Cherry blossoms bloom in Washington

Cherry blossoms are seen near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington on March 28, 2008. The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival officially kicks off on March 29. In 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave a gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the United States to strengthen the friendship of the U.S. and Japan. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn)