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CNN Live At Daybreak
Cherry Blossoms in Capital Signal Spring
Aired April 01, 2002 - 06:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: But right now, we've got to talk about spring, because it has sprung in D.C. Thousands of cherry blossoms are in bloom in the nation's capital. The famous trees and the cherry blossom festival signal the start of spring. And joining us live to talk about that, reporter Nancy Weiner of our affiliate station WJLA -- good morning, Nancy.
NANCY WEINER, REPORTER, WJLA: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh it looks so beautiful there.
WEINER: Oh it is gorgeous. Here in Washington we are so proud of our cherry blossoms. Today is the peak day for cherry blossom season. It's a very short season. The blossoms only last for about two weeks. So everybody comes during that two-week period to take a look. And we'll show you -- at the risk of making you nostalgic, here's what it looks like here on the tidal basin this morning. It's just magnificent. Ringed by these purples and pink and hot fuschia colors. It is really a gorgeous sight to behold.
Thousands of tourists make their way here to Washington during the cherry blossom season. And there was a big concern after 9-11 that the tourism season would be way down this year. But that has not turned out to be the case. So far, about half way through the cherry blossom season, there are at least as many, if not more tourists, than last year. So that's very good news for the tourism season.
COSTELLO: Yeah, I was a little worried about the trees because we had such an unusually warm winter, and some of the trees were actually blossoming early. But that doesn't seem to have been much of a factor.
WEINER: It really hasn't, and that is because the National Park Service takes such good care of these trees. They have a whole team that works on watering them and making sure that they get all the nutrients that they need. So what they've been telling us is that really this season is no different than years past. And perhaps even a little bit better.
COSTELLO: And no beavers, because remember a couple of years ago the beavers were eating the cherry trees?
WEINER: Nobody likes to talk about the beavers around here. It's a taboo subject. COSTELLO: We don't know where they went, but they're somewhere.
WEINER: They're lurking.
COSTELLO: OK. Nancy Weiner, my old friend from Washington, I miss you guys.
WEINER: It's so good to see you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Yeah.
WEINER: We miss you too.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you very much. And thank you for showing us the cherry blossoms. They're beautiful his morning.
WEINER: Sure.
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