US Botanical Garden Poinsettias

They come in so many colors. Every year the US Botanical garden features a seasonal poinsettia display, along with the main hall monuments and museums made out of plant material, a huge Christmas tree, and of course - the trains. There is also an interesting plant maze stickwork sculpture on the west side of the building that most kids find quite interesting. Last week we took a ride in to town to see what this year brings. Having lived on Capitol Hill for thirteen years made it very easy to just walk over, but now we need to take the car for the ten mile jaunt since we moved to northern Virginia. This year there was literally a wall of poinsettias that are always on display at the rear of the building. There was every shade of pink and red, white, yellow, and spotted. Near this spectacular arrangement were a few smaller trees decked out with cardinals and another with ornaments from across the US. This place is one of my favorites. It’s always so pretty and uplifting regardless of the season. And it’s even better when you beat the crowds and take your time. 

US Botanic Garden Stickwork Sculpture & Decor

I love the Botanic Garden. When we lived on Capitol Hill for thirteen years, we walked through it all the time on our morning walks and in between. Yesterday we decided to drive in to town and see the usual Christmas decorations - especially the main foyer of the building, the Christmas trains, and the Capitol Christmas tree. We parked in our old neighborhood and walked the same path we have so many times before. But before we got to the botanical garden, we passed through the Bartholdi fountain garden. Some of the vegetables were still going strong - like the purple cabbage. The yellow golden berries at the entrance gate were distinctive in the sunshine. What was most interesting was the very large plant maze sculpture that was erected on the west side of the building a couple of months ago. It was now full of children running through it. The buggies and strollers were everywhere. It was a good day for families and nannies to take the kids and burn off some energy. What I noticed were the potted vases and Christmas trees decorated at the front of the building. It’s always so pretty - the Capitol building in the background reminds you where you are. Of course, I always take a photo of our reflection in the silver balls that surround the trees. You could call this a tradition - but this year we needed to drive to our destination from our new home in northern Virginia. We are very happy with our new location - and also glad we can still visit the places we liked so much. 

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