While the D.C. area waits, patiently or impatiently, for the cherry blossoms to pop around the Tidal Basin, the country from which the trees came is celebrating its earliest season ever.

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According to CNN and the Dailyi Yomiuri, Japan's head meteorological agency announced the beginning of that country's cherry blossom season this past weekend. It's the earliest it has ever been declared.

Washington's peak bloom, which was originally estimated to come in late March, was pushed back Tuesday to between April 3-6. Japan expects its peak bloom to come next weekend.

There's no wait to celebrate in D.C., though, as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival gets started Wednesday and runs through April 14.

READ MORE at CNN.com.