D.C.’s iconic cherry blossoms have reached the second stage of their bloom cycle, bringing the city one step closer to its annual display of pink and white petals, the National Park Service announced Sunday.

If you look closely, you'll see florets coming out of the Tidal Basin's cherry blossom buds, marking stage 2 of blossom development.

But the best guess, as of publication, is that the blooms will be in view toward the middle of the month, around Monday, March 17. Visitors can check Duke Gardens’ website ( gardens.duke.edu/cherry-blossoms) to see daily photo updates and soon, watch a livestream of the cherry allée. Last year, peak bloom was around March 20, 2024.