Spring is here, which means the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington’s Quad is in full bloom.
The delicate pink flowers began opening last week, said UW arborist Sara Shores.
The timing of full bloom varies year-to-year based on daylight and temperature consistency, Shores said. A stretch of high temperatures over 50 degrees creates favorable conditions for the cherry blossoms.
Seattle has gotten over 50 degrees, including a record-setting 73 degrees in early March, according to the National Weather Service.
WATCH: UW Quad cherry blossom camera (via UWTV)
About 1 percent of the blossoms have already emerged on the Quad, but the buds have advanced quickly over the last few days.
In 2017, full bloom began the week of March 26.
The UW cherry blossom trees, which are over 80 years old, were a gift from then-Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1912 to mark a friendship between the United States and Japan. Thirty-four trees were planted in Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum; later, 31 of the trees were relocated to the UW and are now planted in the Quad.
