Approaching Peak Bloom – Pic of the Week

Washington, D.C.‘s cherry blossoms are predicted to reach peak bloom earlier than usual this year, beginning around March 22. Recent Library visitors may have already seen the Yoshino trees on the Library’s Capitol Hill campus in bloom as early as last week, as pictured here.

A photo of the cherry blossoms, edited to highlight the pink, taken from inside the tree among the branches. The buds are fully blooming and the focus is on a cluster of flowers just right of center. — Cherry blossoms on the Library of Congress’s Capitol Hill campus. Photo taken and edited by Bailey DeSimone.

A photo of the south side of the Library of Congress Jefferson building taken through the downward-hanging branches of a cherry blossom tree. The blossoms are pinka nd newly bloomed. A cluster towards the bottom left hand corner of the photo is clear, while the background is blurred. The dome of the Jefferson building is visible in the middle of the frame. — Southern view of the Jefferson Building, taken through the branches of cherry blossoms. Photo taken and edited by Bailey DeSimone.

Did you know there are multiple cherry blossom varieties growing across the city? For example, you might notice the kwanzan blooms closer to peak bloom. The Library’s digital image collections are rich with illustrations, prints, and photos of the different kinds of cherry blossoms. Learn more about the legal process behind these trees’ arrival a century ago here.

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