If you live in DC, you have to go see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin every year. There’s a rule, you see.

Sometimes, the weather doesn’t cooperate. The buds pop out, then freeze, or a Biblical hail storm knocks all the flowers off the trees before anyone gets a proper look at them. But this year, after a wet, cold winter that seemed like it was never going to end, the weather was perfect. The trees bloomed right on time for the Cherry Blossom festival and parade.

We skipped the parade, but went for a stroll around the tidal basin this morning. It was already crowded by ten o’clock and approaching a complete pedestrian traffic jam by noon. But a happy one, with picnics, a few snuggles under the trees and lots of impromptu photo sessions. Who says we don’t worship trees?