Photos of the day: Flower power

Posted March 30, 2021 at 1:53pm

The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom Sunday in Washington, according to the National Park Service. That’s well ahead of the April 2-5 prediction.

The flowering trees, combined with beautiful spring weather, brought many visitors to the Tidal Basin, although crowds appeared smaller than in pre-coronavirus times.

In 2020, police and National Guard troops blocked access to the Tidal Basin as the coronavirus shut down Washington.

National Guard soldiers stand under blooming Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin on Monday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

The Washington Monument stands behind tulips near the Tidal Basin in Washington on Monday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

Signs around the Tidal Basin on Monday evening advise visitors to wear face masks. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The sun sets over the Tidal Basin on Monday as visitors take in the cherry blossoms. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Visitors gather to watch the sunrise under the blooming cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin on Tuesday morning. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

A man rides a hoverboard past the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial surrounded by cherry blossom trees in Washington on Tuesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

Dogs go for an early morning walk past cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin on Tuesday morning. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

[jwp-video n=”1″]

Facing America’s truth, with eyes and ears open

Sean Astin, president of SAG-AFTRA, is seen in D.C. during a July 1 interview for the Political Theater podcast.

For Sean Astin, it’s see and be seen … on C-SPAN

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing Wednesday.

Todd Blanche takes his turn on the hot seat

President Donald Trump speaks Monday before signing an executive order to drastically shrink two national monuments in Utah. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump informs Congress of renewed military action against Iran

Darline Graham Nordone speaks during a press conference on Monday in Columbia, S.C., where she was named by Gov. Henry McMaster, front right, to serve the remaining months of the term of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday. (Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)

South Carolina governor picks Graham’s sister to serve out his term

An incident at the Capitol’s North Barricade rattled the congressional community Monday. Above, police tape is seen near the Capitol in 2021.

Heard on the Hill