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DC’s cherry blossoms closing in on peak bloom with ‘peduncle elongation’

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D.C.’s beloved cherry blossoms have hit the fourth of six stages on the way to peak bloom — peduncle elongation. The National Park Service made the announcement Tuesday on the social media platform X.

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Peduncle elongation is the stage before puffy white, which is followed by peak bloom. A peduncle is the stalk bearing a flower or fruit. The National Park Service has predicted peak bloom will arrive between March 23-26. Last year, peak bloom arrived 12 days after peduncle elongation, but in 2022 and 2021, the blossoms jumped from peduncle elongation to peak bloom in just four days. Each remaining day this week brings high temperatures approaching or above 70 degrees, meaning the blossoms could continue to quickly progress toward their pink and puffy splendor. The National Cherry Blossom Festival holds its opening ceremony March 23.

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National Museum of the American Latino to be housed in historic Smithsonian building

The Smithsonian Institution has decided to put the National Museum of the American Latino into an existing, historic building, rather than constructing a new one. The Smithsonian Board of Regents on Monday designated the Arts and Industries Building, a 145-year-old redbrick Victorian structure located between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum, as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino, which Congress authorized in 2020. In 2022, the Smithsonian narrowed its survey for permanent locations for the National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women's History Museum to four locations near the National Mall on land owned by the National Park Service. The Arts and Industries Building, located at 900 Jefferson St. SW, was one of the four sites. New construction on National Park Service land would require congressional approval. However, since the Smithsonian already owns the Arts and Industries Building, the institution can place the National Museum of the American Latino in the existing building without additional legislation.
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