On our 2005 visit we came early, to avoid rush-hour traffic and to find one of the scarce parking spaces. However, the "dawn's early light" didn't display the blossoms at their best. This time we came later, taking Metro to avoid traffic congestion. However, arriving at the Ballston gates at 9:25 we encountered another type of congestion: a group of loiterers, who we soon realized were waiting for the fares to drop at 9:30. As a card-carrying Metro-certified geezer, it doesn't matter to me–the fare is always the same, and less than the off-peak rate. However, Betty Lou is still a mere yout', so we joined the group. We later checked the fare tables and found that she, and the rest of the loiterers, saved all of $.50.

The Washington Monument welcomed us under a brilliant blue sky. A few blocks from the Smithsonian Metro station, it has its own grove of cherry trees,

as does the walk to the Tidal Basin. This year we visited Monday, April 2, at the blossoms' peak.

The 10 o'clock opening of the paddle-boat concession drew a crowd,

and the Tidal Basin was soon dotted with paddlers.

Fortunately, Paddles the Beaver is the only type around now. In 1999, a beaver family chomped fourteen cherry trees around the Tidal Basin before they were finally trapped and relocated.

At first we were nearly alone.

But that didn't last long.

As we approached the Jefferson Memorial, the Cherry Blossom Festival stage came to life.

Based on the media presence, this was to be a big event.

Then we noticed Yoko Ono, waiting to go on.

She invited people to write wishes and tie them to the branches of "wish trees," forming the "blossoms" of the trees. Six trees are near the Jefferson Memorial, and four more at various spots around the city. She has already collected more than 100,000 wishes from other wish trees around the world.

The trees will be available for public wishmaking until April 15, when the wishes will be collected and eventually become part of her giant "Imagine Peace Tower," an art installation that will open in October 2007 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

She tied on the first wish.

And Betty Lou added another. Slips of paper and string are provided.

Numerous facilities, no waiting.

Some trees looked like skyrockets.

We saw the usual wildlife

as well as the tamelife.

It was a warm day. However, only nine days later spring seemed to have fled.

Warning signs were heeded.

An artist captured the scene.

However, a hovering helicopter seemed to be interested in the activities. Or perhaps it was just providing an aerial platform for viewing the cherry blossoms.

Some of the trees are well past their normal lifetime of fifty years. The first planting was in 1912 and about 125 of the original 3,000 trees remain.

This fisherman hadn't caught anything yet.

The cherry trees weren't getting all the attention.

Who knew there were bears in these woods?

Another artist had found a vantage point.

Some blossoms sprout directly from the trunk.

Once again we happened upon Yoko Ono, at the Japanese Lantern, site of a supplemental wish tree. The 360-year old stone lantern was a 1954 gift commemorating the centennial signing of the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Friendship. Today, its ceremonial lighting signifies the official opening of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Overheard among passers-by: "She was John Lennon's wife."
"Who is John Lennon?"

The road and sidewalk were both jammed

and a row of tour buses stretched out of sight.

The Washington Monument bade us farewell for this cherry blossom season as the clouds began to gather.