Cherry trees are blooming!

Peak cherry blossom time is predicted to be on March 20. The best weather forecast near that is on Sunday March 22, so let's go cherry viewing then. Camelias have been blooming for a month already, and magnolias are opening up.

We'll start from the Arboretum visitors center, make a loop down through the Arboreum past the camelias and back up Azalea Way, where most of their cherry trees are. We'll take the Foster Island trail up to the UW, swing over to the Center for Urban Horticulture, then head for the Quad, which is where the best cherry trees in Seattle live.

After that, we'll head south past Drumheller Fountain, and through the UW Medicinal Gardens. These aren't yet putting on much of a show, so this is just so folks know where they are, for later visits. Likewise, we'll peek at the UW Biology Greenhouse, which won't be open to the public when we're there. We'll look for more cherry trees south of the UW Medical Center.

Then we'll head back to the Arboretum by way of the underside of the Montlake Bridge, the underside of SR520, and the pedestrian bridge over Lake Washington Blvd that sure looks like it's a Wilcox design.

This is about 8 miles, not much elevation gain for most of the way...except for the stairs from Montlake to upper UW campus. :D

We can stop for lunch either at the Center for Urban Horticulture, or the Quad, depending on the time when we get there.

UW cherry trees: https://www.washington.edu/cherryblossoms/

Cherry cam: https://www.washington.edu/video/campus-webcams/#cherryblossoms

Washington Park Arboretum Graham Visitors Center: https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum/visit/graham-visitors-center/

Logistics

Meet on the east side of the Arboretum visitors center -- this is the side with the parking lot and entrances to restrooms. The restroom opens at 9am.

Bring water, lunch. Right now, weather forecasts say no rain. But the Foster Island trail is often mushy, so wear shoes / boots that tolerate mud.

Bus riders: The closest bus line is the #48 which runs on 24th Ave E. Get off at E McGraw St, go south one block to Lynn, head east. Cross the pedestrian bridge into the Arboretum, continue east to the visitors center. It takes about 10 min to get from the bus stop to the visitors center.

Drivers and cyclists: There is parking east of the visitors center. Enter from the north, at East Foster Island Road and Arboretum Drive E.