Existing comment:
Predicting the Peak Bloom:
Everyone wants to know when the cherry trees will bloom. National Park Service horticulturists have the tricky job of making the prediction. It is not mysterious; rather, it involves knowing what to look for. Starting in early March, they check the size of the buds and measure how quickly they are growing. Horticulturists consult records from years past and forecasts for the weather ahead. They also get help from the "indicator tree," a tree just east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, that has consistently bloomed about ten days before the others -- a clear sign of the beauty to come. |