D.C. Cherry Blossoms' Peak Bloom Earlier Than Expected

have prompted an earlier-than- expected peak bloom for D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms.

Fox 5 News reported Wednesday the expected peak bloom is happening mid to late March this year, when it normally happens in the first part of April.

As a result, if you would love to take in the beauty of the blossoms this year, you will need to head downtown as early as next week— between Tuesday, March 20, and Friday March 23— when 70-percent of the blossoms are expected to bloom.

The blooming period  can last up to two weeks, depending on weather conditions, the report said.

This is a special year for Cherry Blossom festivities because it was this time 100 years ago that the U.S.  received the trees as a gift from the nation of Japan.

According to the National Park Service (NPS), the first two trees were planted along the Tidal Basin in March of 1912 by First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States at the time. Today, there are 3,750 cherry trees of 12 varieties that NPS arborists care for and millions of people flock to every year.

To highlight this special time in our history the National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place as it does every year, but this year's festivities (March 24-April 15) will last a bit longer than usual to highlight the special centennial celebration.