Spring's pink pageant is unfolding at the University of Washington, where the Quad's iconic Yoshino cherry trees are nearing peak bloom, an annual tradition that draws thousands of visitors to campus.

Why it matters: Seattle's cherry blossoms aren't just a pretty sight, they mark the start of spring and serve as a living barometer of shifting climate patterns.

Driving the news: The trees in the Quad are on track to reach peak bloom around March 23, UW arborist Sara Shores told Axios, but should be starting to unfurl next week.

• Peak bloom is typically the third week of March, but climate change appears to be shifting the bloom window later, said graduate student researcher Autumn Maust.
• Maust reviewed decades of temperature and bloom data, including reports from UW students, to find that, on average, the trees at UW are now reaching peak blossom about a week later than they did in the 1960s.

The intrigue: Forecasting peak bloom is notoriously tricky, Marlee Theil, the project manager for the cherry tree phenology project at UW, told Axios.

• Cherry blossoms have seven stages of development from dormant to full bloom and require measures of both chilling and warming units to trigger the bloom cycle, Theil said.
• Seattle's increasingly mild winters mean it's taking longer for the trees to meet their cold requirements, she said.

Go deeper: There are thousands of cherry trees lining streets across the city, including 23 cherry trees along the path between Drumheller Fountain to Red Square at UW, and grand displays at Washington Park Arboretum, Seike Japanese Garden, Seward Park and the walkway along Washington Boulevard South.

• To explore street trees, go to the city's treemap here.

What we're watching: Keep your eye on the university's "Bloom Watch" to track the campus trees' progress.

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Washington state is providing more than $600,000 to help repair the lone access road to the Hoh Rain Forest, which officials say should allow the popular area of Olympic National Park to reopen sometime in May.

Why it matters: An estimated 460,000 people visited the Hoh area of the national park last year, making the road repair vital for nearby communities — not to mention tens of thousands of nature-seeking tourists.

• The National Park Service has closed the rainforest indefinitely until the road can be fixed.

The latest: Gov. Bob Ferguson announced yesterday that he is directing $623,000 in state emergency funds to help repair the Upper Hoh Road, which was washed out by heavy rainfall in December.

• Local businesses and individuals have also raised about $27,000 toward the repairs, Ferguson said.
• That private investment is necessary for the governor to tap a specific state emergency fund focused on economic development, he said.

What they're saying: "The Hoh Rain Forest is a critical driver of tourism in the Olympic Peninsula," Ferguson said at a press conference yesterday.

• "We cannot allow access to remain closed during the peak visitor season," sacrificing "tourism dollars that rural communities rely on," the governor said.

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The Gonzaga men's basketball streak of making the NCAA tournament will grow to a whopping 26 seasons on Sunday.

Driving the news: After winning the West Coast Conference tournament this week — the Bulldogs' 20th under head coach Mark Few — Gonzaga now waits for Selection Sunday to learn its first-round opponent and region.

• As of yesterday, ESPN Bracketology projects the Bulldogs to be a No. 7 seed in the East, with their first-round game in Cleveland against Oklahoma.

Yes, but: Gonzaga's hopes for having both their men and women make the tournament were probably dashed after the women's team lost in the WCC tournament semifinals to Oregon State.

• The Bulldogs won 22 games this year and went 17-3 in the WCC, but are no longer projected to make the NCAA tournament.

Zoom in: The state's other hope is Washington, which could still make the women's tournament.

• Despite finishing 12th in the Big Ten, ESPN still projects the Huskies to be one of the last four teams in.

What we're watching: Washington is also hosting games for both tournaments this month.

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🏞️ Victor Steinbrueck Park next to Pike Place Market is reopening today after being closed for more than two years.

• A dispute over the restoration of two totem poles had caused the park to remain closed for months after major renovations were completed last spring. (Seattle Times)

⚖️ Washington is part of a 21-state coalition that sued yesterday over the Trump Administration's plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. (Axios)

We knew you could do it, Seattle.

The latest: Both Seattle art pieces we submitted in our Axios Local public art contest made it through the first round of voting, advancing to the Elite Eight.

Catch up quick: In honor of March Madness, each Axios Local city in the Mountain West region — Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, San Diego and soon Boulder — submitted two of their best and weirdest pieces of public art.

• We at Axios Seattle leaned into the "weird," submitting the Fremont Troll and Georgetown's Hat n' Boots as our entries.

What's next: We need your help to ensure Seattle is represented in the Final Four! (You know our troll under a bridge is better than that whale on a roundabout in Salt Lake City.)

• Vote here to help Seattle advance in the tournament!