UW cherry blossoms hit full bloom after cold weather delays
Apr 10, 2023, 6:54 AM | Updated: 7:43 am
The cherry blossoms in the University of Washington quad are an iconic attraction during their peak bloom, bringing tourists, transplants, students, and long-time residents together to bask in their sweet-smelling shade.
You have had to be a little extra patient this year, though. A colder-than-usual spring delayed the peak bloom to early April, according to UW arborists. That’s slightly later than last year when the cherry trees reached peak bloom during the third week of March.
Cherry trees in front of Pike Place Market are gone
No longer, though, with the cherry blossoms now at 100% full bloom, according to the university’s cherry blossom watch.
“The cold snap has delayed the blooms slightly, but I don’t anticipate any damage to the blossoms as a result of the cold weather,” said Sara Shores, the UW campus arborist.
The only trees that are blooming in the UW Quad are the two plum trees, which flower a little bit earlier than the cherry blossoms and have already started to bloom.
The main species of cherry tree on the UW campus is Yoshino, including the 29 iconic trees in the Quad. Other varieties include the Higan, Hisakura, Kwanzan, Mt. Fuji, and Shirofugen trees.
A UW research team has been monitoring campus blossoms every year since 2018 between January to April, trying to develop a system to predict when peak bloom will occur. Autumn Maust, a UW doctoral student in environmental and forest sciences, currently leads the 14 undergraduates on the monitoring team.
For those that want to see the iconic cherry trees in peak bloom but are looking to avoid crowds, you may want to visit on a weekday or early morning, the school recommends.
“I personally enjoy strolling through the Quad during peak bloom in the evening,” Maust said. “There is typically less foot traffic, and seeing the trees lit up at night is very peaceful.”
Other viewing options for those who can’t make it out to see the trees in person or are scouting out the perfect time for a picnic include a live webcam, a Twitter account with regular updates, and a virtual tour with photos from the campus.
