No. 254 University of Washington Cherry Blossoms

University of Washington
Liberal Arts Quadrangle Cherry Blossoms
4182 NE Stevens Way, Seattle, WA 98105
MAP IT 

As the winter weather pattern starts to shift towards spring with longer days and sun breaks the first signs of spring in the pacific northwest start happing. The first yellow daffodils start to bloom in Mount Vernon, WA  followed by the first official day of Spring. The next question many Washingtonians ask is when will the Cherry Blossoms bloom.
Depending on the type of Cherry blossom and location they can bloom in late March or early April.
They Cherry Blossoms in my yard are stubborn trees and always seem to drag their feet. But around the Puget Sound most trees have started blooming.
One of the most popular places in Seattle for gazing at the bloom is at University of Washington's Liberal Arts Quadrangle.
The original grove of Yoshino Cherry trees were planted in the Seattle Washington Arboretum around 1939. Later during construction of the 520 floating bridge 31 Yochina Cherry Trees were transplanted to the University of Washington campus. That makes this grove of white and pink fragrant cherry trees 75 years old. The average lifespan of a Yochina Cherry Tree is between 60 to 100 years.
In 1999 it looked as if the original cherry trees had 10-15 years left until fungus and disease would force them to be cut down. It was hard to find replacement cherry trees that would produce the same white and pink blossoms and bloom around the same traditional period.
 During the 40th reunion of Class of 1959 members raised an endowment of  $85,000 to help continue a cherry blossom bloom on campus. The Center for Urban Horticulture at UW grafted new seedlings from clippings of the original trees. These replacement trees have been growing at a nursery in Mount Vernon, WA until they will be needed. However the trees in the quad seem to be healthy and doing so well that a second round of replacement trees may be needed because the current 2nd generation are becoming almost too large to me moved.

2014 Cherry Blossom activity
The Yoshino Tress have been flowering and blooming since March 14th and reached full bloom on March 22nd. The trees will have their puffy whites and pink for about 2 to 3 weeks, around the first week of April or until weather and wind will take care of natures business.

Walkways at the Quad

Washington State travel, Washington State travel, Washington Destinations, Photography, Photography spost, best things to do in Seattle, Best things to in Washington State, Washington Tourism Alliance, Washington State Tourism board, recommendations, recommendations for things to see in washington state, things to do in washington state, things to do in seattle, things to do in Tacoma washington, Washington Photographers, Washington nikon shooters, best seattle photography, washington exploration, experience washington, what to do while visiting seattle, seattle top attractions, seattle food, University of washington cherry blossoms, when are the cherry blossoms peaking, univeristy fo washington quad, quadrangle, pink, white pedals