There is no other way I would rather spend a #TreeTuesday anywhere but down at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC... among the blossoming cherry trees. It was a little early this morning, so there isn't that bright and shiny sky, but, wait a minute or three and I will bring it on out!

Closer up and a little bit more personal, I can see how delicate they are. Some have a slight perfume, but, for the most part, they don't really smell. Each spring, I look forward to the explosion of cherry blossoms. The best time to see them is during peak bloom, which is defined as when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are opened up. Unfortunately, peak bloom is but a few days. It is so hard to predict as there are factors that change this date, beginning with the weather.

My eyes are indulged with blossoming trees, everywhere. Oh, Spring! I celebrate you! There is nothing more inspiring to this soul this the break-out-beautiful sight. Even my backyard is waving hello after the long winter nap.

Admittedly, the dogwood trees are one of my personal favorites. Maybe because I was born and raised in Connecticut and they were so abundantly present in the earliness of spring. I knew that spring has surely arrived when I saw them.

There isn't a flower on it, but, there is the everlasting green of my beautiful pines. Evergreen, ever loved by this girl. I can literally smell the spring and it is delicious! A mix of something light and something fresh.

A flower. There must always be a flower to color my world. This picture is dedicated to #TuesdayOrange #ColorChallenge by @Kalemandra.

Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.

they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,

"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"

warsan shire