Cherry Blossoms to Peak in Early April

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Photo of the FDR Memorial during cherry blossom time last year by Michael Grass/Express

FOR D.C.'S RESTAURANT AND HOTEL industry, figuring out when the city's famed cherry blossoms will reach their peak is a nerve-wracking experience. Will Mother Nature cooperate with the various special deals, menus and events that have to be planned well in advance?

During a press conference this morning at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, officials at the National Park Service said yes, they will. The peak bloom should come between April 1-7 — they're banking on April 4 as the day the blossoms will really dazzle — just in time for the planned National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Although there's usually a little variation in when the blossoms will look their best, Park Service chief horticulturalist Rob DeFeo said scenery-lovers can usually bet on early spring for prime viewing time. "They are the most reliable living specimen in the nation's capital," he said of the blossoms. Take that, politicians.

Now it's off to the races for the city's various entertainers and vendors: the tourists are coming.

This year's Cherry Blossom Festival is set to kick off March 31 and run through April 15. The traditional parade is scheduled for April 14. For complete listings on the festival's events, click here.