Capitol Hill Halloween Decorations

It was a beautiful crisp blue sky kind of day. So we drove in to DC for our morning walk to get a view of any Halloween decorations. We parked next to our old condo building on Capitol Hill and set off for a three mile walk. Rather than take the usual path toward the national mall we went in the opposite direction towards Eastern Market and surrounding area. The city was quiet as it has been for many of the last months. For the most part pumpkins were the most visible sign of anything Halloween. And they came in all sizes. I’m not sure how Santa Claus fits in to the scheme, but anything goes these days. There were a few mums, witches, skeletons, spiders, webs, graveyards and ghosts. One place had a ridiculous amount of junk hanging off the front yard fence that got the attention of a small tot. I am looking forward to driving through Alexandria next week and hopeful we will find an even better display of the holiday. It doesn’t take much these days to make a day exciting. 

Capitol Hill Rose Gardens

It started with the cherry blossoms, then the magnolias, then the azaleas, then the iris... and now the roses. The roses are making a statement in front of the rowhouses on Capitol Hill, usually set against the ironworks that are a hallmark of the neighborhood.  Red seems to be the predominant color, though there are shades from yellow to pink to apricot. We walked early enough yesterday morning to avoid the heat, and it was a bit cloudy with some welcome raindrops. Rather than walk the Mall, visit the traditional landmarks, and see the throngs of tourists, we took the back streets of our neighborhood. It is really so pretty this time of year. In Milwaukee we had several gardens on our one acre of land ... Here we have a small patio garden and are just as delighted with the smaller scale. But if one ever has the inkling to see more, you just need to step outside and walk about. If the neighborhood isn't enough, the US Botanical garden is just down the street and there are public parks every so many blocks. But for now, the rose gardens have captured everyone's attention... And the hydrangeas are the next big show.