Every year, over a million people descend upon Washington, D.C., to view cherry trees along the Tidal Basin as they blossom during a period known as “peak bloom,” which usually occurs through late March and mid April. These trees offer beautiful views of the Tidal Basin and surrounding monuments, drawing in tourists and locals alike.
Montgomery County has the same stunning cherry blossoms, just minutes away. Is it worth the hassle of heading downtown for something you can enjoy close to home?
The answer is no.
For starters, the traffic alone should be enough to make anyone think twice. Though D.C. is always a bustling city, the Cherry Blossom Festival (occurs at peak bloom) turns it to another level. Streets are at a standstill, every Metro in the area is filled to the brim, and it is impossible to navigate through the endless masses of people.
In addition, cherry blossom viewers in D.C. can not even get the full experience for a few years. Due to rising sea levels, there has been frequent flooding, leaving areas fully or partially submerged after heavy rains. “As often as twice a day at high tide, large stretches of the banks of the Tidal Basin have been submerged,” according to the Cherry Blossom Watch website.
Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, the National Park Service has launched a 113 million project to reinforce existing seawalls and foundations, raising some to protect from flooding for the next century. While that sounds promising, visitors seeking tranquility will have their experience disrupted by noisy construction – at least until the project concludes in 2027.
Fortunately, there is still hope for cherry blossom lovers. Right here in Montgomery County, there are plenty of cherry trees and places to view them in a peaceful, not stressful way. Interestingly, Montgomery County has a deeper cherry blossom history than D.C.. The first trees were actually planted in the county to test if they could thrive in the D.C. environment. “[Dr. David Fairchild] was planning to test the ability of cherry trees to thrive in the environment near Washington, D.C.. Dr. Fairchild planted these trees on a hillside on his own property in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He observed the trees growing. One year later, the experiment was deemed a success!” according to the National Park Service.
There are many options to see the Cherry Blossoms all throughout the county. Decorating countless neighborhoods, residents get to enjoy the views just steps from their houses. The famous trees also line different parks and attractions in the county. Glenview Mansion in Rockville, Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, and Green Park in Gaithersburg are great options for someone looking to experience the beauty of the trees.
If you are still looking for even more options, the Montgomery Park Service runs an online cherry tree finder, allowing users to even filter different types of cherry trees to ensure the perfect experience for everyone.
