Celebrate the first day of spring with pink blooms. No, we’re not talking about the cherry blossoms. The magnolia trees on the grounds of the Smithsonian Castle have reached peak bloom.
Located at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the castle, the blooms will be at their peak until Sunday, March 23. The magnolias reach peak bloom a few weeks earlier than the cherry blossoms, which are expected to bloom between March 28-31.
The magnolia trees at the Smithsonian are a hybrid of the Magnolia liliiflora and Magnolia denudata. These trees, which grow to 20 to 30 feet tall, grow saucer magnolias which produce “pinkish purple” petals on the out layers and white petals on the inside of the flower.
The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk, so arrive early or stay late to skip the crowds. Admission is free, but pets are not allowed at this location.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
