Pink rain of cherry blossoms

Washington, D.C.

Despite the crazy nor'easter winds that blew through in early March, buds on the famed cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and D.C.’s nearby parks hung tough. The trees are on track for a peak bloom from Saturday through March 20. The trees' formidable history began in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo sent a gift of 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees. Lady Bird Johnson had 3,800 more planted in 1965. The National Cherry Blossom Festival begins Saturday and runs through April 15 with a parade and other special events. Info: lat.ms/DCcherryblos soms

Macon, Ga.

The town of Macon claims the title Cherry Blossom Capital of the World. Its 350,000 cherry trees dwarf the number of residents (92,000) in this town about 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. It all began in 1949 when local real estate agent William Fickling found a Yoshino cherry tree in his backyard. Since then, Fickling, and decades later cherry-tree lover Carolyn Crayton, planted more and more trees and encouraged their neighbors to do likewise. The International Cherry Blossom Festival runs Friday through March 25. Peak bloom time is expected to be March 23. Info: cherryblossom.com

Vancouver, Canada

Cherry blossoms are notoriously finicky. But with 54 varieties, as Vancouver has, something is bound to pop – and not all at once. Predictions are for a late spring, which will coincide with the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival April 3-29. But you can expect a rollout of blossoms. Stay tuned to the Blooming Now website, lat.ms/bloomingnow. Info: www.vcbf.ca

Japan

Japan's weather service predicts cherry blossoms will start earlier than usual this spring. They bloom early in the south (Okinawa is already done) and move north. You can expect to see the trees bloom in Tokyo and Kyoto by the end of March, and not until late April in Sapporo. Info: lat.ms/japancherry blossoms