Regarding the March 29 Metro article "Warm weather propels cherry blossoms to bloom days ahead of schedule": Going to the Tidal Basin to take in the historical cherry blossoms is essentially a rite of passage. Because covid-19 stole last year's bloom, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity while I still could. With peak bloom coming early, on March 28, the sights did not disappoint. The vibrant petals, the stunning water views — it was idyllic. However, as beautiful as it was, the early bloom is a grim reminder of the threats that the iconic Tidal Basin faces from a changing climate. Already, the basin floods and inundates the famous trees' roots daily, and this will only worsen as the planet warms. Estimates show that within 50 years, high tide will rise an additional 6 inches, which is entirely unsustainable. Just as the cherry blossoms were gifted as a sign of unity between the United States and Japan, maybe they can come to signify unity between political parties. The politicization of this crisis has cost us years of action, and we cannot afford to lose another one. The deadlock in Congress over climate issues must be overcome, or we risk losing national treasures such as the cherry blossoms.