Cold Snap Kills Half of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington.

[elleng]

'The iconic cherry blossoms in Washington, which were forecast to bloom early this year because of unusually warm weather in February, instead endured a cold snap this week that killed half of them.

The National Park Service, which maintains the trees, said Friday that the outcome could have been worse and that about half of the blossoms on the Yoshino variety of trees survived. The blossoms are expected to emerge over the next week around the Tidal Basin, in East Potomac Park and on the grounds of the Washington Monument.

The Yoshinos are the most abundant variety of cherry trees maintained by the Park Service and make up about 70 percent of the total inventory.

Cold weather killed virtually all of the blossoms that had reached “puffy white” — the fifth of six stages in the bloom cycle — the Park Service said, adding that blossoms from earlier stages that were forced open showed little, if any, damage.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/us/Cherry-blossoms-cold-weather-snap.html?

[3catwoman3]

1. We lived in the DC area for 8 years, and the...

Last edited Mon Mar 20, 2017, 08:35 AM - Edit history (1)

...cherry blossoms there are one of my favorite sights on the planet. Absolutely breathtaking. Even when they start to fall, it is still beautiful - like pale pink snow.

[elleng]

3. Mine too!

I still live in the area, not as close to downtown as I did. I worked within walking distance of the Tidal Basin. I have returned to visit the past few years, but not THIS year!

[Docreed2003]

2. Sad....

We have a beautiful Japanese magnolia that stands next to our patio. It bloomed in the most gorgeous purple and white blossoms you can imagine, for about ten days. The weather had been unseasonably warm in Feb and it appeared that spring was here to stay, but the cold came back with a vengeance and now our pitiful tree has only brown remnants. Here's hoping the azaleas and hydrangea survive the strange weather!

[elleng]

4. Yes, sad!

I have a big magnolia, but it's nowhere near blooming. My hydrangea seems to be doing well, and azalea too. Will check the DC suburban azaleas this week, with fingers crossed.

[Docreed2003]

5. Our azalea buds seem to be holding in there...

The hydrangea seems a bit more shocked. We're a bit further south than you Ellen, in Nashville. I really hope they aren't lost, my wife loves hydrangeas and this will be our first spring here in our home. She used them as her bouquet at our wedding. Fingers crossed indeed!

[elleng]

6. Right, you've moved!

My hydrangea and azalea seem to be vice versa yours, unprotected (from wind and cold) hydrangea looking better than protected azalea, with kind of shocked, or just not ready azalea.