Peak Bloom for Blossoms in DC This Weekend, Later in Howard County

Those looking to see a rite of Spring in the Mid-Atlantic should head down to the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC this weekend for the peak bloom of the cherry trees.

The official estimated peak dates are April 3 to 6 (that's Wednesday through Saturday), according to the National Park Service.

Here in Howard County, however, you'll need to wait about two to three weeks for the more than 1,000 cherry trees planted by Blossoms of Hope to start blooming.

Why? The trees planted around the Tidal Basin are mostly Yoshinos, according to the Park Service, while Blossoms of Hope planted mostly Kwanzans.

The earliest cherry trees in Washington date back to 1912, when 3,020 cherry trees were given to the United States by Japan. Of the original 3,020, just over half were Yoshinos (1,800), and other varieties included the Ari ake (100 trees) and Kwanzan (350).

Since then, the National Park Service has added new trees to replace ones that have died and the Japanese Government also donated more. The Park Service's website notes that in 1965, Japan gave 3,800 additional Yoshinos to D.C. for beautification of the city.

Kwanzans bloom two weeks later than Yoshinos, according to the National Park Service. After blooming begins, the pink cherry blossoms normally last for about a month.

Blossoms of Hope, made a conscious decision to plant Kwanzan trees throughout Howard County when the group got its start in 2003, according to Executive Director Victoria Goodman.

Goodman said the decision to plant Kwanzans was made so tourists interested in seeing cherry trees later in spring can come to Howard County if they missed the peak bloom in Washington.

Over 1,000 Kwanzans have since been planted along county roads and on private properties in dozens of locations around eastern Howard County. Blossoms of Hope created a map to show residents where to find the trees.

In 2009, the organization started "Cherrybration Days," a month-long celebration of the trees which begins on April 4.

This year's celebration includes a "Haikus for Hope" art exhibit at Columbia Association Art Center Galleries, a golf fundraiser at Turf Valley, an April 20 celebration in Ellicott City, and a tree planting ceremony in Downtown Columbia on April 26.

Have you seen cherry trees beginning to bloom in Howard County? Let us know where in the comments.