**Tale of Two Blossoms: Blooming Bliss and Botanical Brilliance**

The Wooster Square Historical Association convened last night for their Annual Meeting. And guess what? For the 14th consecutive year (yes, you read that right), they’ve confirmed the Wooster Square Cherry Blossom Festival for 2025 will coincide with my Blossomation! (Think pink peak popping pleasure, people).

Mark your calendars for April 6, 2025.

But who could blame them?
The Wooster Square Blossom Blog boasts a flawless 100% accuracy rate in predicting when Wooster Square’s pink pretties pop!*

“But really, Mr. Blossom Blogger, Sunday, April 6th? Isn’t that a bit early according to your records?” you might ask.

Good question. Two answers:

First, this has been the HOTTEST year in New England since records began. This could be the year that shatters our mid-April blooming streak.

Secondly, the Festival Committee has to juggle Palm Sunday, Easter, and Passover. After those, there are only a few Sundays left. In 2025, Palm Sunday is April 12th and Easter is April 20th. If the Cherry Blossom Festival were held on the next available Sunday, April 27th, the cherry blossoms might be feigning flowerless, sans Sakura splash.

So, if we do the Blossom Mathematics, global warming plus a late festival date equals risky business. The wise decision is to set the date for Sunday, April 6th, 2025. If the blossoms haven’t yet peaked in pink perfection, you’ll witness their transformation almost right before your eyes.

We can’t wait to ring in our 14th year of the Wooster Square Blossom Blog with all our fine, fragrant flower-following fans! But first, let’s enjoy our fall colors here in Wooster Square while we picnic in the park!

Speaking of the park, people, and picnicking, the Wooster Square Historic Association is sponsoring a Movie Night in Wooster Park! Join your neighbors and make new friends while we enjoy the Disney classic “All Dogs Go to Heaven” this October. Date to follow!

Take a peek at some of the colors that should be coming sooner rather than later

*The WSBB is for entertainment purposes only, void where prohibited, may cause rash decisions, and should not be taken as a substitute for actual meteorological data. May become habit forming.”

See you on Wooster Street,
Or
See you 'Round the Square!

Please follow the Wooster Square Blossom Blog facebook page for more updates.

The 2025 Wooster Square Cherry Blossom Peak Prediction (Blossomation)

As we anxiously await the 2025 Wooster Square Cherry Blossom Festival, (after winter) it's time to make my annual "Blossomation" or prediction on the peak bloom date. This will be the 14th year publishing the Wooster Square Blossom Blog and while I access the Mainframe, let's have some fun with a few old wives' tales that have been used to predict the weather for generations. And in no particular order....

**Woolly Bear Caterpillars**: According to folklore, the amount of black on a woolly bear caterpillar can predict the severity of the upcoming winter. More black means a harsher winter, while more brown suggests a milder one¹.

**Persimmon Seeds**: In the Ozarks, people slice open persimmon seeds to predict winter weather. A spoon shape inside the seed indicates heavy, wet snow; a fork shape means light, powdery snow; and a knife shape suggests cold, icy winds².

**Fat Squirrels and Acorns**: If squirrels are unusually fat and acorns are abundant, it’s believed that a tough winter is ahead. This is because animals tend to store more food and fat in preparation for harsh conditions².

**Hornet Nests**: The height at which hornets build their nests is said to predict the severity of the winter. Nests built higher off the ground indicate a lot of snowfall, while lower nests suggest a milder winter².

**Cricket Chirps**: You can supposedly estimate the temperature by counting cricket chirps. Count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37 to get the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit¹.

Who knew? Let's get to it! 

**The 2025 Cherry Blossom Peak Prediction:**

Now, after consulting the National Weather Service, NASA, the Interior Secretary, and most importantly, my Blossom Blog mainframe, I am excited to announce that the cherry blossoms will peak on 

**Sunday, April 6th, 2025**. 

Mark your calendars and get ready for a beautiful display of nature's Square splendor! As always, I will be taking photos to cover the entire process, so no matter when they bloom, you will know if you follow up on Facebook, Instagram and Txitter. 

So, our perfect pink pretties will be coming a little earlier this year? Let's see how it plays out.

As always, predicting the exact peak of the cherry blossoms is part science, part art, and a whole lot of fun. Stay tuned for more updates and enjoy the photos from last year's peak bloom that happened to be a rainy, misty day, April.

See You on Wooster Street

or

See You Round the Square!

The Wooster Square Blossom Blog is sponsored by:

Cheryl Szczarba, Realtor

233 Wooster Street

New Haven, Ct 0511

The Fall market is off to a hot start! Call or text Cheryl at 203-996-8328! Cheryl has over 20 years of experience turning clients into friends and neighbors.

--

Source: Conversation with Blossom mainframe, 9/13/2024

(1) Old Wives' Tales to Predict Weather: What’s Based in Science and What’s .... https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/old-wives-tales-to-predict-weather-whats-based-in-science-and-whats-just.

(2) 12 old wives' tales predict winter weather - Successful Farming. https://www.agriculture.com/family/living-the-country-life/12-old-wives-tales-predict-winter-weather.

(3) 12 old wives' tales predict winter weather - Successful Farming. https://bing.com/search?q=old+wives+tale+predictors+of+weather.

(4) These old wives’ tales try to predict what kind of winter to expect. https://www.wjhl.com/outdoors-appalachia/these-old-wives-tales-try-to-predict-what-kind-of-winter-to-expect/.

(5) Old Wives' Tales to Predict Weather: What’s Based in Science and What’s .... https://preview.discovermagazine.com/environment/old-wives-tales-to-predict-weather-whats-based-in-science-and-whats-just.