Out and about: Arboretum
Yesterday Dee and the wee Laundrys and I went to a couple of parks in the area. One, Glen Morgan Echo, had an unexpected mix of woods and carnivalesque remnants of decades past. There was also this butterfly, which the littlest Laundry made sure to count to three for before I snapped the shutter.
(click for bigger)
She and I saw Star Trek after dinner-her first time, my second-and I think I did like it more the second time, although I'm still not very happy with it. More on that another time; I don't want to put spoilers in this unrelated picture post.
Today I ventured out on my own. It was a toss-up between the National Gallery of Art and the National Arboretum, and since the weather is so nice, I chose the Arboretum. Started with a relaxing tram tour of the grounds, walked around the herb gardens and a special exhibit called "Power Plants" with samples of plants either being used or being considered for alternate energy sources, wandered through a beautiful international bonsai exhibit, ate my little packed lunch in the picnic area beside examples of all fifty states' official trees, and finished up with a hike into the Asian gardens and dogwood area. Pretty. By then it was on the uncomfortable side of warm, and I'd just about run out of water, so I came back. And here I am. With pictures:
One of the trees in the Japanese garden had wonderful peeling bark:
I had no idea how much I was going to love the bonsai area. There were all kinds of exotic-looking trees (and familiar trees turned exotic because of the size and shape) pulled and pruned to exquisite balance. These pictures don't do the art justice.
Inside, there was a special exhibit on blossoming bonsai. I have to say, I liked the non-flowering ones more. Because the plants are so small, the blossoms overwhelmed them; they looked out of proportion. The blossoms also covered up the intricate twisting branches and tiny leaves. This one was nice, though:
Beside the bonsai were stone sculptures; often found rocks with evocative patterns or shapes, arranged together to make a landscape, or set alone, like this one, shaped like a bag of rice:
(click for bigger)
She and I saw Star Trek after dinner-her first time, my second-and I think I did like it more the second time, although I'm still not very happy with it. More on that another time; I don't want to put spoilers in this unrelated picture post.
Today I ventured out on my own. It was a toss-up between the National Gallery of Art and the National Arboretum, and since the weather is so nice, I chose the Arboretum. Started with a relaxing tram tour of the grounds, walked around the herb gardens and a special exhibit called "Power Plants" with samples of plants either being used or being considered for alternate energy sources, wandered through a beautiful international bonsai exhibit, ate my little packed lunch in the picnic area beside examples of all fifty states' official trees, and finished up with a hike into the Asian gardens and dogwood area. Pretty. By then it was on the uncomfortable side of warm, and I'd just about run out of water, so I came back. And here I am. With pictures:
One of the trees in the Japanese garden had wonderful peeling bark:
I had no idea how much I was going to love the bonsai area. There were all kinds of exotic-looking trees (and familiar trees turned exotic because of the size and shape) pulled and pruned to exquisite balance. These pictures don't do the art justice.
Inside, there was a special exhibit on blossoming bonsai. I have to say, I liked the non-flowering ones more. Because the plants are so small, the blossoms overwhelmed them; they looked out of proportion. The blossoms also covered up the intricate twisting branches and tiny leaves. This one was nice, though:
Beside the bonsai were stone sculptures; often found rocks with evocative patterns or shapes, arranged together to make a landscape, or set alone, like this one, shaped like a bag of rice: