Grace Hardymon (C’25) is a Georgetown Storyteller and senior in the College of Arts & Sciences from Atlanta, Georgia.
As springtime descends on DC, there is one question that everyone is asking: when is peak bloom? This stretch of days, when the majority of DC’s cherry blossoms surrounding the Tidal Basin are open, is a classic marker of a Georgetown University spring semester. It promises a weekend filled with picnics, pictures, and all things pink.
Now, peak bloom is fickle. Even after weeks of monitoring the National Park Service’s Bloom Watch, one spring shower can crush cherry blossom dreams. Thus, when peak bloom is announced, plans must be changed and calendars shifted to see what is – in my opinion – the most gorgeous sight DC has to offer. The only downside: everyone else in DC, and every tourist drawn in by promises of the cherry blossoms’ beauty, is thinking the same. Luckily, DC is walkable. During sophomore year, while stuck in endless traffic, I came to the realization that navigating to the Tidal Basin via rideshare is not a great option during peak bloom. Instead, I now find walking or biking along the Potomac far more enjoyable.
You might ask, where is my favorite spot to view the cherry blossoms surrounding the Tidal Basin? I would always recommend journeying to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which is bordered by thicker patches of cherry blossoms further back from the walkway surrounding the basin. Additionally, from this vantage point, I can capture the Washington Monument directly across the water – often with kites of the Blossom Kite Festival flying in the sky. Though, while this is my favorite area to photograph (and nearby to what is usually the National Cherry Blossom Festival stage), I find the experience of navigating the full perimeter of the Tidal Basin – taking in the cherry blossoms while spotting adorable dogs in the crowd – extremely worthwhile.
Peak bloom brings a unique buzz to DC, and I will always associate this air of excitement with the true start of spring. As a senior, I look forward to reuniting with my Georgetown friends at future cherry blossom picnics and reminiscing on all the peak blooms we shared as undergraduates.
