Uninspiring Capitol Hill Morning Walk

It’s been a few weeks since we drove in to town for a morning walk. It’s been so blasted hot. We have been going to the neighborhood park where the path is predominantly covered by a tree canopy. But it finally rained and the temps fell a bit and it was overcast, so we ventured in to town this week. We parked in our old Capitol Hill neighborhood. Parking is usually a pain and it still is but we found a spot right where we used to live. Since I already had one option for the photo challenge this week, I wasn’t on the search for anything in particular. And nothing in particular was even inspiring. I was hoping we would make it to the US Botanic garden. We did eventually get there after winding around the Capitol building first. But the doors were locked until eleven AM - which was rather odd. We usually get in at ten and have a look around. So that was a disappointment. We didn’t make it over to the National Gallery because it would have been too far to walk and it was still rather humid. The only things of interest that day were a few giant hibiscus. Usually we get a bit energized after visiting our old neighborhood. Not this time. 

Capitol Hill Walkabout

Monday is typically a good day to drive in to town for a morning walk. The other reason is to take photos for the weekly 52Frames photo challenge. I didn’t have high hopes for the photo challenge because the subject is “portrait” and I wasn’t in the mood to find a stranger to pose, and we didn’t come across anyone that looked like they might like to participate. So instead we just enjoyed the walk and I took photos of random things. We parked in our old neighborhood and walked the walk we took for thirteen years. The vegetable garden at the Library of Congress was growing tall already. It was very quiet at the Capitol - except at the visitor center entrance. There was barely anyone in sight in a panoramic shot. There was a large school group posing for photos. The ducks were out and about in the reflecting pool. Since it was getting quite warm we decided to make it a short excursion, stopping inside the US Botanic garden. There are always new orchids on display as well as other favorites throughout the outside gardens. There was what looked to be a pineapple plant at the Bartholdi fountain gardens, along with the vegetable garden with the Capitol building in the background. We trudged back to the car just in time to hit the two mile mark. We are never disappointed visiting the old neighborhood. 

Ho Hum Morning Walk in DC

We usually drive in to town at least once a week. Yesterday we parked on the National Mall by the Smithsonian Castle. It was a very strange vibe. All we saw were large groups of student tours and not a lot of anything else. There is obviously always something to see, but on this day nothing seemed right. I suppose you could say we are in between seasons. There were signs that all the remnants of summer and fall were being cleared away for the Christmas season - especially at the US Botanic garden. The outdoor Christmas trains are being erected and the plant based monuments are being placed inside the grand entrance/conservatory. The fountain by the Air and Space Museum was actually running - I don’t recall the last time that happened. The birds were having fun. There was nothing much interesting at the American Indian museum grounds. We’d like to check out any new exhibits at the Hirshhorn the next time we visit. Bartholdi gardens had some new plants, but it was unremarkable. There were so many cars parked on the east side of the Capitol you knew something was happening inside. I guess I wasn’t in the mood to take photos or the scenes just didn’t do it for me - which is quite unusual. The funny thing was our daughter in law was in town for the day for an AARP staff meeting. If we had known we could have walked a bit together. We lived down the street from our family on Capitol Hill for several years. We know she misses the neighborhood. And like us, we like to visit it every once in a while. 

People on Independence Avenue in Capitol Hill

Yesterday we drove in to DC to attend a program at the Library of Congress. We have been going to the Library for these types of events for seventeen years. I worked there for ten years and my husband would join us for whatever programs were held over the lunch hour. And then we would go after work in the evenings and also on weekends for other events that interested us. Before we could walk over when we lived on Capitol Hill. That made things a LOT easier. Now we need to drive in and leave the house early enough to ensure we have time for unexpected traffic situations and finding parking. So as we were driving down independence avenue in front of the House Office Buildings I was taking photos of miscellaneous people standing on the sidewalk. Even in this hot weather it astounds us to see so many people in suits and ties. Then there are the average working folk catching the bus home. I didn’t notice until my husband pointed out the next person standing alone was Chris Christie. I was going to say something to him but a cab was in the way, then another person joined him, and then the light turned green so I lost my chance. You never know who you might run in to in this neighborhood. That’s one of the things we miss about living there. 

Capitol Hill Tulips

The cherry blossoms always take center stage in spring in DC. But there is a parade of flowering plants, trees and shrubs in the city. In between the cherry blossoms and the azaleas come the tulips. And there are so many colors, types, and varieties on display that it is breathtaking! There is a lovely display of tulips right across from the Washington Monument in the annual floral garden. There are several patches that hold a different tulip type. And of course at the Smithsonian castle gardens there is a beautiful large garden with pansies and tulips. The US Botanic garden also has a huge display of tulips in the Bartholdi fountain gardens and all around the conservatory. Unfortunately we didn’t drive in to town when the blossoms were at their best, but made a great effort to see as many as we could while they were still in bloom. Spring is such a beautiful time of year here. When we lived on Capitol Hill for thirteen years we enjoyed all of the parks and gardens in the neighborhood. Because there is little yard in the townhouses there are so many lovely areas to walk to and relax in. We do miss many things about living in DC. But it’s really more difficult to navigate in the city the older we get. So we are glad we can still visit when we want. And seeing the tulips is such a treat!