Showing posts with label Washington D.C.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington D.C.. Show all posts

Friday, May 12, 2023

A national azalea garden in Washington, D.C.


Part of the azalea collections at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie

Lavenders at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Azaleas at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie

A haven for peace and nature seekers who want greens on the grounds which rise towards the sky and provide beautiful natural color can be found within the city limits of Washington, D.C. at the  National Arboretum.

Look, look!  

A beauteous site of hillside azaleas may still be in bloom by the time you read this, spreading their pale colors hither and yon to soothe a weary soul. 

At the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Part of the azalea collections at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Lavenders at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
A forest of color at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie 
Can you find the frogs at the U.S. National Arboretum?/By Patricia Leslie
Azaleas of all colors at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Azaleas at the National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Azaleas at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Wandering the azalea paths at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie

If you're a guest or member of St. John's Episcopal Church at Lafayette Square, you may join others to partake in a eucharist right in the center of it all and praise God for these heavenly surroundings. 

The National Arboretum brochure says its staff planted more than 15,000 azaleas on Mount Hamilton in 1946-47 which is the Arboretum's highest point at 240 feet and one of the highest elevations in the District of Columbia, offering a view of the U.S. Capitol, two miles west.

Landscape artist B.Y. Morrison arranged the cascading symphony, stacking colors and timing  blooms. 

Azaleas are not solo greens which thrive here, but they are joined by dogwoods, ornamental cherry trees, magnolias, boxwoods, and many more examples of nature's bounty.

Merriam-Webster says "arboretum" is "a place where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes."

The Arboretum's website (which hasn't been updated since 2017 [budget cuts, you understand]) says the garden was established in 1927 by an act of the U.S. Congress. It operates under the umbrella of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The park has 451 acres and 9.5 miles of winding roadways.  The visitor count is about 600,000 annually.  Garden clubs and volunteers help maintain the galleries where  research, development and education are ceaseless.  

Yes, you can get married here and celebrate other festivities, too. See the website. 

An azalea forest at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
Azaleas at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
The colors are a welcome sight from the browns and greys of winter. Can you smell their fragrance? Anything this lovely must smell good but they have none. Not needed!/By Patricia Leslie

 They could be ballerinas dancing in tutus at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie

In the distance at the Arboretum are the National Capitol Columns which formerly stood at the U.S. Capitol 1828-1958 but were moved in 1958 for the Capitol's expansion and because of a design flaw/By Patricia Leslie
Twenty-two National Capitol Columns now at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie


A plaque describes the efforts for 30 years by Arboretum friend and benefactor, Ethel Shields Garrett, to have the Columns permanently placed at the Arboretum. For years the Columns lay in storage and were dedicated here in 1990/By Patricia Leslie
The first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln with the National Capitol Columns, March 4, 1861/Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons, Alexander Gardner, possible photographer

The plaque dedicated to Ethel Shields Garrett at the National Capitol Columns/By Patricia Leslie
Two of the original 24 Capitol Columns are damaged and lay in the Arboretum's azaleas gardens nearby/By Patricia Leslie
The National Capitol Columns at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie
The National Capitol Columns at the U.S. National Arboretum/By Patricia Leslie


You may find as did I the sudden surprise of large columns rising from the ground on a vacant piece of hillside which captivate sight and incite wonder about their locations here.


It's how the stars are lit at night
     and how the dew drops glisten
     How evening shadows mock the light
     and it's how the silence listens

     From the gentle sway of trees
     that bid such fond adieu
     Songs in a summer breeze
     a voice so clear, so true

     The glory of such symmetry
     so more than fills the eye
     To the beauty of such poetry
     this hopeful heart draws nigh

     In natural peace all love is born
     To live and thrive each blessed morn

"Nature's Gift," Charlie Smith, March 14, 2017


What:  The National Arboretum

Where:  3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

When:  Open 7 days/week (except Christmas Day), 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission:  It's free!

Information:  www.usna.usda.gov and 202-245-2726

patricialesli@gmail.com

Monday, May 8, 2023

I ate my way through the embassies

 

Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie

At the first two of three embassies where I stopped Saturday I found plenty to eat.

The embassies of Saudi Arabia and Iraq had huge spreads, but it was not the food I went for, right?  But the culture and learning...and not the food!  Riiiggghhhttttt.....

Saturday was "Open Embassies" Day (AKA "Around the World Embassy Tour" and DC Passport) when more than 50 embassies in Washington, D.C. welcomed visitors

I got to eight of them, but, alas, the embassy at the United Republic of Tanzania on 22nd had closed early by the time I dragged myself there. Three other visitors waited with me for a door to open. Not. Maybe, the staff had gone over to Saudi Arabia for some food fuel. 

But what a good and informative the day was!  And a beautiful one to match!

At the entrance to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with fresh floral bouquets galore/By Patricia Leslie
A live horse to see (but not ride) at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie

I know that Saudi Arabia is the "bad guy" and it's not politically correct to have anything to do with that nation (see Jamal Khashoggigolf and Neom), but for my own selfish reasons and curiosity, the embassy was open!  How many times have I strolled past it on my way to the Kennedy Center and wondered about the interior?  Once in my car adjacent to the embassy, idlying for a few seconds while I searched my phone for directions, a guard shooed me away!  You think I was going to pass up a chance to see inside?  Sorry,  no.
Inside the entrance at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia whose national color must be green...on a desert?  Okay, I get it/By Patricia Leslie

I was wooed by the "free lunch" listed on the web and what a show, food, and "merch" Saudi Arabia offered.  

Even a live horse! (To admire, not to ride.)

FDR on the wall at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie
The best tea I've tasted!  At the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie
Tasty and plentiful Saudi food at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a yummy baklava pastry for dessert/By Patricia Leslie

The food was delicious and as much as you could want, finishing off with baklava and the tastiest tea I've consumed and water bottles aplenty to take. Even a Saudi lavender cardboard bag with a synthetic handle to carry away the loot, like mugs, hats, frisbees, t-shirts (more than one? sure!), and a dance program! 

Plenty of staff were on hand to greet visitors (once we got through the heavy security which wasn't too bad and the guards almost smiled).

Frisbees, t-shirts, caps, mugs and a light cardboard bag with synthetic handle to carry "merch" were given to guests at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie
A dance program with swords at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/By Patricia Leslie
Next up was the Egyptian Cultural & Educational Bureau at 1303 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. It's a satellite linked to the much more elaborate Embassy of Egypta few miles away on International Court which has been open to the public in the past/By Patricia Leslie
The beautiful and varied stained glass windows on the first floor of the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau grabbed my attention/By Patricia Leslie
At the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau where helpers served small cups of orange juice/By Patricia Leslie
Another beautiful stained glass window at the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau/By Patricia Leslie
  
At the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau/By Patricia Leslie

The longest line I saw all day was at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq at 1801 P Street, NW, off Dupont Circle.  The line stretched around the corner on the left, but it moved swiftly with excellent directions at the door by a staff member who told us what lay in store for us: delicious food and merchandise but not in that order/By Patricia Leslie 

 At the entrance to the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq/By Patricia Leslie 
 Inside on the first floor at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq/By Patricia Leslie 
 A "merchandise mart" was crowded inside the Iraqi embassy. To get free food, guests were first routed to the merchandise mart/By Patricia Leslie 
Goods for sale at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq. Everything looked handmade/By Patricia Leslie 
Inside this case is a Sumerian harp, c. 3500 BC, decorated with a bull's head. Displayed at the Iraqi embassy and presumably NFS. Embassy guests are seen through the glass/By Patricia Leslie 
Al-Hikma Bookstore, 5627 Columbia Pike, Falls Church sold books at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq/By Patricia Leslie 
  Handmade items at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq/By Patricia Leslie 
At the Iraqi embassy, he said he was not the artist but a representative of the gallery selling the artist's works /By Patricia Leslie 
Out back at Iraq (almost sounds like the name of a tune!), there was a party going on with free Iraqi beverages and foods, including the age-old (in tradition, not in taste!) cookie, kleicha, traced back to Mesopotamia when women would offer kleicha to the goddess, Ishtar.  Also, among other delicacies, qeema, a stew of chickpeas and diced meat, was served Saturday/By Patricia Leslie 
Some of the treats served at Iraq included balango (chia seeds drink, made with water, sugar, cardamom, sometimes saffron, and cut fruits) and blenco (soaked chia or basil seeds mixed with sugar water and often flavored with rose water). Both, delicious!  Also, the dried desert lime tea was unlike any tea I've tasted in the U.S. These beverages and that drunk at Saudi Arabia far exceed the taste of any U.S. teas/By Patricia Leslie 

Over near the corner of 17th on Massachusetts, things were a bit rowdier near 
the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Visitors stood on balconies admiring the scene below/By Patricia Leslie

On the balconies at the Embassy of Uzbekistan on Massachusetts Avenue, the view from above. The wait to enter the embassy was not long/By Patricia Leslie

At the Embassy of Uzbekistan, these were for sale. I wasn't sure if the posted number "2,000" meant $2,000 or 2,000 sum/By Patricia Leslie
At the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
Wooden works of art on display at the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
At the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
On the second floor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan with open balconies overlooking Massachusetts Avenue on the right/By Patricia Leslie

At the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
A volunteer said this woman was dressed for a dance at the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
Dignitaries and dancers at the Embassy of Uzbekistan/By Patricia Leslie
On the second floor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan. See the rich wall paneling/By Patricia Leslie
On down Mass Ave., raunchy grew. After waiting in an immobile line outside the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago for a coconut about 15 minutes, I ignored sunk time and strolled further down to another line where people waited in line to pay for Caribbean food.  Paying guests?  They didn't know you could eat for free at Saudi Arabia and Iraq!/By Patricia Leslie
At the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago/By Patricia Leslie
Inside the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago/By Patricia Leslie
Inside the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago/By Patricia Leslie
Inside the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago/By Patricia Leslie
She was not shaking a tail feather outside the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago. One of the t-shirts for sale inside said "TriniBAD"/By Patricia Leslie
It was a long line but it moved quickly at the Embassy of Peru/By Patricia Leslie
At Peru, ice cream was for sale outside ($5.50) and you could also buy inside a cup of Peru's national drink (like a marguerita), the pisco sour and highly recommended for $8. Sweet cola was given away there, too, and although I refrain from sweet cola, for sweet cola, it was good!/By Patricia Leslie
At the Embassy of Peru, there was dancing to live music outside/By Patricia Leslie
Protesters opposed to President Dina Boluarte and her tactics at Peru/By Patricia Leslie
These protesters at Peru carry signs, some of which showed faces of the 62 killed and missing in the latest Peruvian upheaval. Protesters blasted President Boluarte and her right-wing agenda, still supported by the U.S. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights says Peru has committed human rights violations, including the murders of Peruvians for political reasons which Boluarte denies. The people of Peru invite the world to join them in their battle for accountability and the end of suppression/By Patricia Leslie
At the Embassy of Peru, guests walked up and down, to and fro the second floor in single file/By Patricia Leslie
The ambassador's office on the second floor at the Embassy of Peru/By Patricia Leslie

The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1401 16th St., NW. The line was long and fairly immobile for the food section outdoors in the back, but getting inside did not take much time. I did not wait for food!/By Patricia Leslie

At the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, students answered questions/By Patricia Leslie
Inside the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan/By Patricia Leslie
At Kazakhstan, a table for children's play was set up/By Patricia Leslie




Next stop, May 13, 2023, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the 25 open European Union embassies, plus one country-in-waiting ....


patricialesli@gmail.com