The chief horticulturist for the National Park Service said he believes the cherry blossom trees along the District’s Tidal Basin will reach their peak bloom shortly after the start of this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival will run from March 26 to April 10, and Rob DeFeo — who has been predicting the peak bloom for 20 years — said Thursday that the blossoms’ peak bloom will be between March 29 and April 3.

The average peak blooming date is April 4, so this year’s blossoms should be coming a little early.