Forty-eight years ago, the Japanese Consulate in Seattle presented the city with a gift to mark our nation’s 200th birthday. That gift, a thousand cherry trees, has been paying dividends each year ever since.
The start of spring may be the third week of March across the U.S., but Seattleites know the true beginning is when the cherry trees light up the city with their delicate pink blooms that put on a magical display for a few short weeks.
The blossoming trees can be found in nearly every neighborhood – on streets, in parks and within our world-famous Washington Park Arboretum. But nowhere is the site more captivating, more joyous than in the University of Washington (UW) Quad, just off the south end of Memorial Way Northeast:
The main species of cherry tree on the UW campus is Yoshino, including the 29 on the Quad. Now about 90 years old, the Yoshinos were originally planted at the arboretum (2300 Arboretum Drive East) before the university transplanted the trees to the Quad in 1964.
Outside the Quad, the university also has around 200 other types of cherry trees that bloom. Those species include the Higan, Hisakura, Kwanzan, Mt. Fuji and Shirofugen – typically displayed in clusters around the campus.
What a magical time to be out in search of cherry trees in full bloom. The peak season varies from year to year and neighborhood to neighborhood – usually sometime between late March and early April – depending on the effects of winter on the growth of the blossoms.
The experience lasts only about 2-3 weeks. Blossoms can be extended with cooler temperatures, less rain and lighter winds.
If you want to time your visit to the Quad, visit UW’s dedicated website and monitor the live webcam, or stop by each week to catch the right time. It’s worth the effort.
Happy spring, Seattle!