National Park Service

Bloom there it is! Peak bloom has arrived. We’re so excited, we wet our plants. Something like that. Let’s move on. Peak bloom is defined as the day when at least 70% of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open. The length of the blooming period depends on weather conditions. Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms. So get going and see those blooms! But first, a warning. NOW, a warning?!?! More like friendly tips. When visiting remember to: ?? Protect the Trees: Don’t pick the blossoms. Duh! Removing flowers harms the trees and disrupts their natural cycle. Also, avoid climbing the trees, or placing unwanted stress on their branches. They don’t want to hear about your life choices or the struggle you just had trying to parallel park in DC. ?? Plan Your Visit: Bring water and snacks, as facilities may be limited and crowds can make access challenging. Be prepared for walking. Around lots of people. But the Tidal Basin and surrounding areas have plenty of great viewing spots. ?? Respect the Environment: Stay on designated paths and sidewalks to avoid trampling tree roots, which can harm the trees or yourself when tripping on the roots. Follow Leave No Trace principles by leaving blossoms and other natural objects undisturbed and disposing of your trash properly. ?? Keep Your Voice Down (The Blossoms Are Introverts. We assume. Some are pretty showy): Screaming “OMG, SO PRETTY!” might feel right in your soul, but cherry blossoms thrive in peace and quiet. ?? Don’t Hog the Best Spot: Everyone wants that perfect photo, but share the blossom love and the space. ?? Finally, watch out for low-hanging branches: Those blossoms might look innocent, but they’re secretly plotting to take you down a notch. Nothing ruins a perfect photo op like a tree giving you an unexpected ‘bloom boom.’ Keep your eyes focused on the path and not your phone and save the trees from your noggin. That branch came outta nowhere!!! No, it didn’t. Images: Views of the cherry blossoms in bloom around the Washington Monument and Tidal Basin.

Take time to smell the flowers…. Spring is a time of rebirth often bringing warmer temperatures, new life, and dramatic splashes of every imaginable color in nature. With the end of the cold winter season, many of us venture out to play in the great outdoors. Cultures and communities across the country partake in springtime traditions, some passed through generations and shared with each other in national parks. Experience the spring season in national parks or in your own community with opportunities through our programs and partners. Or stay connected with parks virtually, including joining the conversation with us on social media. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eyvRqtmv Image: A moose at Grand Teton National Park takes a moment to stop and smell the flowers.

Have you had a marmot-thon of a day or just getting started? Ah, the marmot scale. While you’re contemplating, did you know Marmots are the largest members of the ground squirrel family? Big, if true. Wait, it’s true. They prefer to live in mountainous regions at elevations ranging from around 6,500 to 13,500 feet and spend much of their time foraging, sunning, grooming, and sleeping. Sign us up. Did you pick a number? Image: A collage of nine marmots in various stages of daily life with the text, “On a 1-9 marmot scale, how are things going today?”

For years, women's park uniforms varied widely and tended to follow fashion trends of the time. In the late 1970s, the National Park Service authorized women to wear the same green and gray, in all of its configurations, as their male counterparts. Learn more about the evolution of the park uniform at https://lnkd.in/dXx9ufuE Image: Illustration showing four women wearing historical, green uniforms with text, “forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day, wore green anyway.” #WomensHistoryMonth #StPatricksDay ??

Still buffering.....?? Let’s talk about the bison in the room. Are bison really nearsighted? Let’s dig in. So, bison eyesight is more adapted for detecting movement and spotting predators at a distance rather than focusing on fine details up close. Does that mean they won’t notice you sauntering on over in that ugly sweater to test their fluffiness? Don’t count on it. Their smell and hearing are so sharp they’d sniff out your bad judgment (and sweater) before you even get within arm’s reach and remember, these fuzzy tanks tip the scales at up to 2,000 pounds and can sprint 35 mph faster than you can yell, “I regret my life choices.” So, in conclusion, bison may be a little short-sighted up close, but not in their reasoning for knocking you down a peg or two (or over a cliff) if you get in the way. Maybe just wave from a safe distance. P.S. For those wondering if this bison is just reading the fine print on this information wayside, that is a possibility, however, we don’t claim to know this bison’s reading level or specific interests in regards to this sign. It also may be taking a standing nap (it happens) or using the sign to scratch an itch. Alas, all good topics for a future post. Thanks for reading this far. We hope it was worth it. If not, why are you still reading. We’ll keep it going and we’re buffering…. Image: A bison with face pressed up close to an informative wayside at @windcavenps, SD.

Women's history is full of amazing stories of both ordinary and extraordinary people. Every March during #WomensHistoryMonth and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners commemorate the role of women in American history. Visit any of the more than 400 national parks across the country, including Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, Women's Rights National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site and others to learn about and reflect on women's contributions of past and present. https://lnkd.in/gkA7fZAG Image: A graphic of a woman in profile wearing a National Parks Service hat. Lines of text in the background include the names of famous and significant American women connected to national parks and the words National Park Service.

When you reappear in people’s lives after inexplicably disappearing for several months... In a couple of weeks, the bears at Katmai National Park & Preserve will emerge from their dens thinner and ready to embark on a more active lifestyle as they shift their physiology from one of energy conservation to being ready to meet the demands of a new year. If you've ever seen a bear in the wild, or looking through your window, you likely remember exactly where and when you saw it. Were you excited? Nervous? Awe-struck? Did you make eye contact? National parks provide an important refuge for bears. Learn more about the bears you may see at: https://lnkd.in/eVtV2B-d Image: A bear looking in from the outside through a window with the text, “When you reappear in people’s lives after inexplicably disappearing for several months.”

The sunset is life’s way of saying, “Good job. You survived today. Here’s something pretty.” That’s it. Enjoy. Image: A sunset at Schwabacher Landing with the mountains reflecting on the water at Grand Teton National Park, WY. NPS/J. Koeppel

Recharging in your burrow after consecutive days of social interaction… Find the pika! That’s a rock. Hint, it’s next to the rock. Remember, staying home is doing something, and managing your energy is a favor to yourself and everyone around you. Pika (Ochotona princeps) are particularly good at recharging their social batteries. They love a rocky slope and will often choose a burrow in the crack between rocks. In addition to providing protection from predators, Mondays, and work emails, these burrows serve as a winter food pantry. During the summer, the pika collect leaves and grasses and fill up the space. Come winter, they have plenty of snacks to pika chew on. Rock on. Image: A pika sits amongst various rocks at Mount Rainier National Park. NPS/E. Brouwer

At the National Park Service, we're not just preserving the past; we're shaping the future. National Park engineers are the driving force behind this mission, using their ingenuity and expertise to create a more sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable experience for millions of visitors each year. This #EngineersWeek, we celebrate the limitless possibilities of engineering and the remarkable work of our talented professionals. From preserving fragile ecosystems to restoring iconic landmarks, our engineers are finding innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing our parks today. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eEDmYCcw Image: An engineering marvel, the New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet (924 m) long maintained over the New River Gorge in West Virginia at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Photo by Gary Hartley