Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms hit peak bloom earlier than ever this year, drawing thousands of visitors to the Tidal Basin to capture the stunning scenes. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway, with Capital Weather Gang readers sharing their favorite photos of the iconic flowers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. While gusty winds may cause some petals to fall, the cool weather is expected to prolong the blossoms’ peak bloom at least until the weekend.
Despite the focus on cherry blossoms, Washington still has many more trees and plants waiting to bloom as spring unfolds. Among the first to flower are the Yoshino cherry trees, adding to the beauty of the season in the nation’s capital. However, one particular cherry tree called Stumpy has stolen the spotlight this year, as its unique stump shape and impending removal due to sea wall repairs have garnered attention from locals and visitors alike. Stumpy has been dubbed the “most photographed” and “best in show” of the 2024 cherry blossom bloom, commemorating its final days at the Tidal Basin.