2010 Washington DC Cherry Blossom Time

Its that time of the year again, and I am planning on traveling to Washington to shoot the Cherry Blossoms and the Festival April 9 - 13.

Is anyone else going? Any ideas or tips from the past visitors. Not so much on a photographic view, but from a practical view. ie If we go early, before the Metro is running, where can we park... are their any hidden gems, great places to avoid the crowds etc.

Obviously it will vary, but what is the weather like in early April? Does it even approach warm?

Of course photo tips are always appreciated.

I just saw an article that quoted the NPS horticulturalist as saying the trees are soemewhat behind schedule. They're usually at Stage 1 by now, but he said they're not greening yet. It can be anywhere between a raw 50s to a sunny 70s during the festival period. I've met and shot with POTNers in any of that. We'll call this the official 2010 Cherry Blossom thread, since you've got the first one for this year. We have a few from previous years back at least to 2006 in here with some of our shots.

Subscribing...

I live in DC area and yes they are behind schedule due to massive amounts of snow we got.
And sorry, but no way I'm giving out my parking secrets

DigitalTimmay wrote in post #9756888
I live in DC area and yes they are behind schedule due to massive amounts of snow we got.
And sorry, but no way I'm giving out my parking secrets

I understand.. just tell me this, if I find a legal street spot before sunrise (6 am ish) on a Saturday or Sunday, is it likely that I could leave my car there all day? I have parked on the street many times to shoot at night, even week nights, but I have never tried it on a saturday morning.

It (at least for me) is good to hear that they are a little late. I won't make it down to see anything until the morning of the 10th.

boufa wrote in post #9757296
I understand.. just tell me this, if I find a legal street spot before sunrise (6 am ish) on a Saturday or Sunday, is it likely that I could leave my car there all day? I have parked on the street many times to shoot at night, even week nights, but I have never tried it on a saturday morning.

depends on where you aer parking. On sunday it should be fine but on a saturday there are many areas that have the same parking restrictions as on a weekday.

You'll probably be best off parking on Haines Point if you head in early. It's part of the park grounds and is the primary parking for blossom-watchers and festival-goers who don't take Metro in.

Jon wrote in post #9759211
You'll probably be best off parking on Haines Point if you head in early. It's part of the park grounds and is the primary parking for blossom-watchers and festival-goers who don't take Metro in.

Any idea what your schedule is going to be? I'm guessing Z and the Princess are up to shoot one day, but I seriously doubt Tracy will be playing this year.

boufa wrote in post #9757296
I understand.. just tell me this, if I find a legal street spot before sunrise (6 am ish) on a Saturday or Sunday, is it likely that I could leave my car there all day? I have parked on the street many times to shoot at night, even week nights, but I have never tried it on a saturday morning.

It (at least for me) is good to hear that they are a little late. I won't make it down to see anything until the morning of the 10th.

Depending on which weekend, many of the parking spots are closed off for the parade on mini marathon they run. I've run into this twice.

Question for anybody, hasn't DC started to treat Sat and Sun the same as a weekday? I thought I heard this somewhere because of their budget shortage.

Woolburr wrote in post #9761950
Any idea what your schedule is going to be? I'm guessing Z and the Princess are up to shoot one day, but I seriously doubt Tracy will be playing this year.

No idea. I'm downtown during the week anyhow so I just run over from the office whenever it happens (more than once, if such be it - last year Maureen came east so I went out with her, Suzyview, JimAskew and another guy as well as with you all and again when the Gagtastics came down.

Wooly Dan, I'll do my best to make whenever happen, lol! Wednesdays are best here right now from a scheduling standpoint though...we'll see if the blossoms/weather decide that's the best, haha!

Im also seeing what happens too.. I havn't been to DC in AGES!!! Think I need to go back up there for the cherry blossoms. Prob take the metro because I REFUSE to drive there...

monokrome wrote in post #9762559
Question for anybody, hasn't DC started to treat Sat and Sun the same as a weekday? I thought I heard this somewhere because of their budget shortage.

YUP. Totally sucks

They have started changing their parking restrictions these past few months. I don't spend much time around the Mall and Tidal Basin in dc, but many of the meter areas I used to park at in other areas now require payment on saturday nights. Suffice to say, it makes it tougher to find street parking to spend the whole day in dc.

http://www.nationalche​rryblossomfestival.org​/cms/index.php?id=404

Looks like March 31-April 11. I'm game for the 9th! But I can be there on the 7th, too. Sat. is the parade and I can't make it. I have a math competition that day.