RELEASE: Peak Bloom and Care of the Cherry Trees
RELEASE: Peak Bloom and Care of the Cherry Trees
VIDEO/PHOTO AVAIL: PEAK BLOOM AND CARE OF THE CHERRY TREES
The National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall will hold a Cherry Blossom Tree Care Media Availability to highlight how National Park Service crews care for the flowering Japanese cherry trees and how the Trust perpetuates the international gift of the trees. The availability will be held at the newly restored Tidal Basin seawall, where a number of newly planted cherry trees are located.
The National Park Service will be available to share details[GU1] about the work that the National Park Service carries out year-round to ensure the iconic trees bloom year after year, and that this grand Washington tradition will continue blooming for generations to come.
Learn about the Trust for the National Mall’s Adopt a Cherry Tree Program, where the public can support the care of the trees to ensure they bloom for future generations. The Daughters of the American Revolution has given a $2 million gift as the Legacy Leader of the Trust’s Cherry Tree Endowment to help endow the trees and ensure they bloom for generations. People can visit https://www.bloomcam.org/ncbf25 to donate to this campaign. BloomCam provides a live view of the iconic Tidal Basin cherry trees – where you can monitor peak bloom and peak foot traffic on the Tidal Basin.
PLEASE RSVP: comms@nationalmall.org to receive logistics and access instructions.
WHAT: Cherry Blossom Tree Care Media Availability
WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
*NOTE: National Park Service and Trust for the National Mall spokespersons can be available outside of this timeframe
WHERE: Navigate to Jefferson Memorial food kiosk, 15 E Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004
WHO: The following individuals will be available for interviews:
· Matthew Morrison, Urban Forester for National Mall and Memorial Parks
· Mike Litterst, Chief of Communications and Spokesperson, National Mall and Memorial Parks
· Julie Moore, Vice President of Communications and Spokesperson, Trust for the National Mall
CHERRY TREE FAST FACTS:
· There are more than 3,800 cherry trees on the National Mall. Every year, approximately 90 trees need replacing.
· The original cherry trees were planted in 1912, making this year the 114th anniversary of the cherry blossoms on the National Mall.
· There are more than 36 million annual visits each year on the National Mall.
· Peak bloom is defined as when 70% of the Yoshino variety of cherry tree are in blossom. March 15, 1990, marks the earliest peak bloom on record while April 18, 1958, is the latest peak.
Please contact the Trust for the National Mall or National Park Service for additional video and photos as needed.
PHOTO ABOVE courtesy of National Park Service.
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