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

Azaleas Galore

White azaleas are the only ones that photograph well in black and white.
As for the other two pictures, I was going for an old, washed-out, antique look with these.

Azaleas in red. The variety on the left is named "Sambo" and is a deep maroon.
This photo doesn't do it justice. (None of these do really.)

Azaleas in oranges. These were some of the most stunning specimens in the collection.
The variety on the right is named "Great Balls of Fire"!

Azaleas in purples. In the photo on the right,
the azaleas are also complimented by wooden hyacinth.

Azaleas in groupings along sunny and shaded paths.

The azalea collection at the National Arboretum is currently at peak for many of the trees and bushes. If you get a chance, make the time to visit. And for those of you with allergies, just consider this blog a public service provided for your enjoyment without all the misery!

I think this is the last of the spring color I'll be posting. Honestly, you must be sick of it already!

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

Miniature

Penjing and bonsai

More penjing and bonsai

Haven't done any picture taking this week. (It's been one of those weeks.) Nevertheless, in my collection of photos a la D.C. were pictures I took last summer at the U.S. National Arboretum in NE. The Arboretum is a gem of gardens and plant collections that are spectacular! Getting to the arboretum isn't necessarily a cake walk and literally tens of thousands of people drive by it every day without stopping in. But once you stop saying, "One of these days I'm going to go there" and you actually do go, you'll never regret it.

I went to the Arboretum twice year; first, with a friend and then with my sister. These pictures are from the bonsai and penjing exhibits. Bonsai is the Japanese art of small trees, while penjing is its Chinese precursor. Some of the bonsai/penjing in the Arboretum's collection are more than 400 years old. Many of these trees are tended and passed down in families for generations, which makes them that much more awe-inspiring.

The arboretum features lily ponds with koi, an herb farm, hiking trails, collections of state trees and flowers, crape myrtle and azaleas in abundance, the aforementioned bonsai and penjing museums, full moon hikes, and--in the works--a Chinese pavilion. There is no entrance fee as the Arboretum is also a research component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but donations are accepted. The grounds also include a collection of columns that originally were part of the U.S. Capitol Building. You can tour the Arboretum's vast acreage from the comfort of your own car, on the seat of your bike, or whilst shod in a solid pair of hiking shoes; tram tours are also available. If you live in D.C. and its environs or if you're visiting, a day at the Arboretum is time well-spent.

Zip: 20002

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 07/06