FILE: Cherry blossom trees are in bloom around the Tidal Basin, with the Jefferson Memorial in the background in Washington. (AP)
WASHINGTON – The spring snow is not expected to affect Washington's famous cherry blossoms.
National Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson says Monday's snow should not affect the predicted peak bloom dates for the flowering trees. The cherry blossoms are still expected to reach peak bloom between April 3 and April 6.
Johnson says the snow itself doesn't have any effect on the trees. But the cold weather has already slowed the blossoms' growth, pushing back bloom dates to April. Johnson says Washington is lucky that the trees did not bloom early because the heavy wet snow could have knocked the flowers off the trees.
The cherry blossoms draw about 1 million visitors each spring. This year marks the 101st anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan.
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