Cherry Blossoms Expected to Bloom Early

Photo of tourists admiring the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in 2005 by Susan Biddle/The Washington Post

IT'S ALMOST SPRING, a time when Washingtonians' thoughts turn to cherry blossoms. Or at least to forming a plan to avoid the mass of tourists that flood the area when the famous buds release their flowery bounty.

Turns out bloomin' season is coming early this year.

Reports our colleague Fritz Hahn on the Going Out Gurus blog over at washingtonpost.com, expect downtown roads to be clogged and pictures to be snapped when the blossoms hit their peak, which is expected to be between March 27 and April 3. That's in the early days of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which will run from March 29 to April 13.

» "Blooming Wonderful" [WaPo]