WASHINGTON (AP) - Washington is getting ready to celebrate 100 years with its famous cherry blossom trees, and peak bloom season is just around the corner.
The National Park Service announced Thursday that the peak bloom dates for the trees' pink and white flowers are expected to be March 24 to March 31. That's when 70% of the trees are expected to be in full blossom.
The annual cherry blossom festival attracts about 1 million visitors to the nation's capital. The average peak bloom date is April 4, but a mild winter is pushing the peak period earlier.
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