Delayed by unseasonably cold weather, Washington, D.C.'s cherry blossoms finally are in bloom.
The iconic white and pink buds draw crowds of onlookers to the Washington Tidal Basin, a man-made reservoir lined with thousands of the trees.
The annual blooming and National Cherry Blossom Festival that accompanies it draws thousands of tourists. This year, cold, wet weather left the trees flower-less longer than usual.
Festival organizers extended some planned events to coincide with the actual bloom.
In 1912, the Japanese government gave Washington 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees as a gift. Each year the festival commemorates Japanese-American ties.
The iconic white and pink buds draw crowds of onlookers to the Washington Tidal Basin, a man-made reservoir lined with thousands of the trees.
The annual blooming and National Cherry Blossom Festival that accompanies it draws thousands of tourists. This year, cold, wet weather left the trees flower-less longer than usual.
Festival organizers extended some planned events to coincide with the actual bloom.
In 1912, the Japanese government gave Washington 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees as a gift. Each year the festival commemorates Japanese-American ties.