Cherry Blossoms to Peak by Festival
By LUBNA TAKRURI
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - After an unusually warm December rattled the nerves of anyone eagerly anticipating Washington's grand rite of spring, the National Park Service predicted the cherry blossoms will bloom in time for the two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival.

A majority of the 3,700 trees lining the Tidal Basin will be in bloom from April 1-7 "barring the advent of an ice age or rapid acceleration of global warming," Robert DeFeo, the park service's chief horticulturist, said Thursday.

Winter temperatures that climbed into the 70s sparked concern the trees would bloom prematurely, with none of the pink and white blossoms left for the annual festival that brings 1 million visitors and $150 million in tourism money to the city. the rest photo