It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Washington D.C.: cherry blossom time. Even before spring’s official arrival on Sunday, the capitol’s cherry trees had budded, peduncles — the blossom-bearing stalks — were stretched out, and blossoms puffed. On Monday afternoon, the National Park Service announced peak bloom had arrived in a stream of giddy capital letters: “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM!” A frothy, pink-and-white cloud unfurled around the sparkling waters of the Tidal Basin.
To many locals, the blossoms are an unequivocal time of celebration, an opportunity to behold something precious and fleeting. Washingtonians share their favorite petal-peeping spots and swap tips for avoiding the crowds. Couples plan engagement shoots and proposals. Residents decorate their porches, plan parties, and make pilgrimages to the National Mall.
The last two pandemic years forced the city to heavily scale back its annual National Cherry Blossom Festival; people were invited to tune into a livestream rather than pack themselves like sardines beneath the canopy of petals. Now, some city leaders are framing this year’s celebration as D.C.’s “pandemic c... Read more
