U.S. National Arboretum

Like a diamond in the rough, an unexpected treasure is tucked away in an area just a few miles behind the Capitol Building. It is the National Arboretum, a living horticulture museum (as well as a research and conservation facility) of trees and plants, herbs and foods, maintained by the Department of Agriculture.

We took the girls to visit it. We stopped first at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Michelle and Aliyah are in the Japanese Pavilion.

The tree behind Jeff and Aliyah is a Japanese White Pine, in training since 1625. That indicates the tree's age. To put it into an American perspective, Jamestown, Virginia was settled in 1607; we declared Independence in 1776; and our government came into being (the Constitution was signed) in 1787. This tree was "in training" almost as long as America had Western European colonizers!

We then strolled towards the National Capitol Columns: twenty-two sandstone Corinthian columns that used to stand at the east portico of the U.S. Capitol (1828 - 1958).

As we made our way back from the columns, Aliyah running ahead of us, a snake slithered out of the grass and onto the concrete path in front of her. Aliyah was really close to the snake and did not initially notice it. I told her to stop; it was a good thing because the snake quickly recoiled, cocked its head, and poised to strike. We were able to intervene before it did so. We then had to explain to Aliyah why you need to be careful around snakes.

We made our way around the rest of the arboretum by car. We saw the Azalea Collections, Holly and Magnolia Collections, Youth Garden, Fern Valley, Dogwood Collection, National Herb Garden, and several other collections. What a beautiful place, well worth the visit.