Beautiful US Botanic Gardens

It is one of my favorite places. The US Botanic Garden always has something to enjoy at any time of the year. When we lived on Capitol Hill we routinely visited - oftentimes stopping in to get out of the heat - or the cold - on morning walks. We still visit at least monthly when we visit from northern Virginia. It’s still a great place for a morning walk and a great opportunity to take photos for my weekly 52Frames challenge. But this time of year it is especially lovely. The Christmas trains have been located outside on the west side of the conservatory because of the pandemic. The display showcases farms from around the world. And this year the monuments and memorials that are made out of plant material are finally back on display throughout the building that has since reopened so everyone can visit again. The grounds around the main building are quite festive. The large glass balls sitting out in front are our favorites. We never miss the opportunity to take a selfie when we walk past. The view of the Capitol building is always a great one from just about any angle - especially behind the red berries. We haven’t been by at night yet this month but it’s probably lovely with all the lights and such. Inside are the various poinsettia, kids fun stuff, and the all year round gardens. We always look forward to our visits there at any time of the year.