PHOTOS: Vibrant colors around the Tidal Basin as cherry blossoms near peak bloom

WASHINGTON (7News) — After another week of tracking the cherry blossoms to peak bloom, the pink colors are starting to emerge around the D.C. Tidal Basin.

Thousands of people took to the area on Friday to take pictures of the cherry trees and enjoy an otherwise beautiful Friday, some visitors even sporting their vibrant pink apparel.

This week, the National Park Service declared a majority of the trees entered Stage 3 on Wednesday, and Stage 4, otherwise known as the Peduncle Elongation phase, on Thursday. There are two stages left in the cycle, the final being peak bloom.

Some cherry blossom trees on Friday appeared to reach stage five near the Martin Luther King Jr. monument, and many stopped to take photos and appreciate the beautiful flowers. Other pink flowers along the Tidal Basin also began to bloom.

As we get closer to peak bloom though, officials have reminded people in the past to not touch the Yoshino cherry trees, nor remove the flowers from its branches.

See our full gallery above.