WILKES-BARRE — Now that spring is here, it can mean only one thing for the Wyoming Valley: time for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Wilkes-Barre’s Kirby Park. But there’s a bit of a controversy this year about where the cherry blossoms are.

The sun is out, and vendors are setting up at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre.

“I’ve been a vendor here for over 30 years. Cherry blossom festival first started on the river common right next to the courthouse, moved to public square, and then we moved it to Kirby Park,” said vendor Tony Thomas.

But something’s missing just a day before the Cherry Blossom Festival: all those pink and white petals.

“I know, I saw them on the other side of the river, and I guess maybe it’s over for the petals,” said vendor George Webby.

Some of the trees haven’t blossomed yet and there are many opinions about why.

DALLAS — Much of our area was expected to get a few inches of snow Monday night, and one place the winter weather is hurting: farms.

Frost covered the ground at Darling and Sons Farms and Greenhouses, in Dallas, but inside the houses, it was as balmy as mid-July.

That’s where we found Norman Darling, making sure his flowers were in tip-top condition.

“This week we should, like I said, they should be about that long and just starting to see color in the bud,” said farm co-owner Norman Darling.

But these lillies are not. Cold temperatures this late in the season and cloudy weather have forced the farm to turn up the heat. Norman said he payed 30% to 40% more in heating costs for the greenhouses than he normally does at this time of year.

“The sun hasn’t helped at all. Some things started to stretch. Things are behind,” said Darling.

WILKES-BARRE — The freezing weather continued Wednesday, making many want to stay indoors. However, there are some people in Wilkes-Barre who don’t have that luxury.

The line was long at the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen in Wilkes-Barre. For many of the people there, that is the only place they have to stay warm.

“It’s very rough out there. I’m fortunate to have six layers of clothing on. It might not seem it but yeah. It’s getting colder and colder everyday,” said Anton Pechal of Wilkes-Barre.

Pechal is homeless, hopping from friend’s house to friend’s house, sometimes sleeping outdoors. He said he’s been coming to the soup kitchen on East Jackson Street regularly, and when he can’t get indoors, he said he just keeps walking.

“I probably lapped this city at least 50 times within the week. That’s the only way I know how to keep warm anymore,” said Pechal.