Growing up in Washington, I took the cherry blossoms for granted. It was just something that happened every spring. No big deal. Didn’t everyone have them?

Well, I learned their value when becoming a tour guide. Like gold falling into our coffers. The hard part is telling people they’re not in bloom yet. I saw them on Saturday with a group and it was like one of those old French impressionist paintings where you see a hint of color in the distance without telling what it is.

But, today’s heat has to get things going. I’ll bet we’re just a few days away from the pink explosion and by the weekend it will be the big bloom down the Tidal Basin. I did see one tree in bloom on Saturday in East Potomac Park.

As for crowds – woowee they’re back. Led a photo tour through the Mall’s memorials and at times I greatly needed two photogs with me to form a chain so we could funnel people through Korea and Vietnam memorials.

The school busses are here. So are adults. At least the summer heat didn’t come with them. We have a couple