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PHOTOS: Cherry blossoms bloom in the DC area

Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com

March 17, 2020, 6:19 PM

D.C.’s well-loved cherry blossoms are blooming in a mosaic of pinks and whites, ushering the start of a new season.

Though several events that are a part of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival have been canceled due to measures to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic, nature perseveres.

In response to a question on social media about social distancing during the outbreak, the National Park Service said that sunrise and early-morning viewings are good ways to avoid crowds.

Instead of heading to the Tidal Basin, you can view the cherry blossoms from your computer screen.

The park service also recommends spreading out to find the blooms around the Tidal Basin, Constitution Gardens and the Washington Monument.

If you plan to stay home but don’t want to miss their short-lived beauty, here are some photos to enjoy.

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Cyclists ride past the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. on March 20, 2020. The Smithsonian will be making a cherry blossom webcam available as the flowers reach their peak later this month. (WTOP/Dan Friedell)
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At the Tidal Basin on Thursday, there were moderate crowds despite the pandemic and warnings from public officials. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
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A man wears a mask while walking around the Tidal Basin on Thursday. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
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There were moderate crowds at the Tidal Basin on Thursday.
(WTOP/Dave Dildine)
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A woman wearing a mask stops to read coronavirus safety tips along an almost empty Tidal Basin lined with cherry blossoms that are about to peak, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Washington. (AP/Andrew Harnik)
With the Washington Monument in the background, people run by cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, March 18, 2020, in Washington.
University of Washington freshman Byron Chen walks on the campus among the nearly 30 cherry trees nearing their peak bloom Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Seattle. The school is asking people to avoid coming to campus this year to comply with orders prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people during the spread of COVID-19. The “Somei-yoshino” variety are particularly striking when they reach full bloom because unlike many other flowering tree species, their white-pink blossoms bloom before the leaves start filling in.
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Usually crowded cherry tree-lined Tidal Basin walkways are nearly empty of visitors in this moment, days before peak bloom, amid the coronavirus outbreak on March 17, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images/Paul Morigi)
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Rep. Jody Arrington, R-Texas, plays catch with his children under cherry blossom blooms in front of the Supreme Court, Tuesday March 17 , 2020, in Washington. (AP/Steve Helber)
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The Lincoln Memorial is visible as Cherry Blossoms begin to bloom near the base of the Washington Monument on the National Mall, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP/Andrew Harnik)
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Cherry blossoms in the puffy white stage on Wednesday, March 17, 2020. (WTOP/Darci Marchese)
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Michaella Pratt and her children Preston Pratt, 6, Aubrey Pratt, 4, from Arlington, Va., use their time with school closing because of the coronavirus outbreak, to visit the near-empty Tidal Basin in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Cherry Blossoms are about to peak at an almost empty Tidal Basin, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Washington. Tourists usually flock to Washington and crowd around the area when cherry blossom trees starts to bloom. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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A family visits the cherry blossom trees along the tidal basin, Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Washington. Several events, including the parade, that are part of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival have been canceled due to coronavirus precautions. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
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A small amount of cherry blossoms have begun to bloom along the Tidal Basin at East Potomac Park, Friday, March 13, 2020, in Washington. (AP/Andrew Harnik)
Abigail Constantino

Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a graduate of American University and The George Washington University.

aconstantino@wtop.com

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