages activities, product giveaways and a fireworks show.
The festival finishes with a grand parade on 13 April, complete with giant floats.
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