Photo by aliciagriffin.

National Park Service Chief Horticulturalist Rob DeFeo, cherry blossom prognosticator extraordinaire, delivered the good news this morning: the peak bloom period for our city’s famous cherry trees will be between March 29 and April 3. The average peak usually occurs around April 4, so this year’s is slightly earlier than usual. Of course, these dates are subject to change — last year’s peak, for example, was moved up a few days after some warm weather sped up the blooming process.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will officially run from March 26 through April 10. Don’t forget: while walking around the blossoms will be free, the Japan-America Society is planning on charging a five dollar admission fee to help cover the costs of the festival-ending Sakura Matsuri event on April 9.