Overview
- National Park Service officials confirmed small green buds on March 11, marking the first of six stages toward peak bloom and shared a photo on their X account.
- Peak bloom is defined as roughly 70% of blossoms open, and NPS currently forecasts a March 29–April 1 window that remains dependent on weather.
- Park managers note an upcoming cold snap could slow progression through the bloom stages compared with last year’s faster timeline.
- Sections between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jefferson memorials remain off-limits to protect new plantings, and visitors are urged not to cross barriers or handle the trees.
- The Tidal Basin seawall and walkway restoration finished eight months early and under budget, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs March 20–April 12 with a grand reopening to follow.