Sunday Walk on the Mall

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Although we were still wearing our winter coats, hats and gloves, the scenery around us made you think otherwise. In the distance we could hear St. Patrick’s Day music by the Washington Monument. By the looks of the trash strewn around the National Mall we assumed the parade must have taken place yesterday. We took our usual walk through the Smithsonian castle gardens where the magnolias were just starting to bud just a few days ago. How things have changed! With a beautiful blue sky backdrop the flowers were simply lovely! Let’s just hope there isn’t another freeze like last year that killed them all off much too soon! I don’t know all the names of the flowering trees but what looked like cherry blossoms were framing the Hirshhorn Museum building. And on the way home through the US Botanic Garden the statue of freedom atop the Capitol dome could be seen in the distance through the pink flowers. The Mall was crowded now with spring break tourists and school groups. It’s probably the busiest time of year in DC. It’s nice to be able to walk about and enjoy the changes in the seasons with some interesting sights and sounds as backdrop. 

Squirrels, Birds, Flowers and Sunshine - Spring is on the Way

After an unusually harsh winter we finally had a day or two of warmth - not necessarily sunshine, but warmth! And just after a couple of those days the gardens in the city are coming alive - along with all the hoards of tourists and students arriving on bus loads for spring break. A squirrel was sneaking around and one daffodil bloomed in our tiny patio garden with many more opening up along the Library of Congress. The twigs on the bushes were festooned with new leaf growth along the US Botanic Garden walkways. The little crocus and hyacinths were everywhere and the magnolias tripled in size and ready to explode compared to our last viewing. Robins and mockingbirds were out in full force. All the grounds and garden staff were in short sleeves sweeping away the drudgery of winter and pruning back the dead wood and dried leaves. The vegetable gardens had some fresh cabbage plantings and the succulents in the concrete pots were all coming alive. This is my husband’s favorite time of year along with millions more. When you walk about it’s very understandable. In this town it’s pretty obvious why. 

Reflecting Pool Sunshine and Pigeons

I am always enchanted by sunshine, animals, birds, and flowers. Typically on our walk we encounter some of these things. Today was an absolutely sunshiny day so everything already looked better. We didn’t have to wear our below zero winter coats and hats. In fact half way through I was carrying my coat. We had to drop an items off at the post office so we headed in the opposite direction as is usual. From there we were on  Massachusetts Avenue, Union Station, and then back to the Capitol. The reflecting pond was still iced over and the seagulls were standing on it. But it was the pigeons that caught my eye today. There was a pair walking along together having a good time. We then passed through the botanical garden. It’s not often that I really enjoy the walk - it’s more of a prescription that something I really look forward to. But when it’s this nice outside it’s simply marvelous. 

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There’s Something in the Sky!

I can’t remember the last time we had sunshine around here. Growing up in Florida the big ball was out almost year round. Then living in the Midwest was the exact opposite with winter taking up nine months of the year. So when we moved to DC I thought it would be a bit more of something in between. But this year was the all time rainfall record holder. So it was quite dreary - the worst year of all for clouds and wet sidewalks. It also puts a damper on our morning walks. Even though I have all the rain gear for foul weather I don’t like it. So this morning was such a treat! The sun was out in full and everything looked so much better. We took our usual route to the National Mall which is very quiet because of the government shutdown. About the only people you see nowadays are locals - joggers, walkers like us, and little of anything else. So when we walked through the US Botanical Garden - the gate was actually open - everything looked so nice including the few roses blooming that were left over from last season. The vegetable garden still had some life to it. There was a lone fall leaf flapping in the breeze. With the sunshine always comes the wind. We had our winter gear on and it was actually warm by the time we got home. Let’s hope we get a few days like this. I really forgot how it felt. 

Blue Skies and Sunshine Backdrop

For a variety of reasons we did not walk every day the last week. I was actually happy about that yesterday with the low temps and howling winds that would have blown us away. Today was a very different story - blue skies and bright sunshine. All the buildings along the National Mall stand out against this backdrop. The Capitol building grounds access was limited this morning because they were having a scheduled disaster drill. Our shadows were crisp and long as we headed west. There really isn’t a lot of fall color yet - unheard of they all say. The soggy wet summer must have something to do with that. The Smithsonian museum rooftops all have their own particular rooftops and domes. I like watching the birds sitting on the Hirshhorn rounded top and Air and Space spire. The American Indian Museum looks like where it belongs somewhere on the Great Plains. Of course the sunflower and Bartholdi Fountain in the US Botanic Garden are hanging on to the last of the warmer days. The torch of knowledge at the Library of Congress shines bright - even brighter now that I am retired from there! And the old street lights glimmer in the bright sunlight. I always feel better when the sun is out, and this was one of those days. 

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