See pictures of cherry blossom trees in peak bloom in Washington, D.C.
Cherry blossom season is in full swing in Washington, D.C., with the trees reaching peak bloom on Friday, according to the National Park Service.
Originally a gift from Japan to the United States, the capital's cherry blossoms mostly appear along the Tidal Basin and in surrounding parks.
Photos on Friday show the trees in bloom with white and pink flowers.
The National Park Service determines the cherry blossoms' peak bloom date based on when 70% of the blossoms on the Yoshino cherry trees, which are the most common type of cherry tree planted along the Tidal Basin, are open.
Typically, peak bloom occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April, according to the park service. The average peak bloom date falls on April 3, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which says the exact timing varies from year to year because warmer temperatures can encourage an earlier bloom.
The Yoshino trees usually bloom over multiple days.
Even before peak bloom, the blossoms have attracted visitors and photographers. Below are images of the cherry blossoms between March 21 and 27.
There are a multitude of opportunities for people to enjoy the cherry blossoms in D.C. before they disappear for the year. The city's Cherry Blossom Festival offers an extensive lineup of events, which are mostly free and pay homage to the city's culture and history.
Held to commemorate the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo's then-mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, D.C., the festival draws more than 1.5 million to a range of programs, according to its website. The events include a kite festival and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.
Jeff Reinbold, the superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said in a statement that instilling community-wide appreciation for the cherry trees is a big part of the festival's mission.
"The National Park Service takes great pride in the work we do to care for the stars of this festival — the 3,700 cherry trees, which are both natural and cultural treasures of our city and our nation," Reinbold said. "We encourage all visitors to the Festival to be good stewards of the trees and join us as "cherry blossom protectors" to help us preserve them for future generations and Festivals."
