Cherry blossoms bloom early in D.C.
The warm weather is making the iconic trees bloom early - and 2012 also marks a century since Japan sent the cherry trees as a gift to the United States.
The trees are beginning to bloom, with the National Park Service forecasts peak bloom between March 20 and 23 - one of the earliest years on record, due to warmer-than-average temperatures.
Soon the roughly 4,000 trees along D.C.'s Tidal Basin will take on the vivid colors and cloud-like shapes that have dazzled crowds for a century.
Two thousands cherry blossom trees were first delivered in 1910 as a gift from the city of Tokyo. But upon arrival they had to be burned - infested with insects.
Just two years later, the Japanese sent 3,000 more, and in a small ceremony First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted the very first.
The National Park Service forecasts peak bloom between March 20 and 23, one of the earliest years on record due to warmer than average winter temperatures.
National Cherry Blossom Festival (Official website)