Emily Kwong

What is Mike's office's track record of accuracy for predicting peak bloom?

Because in making the predictions, they're also gathering what the trees are actually doing every year.

I didn't realize how much insight cherry blossoms provided in this way.

I remember in an earlier NatureQuest episode, we talked about this, this field

devoted to the timing of periodic natural events, flowers blooming, birds migrating, animals going into hibernation.

It tells us something.

Two to four weeks doesn't sound like a lot, but in the life of the environment, that is a big difference.

That is a good way to get community scientists involved.

So to bring this back home to D.C., when is peak bloom supposed to happen for us this spring?

We are here together looking at the cherry blossoms right now.

They're so pretty.

Very, very beautiful.

And so many people are out today.

So many people.

And you talk to a lot of them.

It's a symbol of spring.

Aru Nair, thank you so much for bringing us this glorious nature quest.

Oh, thanks so much, Emily.

This episode was reported and produced by Arundhati Nair and Hannah Chin.

It was edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez.