It’s almost cherry blossom time. These locations are ready to turn pink

It’s the time of year when cherry trees bloom and draw thousands of visitors, from Georgia to Japan. Hundreds of cities and landmarks celebrate the delicate pink flowers with festivals and events. Here are four destinations best loved for their blooms.

Washington, D.C.

Despite the crazy nor’easter winds that blew through in early March, buds on the famed cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and D.C.’s nearby parks hung tough. They are on track for a peak bloom time between March 17 and 20. The trees’ history began in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo sent a gift of 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees.

Over the years, some have been added — Lady Bird Johnson had an additional 3,800 planted in 1965 — and some have been lost to the elements. Also, 10 other varieties have been added to the Yoshinos, which have a light pink to pinkish white color. The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 17 through April 15 with a parade and other special events.

Info: National Cherry Blossom Festival

Georgia

Macon claims the title Cherry Blossom Capital of the World. The 350,000 cherry trees dwarf the number of residents (92,000) in this Georgia town south of Atlanta. It all began in 1949 when local real estate agent William Fickling found a Yoshino cherry tree in his backyard.

Since then, Fickling, and decades later, cherry-tree lover Carolyn Crayton, planted more and more trees — and encouraged their neighbors to do likewise. That led to a massively pink party, the International Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year runs March 16 to 25. Peak bloom time is expected to be March 23; follow the self-guided Cherry Blossom Trail, which begins in downtown.

Info: International Cherry Blossom Festival, (478) 330-7050

Canada

Cherry blossoms are notoriously finicky. But when you have 54 different types, as Vancouver, British Columbia, does, something is bound to pop — but not all at once.

Predictions are for a late spring, which will coincide with the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival from April 3 to 29. But you can expect a rollout of blossoms too. Right now, the Whitcomb variety is blooming and another, called Accolades, will soon follow.

Explore the city’s 23 neighborhoods and roughly 40,000 trees — many are gifts from Japan — on bicycle or on foot, with a cherry blossom viewing map. And stay tuned to the Blooming Now website.

Info: Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Japan

In Japan, hanami or flower viewing is a cultural pursuit that dates back thousands of years. The tradition started with plum blossoms and then switched to cherry blossoms around the 8th century.

Japan’s weather service predicts cherry blossoms will start earlier than usual this spring. They pop early in the south (Okinawa’s already done) and then move northward.

You can expect to see trees bloom in Tokyo and Kyoto by the end of March, but not until late April in Sapporo. Make a pilgrimage to see the 30,000 cherry trees on Mt. Yoshino, the trees’ namesake and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is not far from Osaka or Kyoto.

Info: Japan National Tourism Organization

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