Suddenly Spring!

A tree blooms in Georgetown, specifically at 31st and Q streets NW. / Photo by Lorraine Rose.

Funny bunnies in the window of stationers Write for You, 3807 McKinley Street NW, Washington, D.C. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

It looks like spring on a platter in the window at Write for You, 3807 McKinley Street NW, Washington, D.C. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Spring a la Lilly Pulitzer at the Pink Palm shop at 1123 King Street, Alexandria. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

If your spaniel loves spring check out the foam-filled squeaky cherry blossom dog toys designed exclusively for The Dog Park, 705 King Street, Alexandria. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Do these store owners know us or what? You’ll find fresh-as-spring bunnies, chicks and bon bons for dogs and cats at The Dog Park, 705 King Street, Alexandria. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Wisteria wreath on a Georgetown door. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Spring’s clearly the thing, complete with garden-gnome candle, at Periwinkle, 3815 Livingston Street NW, Washington, D.C. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Beyond spring bunnies, there are . . . carrots, of the decorative kind. These, at Periwinkle, 3815 Livingston Street NW, Washington, D.C. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

The message at this Lou Lou shop (there are many) is clear: Style comes in many colors. So, we might add, does spring. Lou Lou, 7115 Arlington Road, Bethesda. / Photo by Anne Kisslinger.

Spring spills out onto the sidewalk at J Brown & Co, 1119 King Street, Alexandria. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Coral is the color of the moment. Even Denmark native Kirstine Skou came prepared for a Washington spring, and a stop at the Tiny Jewel Box, in her soft coral jacket.The iconic jewelry and gift shop is at 1147 Connecticut Avenue NW. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

See? Even White House|Black Market injects jolts of coral among its traditional offerings. The Alexandria store is at 903 King Street. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Not only do we have to thank the Dutch for tulips, but we also can thank them, and maker Tip Studio, for this floral-patterned china available at Decorium, 116 King Street, Alexandria. P.S. Decorium also has a yellow sofa and a pink tufted armchair. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Spring comes naturally to the window at Full of Beans, 3813 Livingston Street NW, Washington, D.C. / Photo by Joe Elbert.

Butterflies are free at Petra Boutique in Bethesda Row, 4803 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda. / Photo by Anne Kisslinger.

We know Mother Nature to be something of a shapeshifter, so it’s a bit dicey to declare the season here after only two glorious days. But, as Tinker Bell told us, all sorts of things can happen if we believe (the clapping of hands is optional).

The signs are there: cherry blossoms and gridlock, automotive as well as pedestrian, around the Tidal Basin. But there are subtler hints, including those contributed by hopeful retailers who decorate our city strolls with windows bursting with pastels and frills and some delightfully silly stuff.

Here are some of those signs found by MyLittleBird’s wandering reporters in Washington, Alexandria and Bethesda. Everything looks so fresh and new we just want this weather to hang around a little longer. Maybe a little hand-clapping wouldn’t hurt.

–Nancy McKeon