Look Up!

Before the beautiful autumn season comes to a close, it’s always lovely to walk around and enjoy it. It just doesn’t last very long. It was my father’s favorite time of year. And when we lived in the Midwest my parents would come to visit in October. It was also his birthday so we always had a cake and candles to celebrate. We used to live next to Lake Michigan and the park was absolutely stunning. We especially liked fall in the Midwest because winter lasts just entirely too long! In our northern Virginia neighborhood we have a neighborhood park that is a couple blocks away. If we are not driving in to DC we take our morning walk in the park. Aside from looking at all the leaves that have fallen on the ground it’s even more interesting to just look up. The variations and colors above your head are even more striking. Every day brings a bit of a change. I think there was one day that the leaves were actually dry and we needed to be careful not to slide around on them. Today the park service cleared the paths of all the leaves as they were all blown over to the sides making for a safer walk but a less authentic look. It’s nice to have the choice of walking in the park and also in the neighborhood. But at this time of year the park is the place to be. Don’t forget to look up! 

Christmas Trees in DC

Some of the prettiest Christmas trees are on display in our neighborhood. Yesterday we finally walked by the Capitol Christmas tree but we still haven’t seen it all aglow. The US Botanic Garden has lovely trees before you get to the main attraction - the trains. Union Station has a beautiful tree in the main entrance. The African Museum of Art always has one in the window along the Smithsonian Gardens. On Pennsylvania Avenue the storefront windows are filled with tiny decorations reminiscent of years past. We didn’t see the tree in the Library of Congress this year - I never missed it when I worked there. But the best tree is the one we will be celebrating the holiday around with our family. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

A Convention of Birds

I noticed that the robins are still hanging around and the sparrows and cardinals still visit the bird bath on our tiny patio. Yesterday we saw a hawk by the air and space museum and a lot of other birds out in droves on the rooflines of several buildings along the national mall. Today we walked toward union station and on the way home there was a lot of chattering going on - an unusually loud type of chattering. Before reaching the Hart Senate office building there was what seemed to be thousands of birds flying around everywhere. They were on rooftops and treetops and chowing down on a single bird feeder in front of a church yard. It almost seemed ridiculous to think that that was the drawing card to get all these feathered creatures so excited. We minded where we were standing because we didn't want to become unnecessarily soiled from what was above us! It must be a stop on some migration pattern that neither one of us knows about. And since the leaves have all but completely fallen off the hordes of birds were even more obvious. I'm not sure what it was all about.  Maybe it has something to do with an afternoon rain forecast that will turn fall to winter? But it lasted about 2-3 blocks and then stopped. If anyone knows what that bird convention was all about please let us in on it. Creatures do things for a reason - we just can't figure this one out. 

The Myrtles Are In Bloom!

It's that time of year again. One can't help but notice the beautiful myrtles all over town. They must be a southern tree flower, as I don't remember them in Wisconsin. But every year at this time I can't help but pay attention to the white, red, pink, purple, and various shades in between of myrtles in front of government buildings and all around the neighborhood. Some are tiny and just starting out, while others are clumped together in huge bunches. Others are evenly spread in front of a very long white structures. When we walked this morning we passed by the Library of Congress, the Senate Office Buildings, parks, and neighborhood homes big and small. The tress really look magnificent against the traditional Capitol Hill architecture. We once visited the Myrtles "haunted" plantation in Louisiana a long time ago. It gave me the creeps. So there remains some mystery behind the name - for me anyway! Nevertheless, with or without the ghosts the myrtles looked lovely on a day like today. I'm not sure how I would feel if we took this same walk at 3 AM. But who would?

Spring on the National Mall

Even though it is only 45 degrees with blustery winds, the national mall is getting prepped for spring. Everywhere we looked today there was tree pruning and branch clean up going on. The workmen were in the trees, on the sidewalks, and everywhere there were unsightly branches. Sidewalks were cordoned off so as not to interfere with the progress. At the Smithsonian gardens, signs of the anticipated season were showing... the magnolia buds were starting to burst with greenery. At the US Botanical Garden, the gardeners were sprucing up the flower beds and the mulch was being delivered in hoses attached to very large trucks. This activity reminded us that our little patio garden needs a lot of attention this year, especially since the blizzard wrecked most of what was standing upright. I used to have a lot of energy for planting but find myself more in the mood to have someone else do it. Regardless, it's so nice to have another spot to relax and smell the roses, even if it takes a bit more energy to keep it going.