Kickin' back at Greenbelt National Park

Sad to say our mad dash to get to D.C. in time to see the cherry blossoms was in vain!  We rushed into our nation's capitol city last week, hopeful of seeing cherry trees still in bloom. 

Here we are on the Metrorail into D.C. - the last leg of our "mad dash"

We were awed by the sight of the Washington Monument
 as we continued on our blossom quest.

But most of the blossoms we saw were dotting the sidewalks and grass or floating on the water.  Did see a few stragglers clinging to their branches, so snapped a few pics and, basically, called it good. 

. . . blooms afloat in the Tidal Basin

A few clinging die-hards survived the morning's torrential downpour!

Use your imagination to see the soft pink blossomy hue . . .

I can actually see the profusion of warmly pink and puffy blossoms in my mind, so that will have to do for now – though I seriously hope to return one day to see them for real! 

We had just a a quick visit to D.C. before it was time to fly off to Phoenix. We went to join family in remembering a dear brother-in-law who left us last November. A sad occasion, saying good-bye to Glenn, but good visiting with many loved ones who came from far and wide for the celebration of his life.

Now we're back in Maryland, where we'll call Greenbelt National Park home for a couple of weeks while we explore D.C.

"Home Sweet Home" at Greenbelt NP

Tomorrow - the Smithsonian and who knows what all . . . .   tell ya all about it in a week or two!