Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Enough Already?

Tulips in the herb garden at the National Arboretum

Have I posted too many pictures of spring flowers? Are you tired of all this color? I ask because, Saturday morning I went to the National Arboretum and enjoyed seeing the azalea collection. I've tried to break up this entry a bit. If you'd like to see photos from the azalea collection, go here. (Click on images to enlarge.)

Koi in the lily pond at the visitor's center at the National Arboretum

The arboretum also features a great pond of koi, an herb garden, a collection of bonsai and penjing, and original columns and capitals for the U.S. Capitol.

Original columns and capitals from the U.S. Capitol

The arboretum is a wonderful, vast treasure in the city that includes some fabulous trails for running and biking. Unfortunately, Congress is cutting funding to the arboretum, which means it's falling into disrepair. (Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has plenty of funding to buy more bombers and continue the war in Iraq.)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It looks lovely.....a great shame that some think money is better spent on bombs than such collections.

Disgraceful.

Bev said...

These are beautiful. Are those tulips? I thought the first one looked like a rose. Love the strong colour it has like red wine.

Places like these replenish the spirit.

The Artful Eye said...

Won't ever tire of beautiful flowers, lovely tulips and did check out all the azaleas, fantastic.

I can't believe those columns what a great photo and I'm not at all surprised by the ignorance of our government. Makes me sick.

Janet Kincaid said...

Nic: It's a bit overgrown in places, but all-in-all it's an oasis in an urban setting. But you're right: it's disgraceful that our tax dollars go to bombs and not places like this.

Bev: Yes, they are tulips. I was quite surprised by them, too, and love how full and dark they are. I love going to the arboretum for exactly the reason you mention: it replenishes my spirit.

Andrea: Good to know. Thank you! I just worry that people might be tiring of this repeat. The arboretum does full moon walks three days out of every month and I've seen pictures of the columns with the moon above. I want to go back one night and take some of those pictures! As for our government, Canada and New Zealand are looking better and better every single day.

Maya said...

I like those fish shots!

Also, you can never have too many colorful flower shots in my opinion!

Anonymous said...

hmmm, i've never been to this part of dc, too bad for me... love the column shot silhouette... lovely flowers... :)

Janet Kincaid said...

Maya: The koi are the best! They even have a dispenser that sells koi food. These fish are so Pavlovian in their behavior. They see a human standing at the edge of the pond and they automatically assume they're going to get fed!

Lino: Next time you're in town, have your friends take you over there. It's a wonderful oasis. Also, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens over in SE are totally worth a trip!

Lara said...

wonderful pictures, the colours are great! the columns are an amazing setting!

 gmirage said...

Oh wow! Carps! And yes I was surprised also with those many-petalled (so to say) tulips! There are some growing near oour place and I thought at first they aren't tulips but they have the same leaves. Keep em posting!

Anonymous said...

Lara: Glad you enjoyed these!

Giselle: They're lovely, aren't they? I like single petal tulips, but these are especially lovely. Kind of like double daffodils: so full and vibrant!