The National Arboretum

We ended up here by mistake, but it was a good mistake!  I was searching for the Corpse Flower, which is in bloom at the National Botanic Gardens. I got the two mixed up, somehow. The Botanic Gardens are on the National Mall, located not far from the Smithsonian Museums. The Arboretum is located off of Highway 50, just inside of the DC line. The Arboretum was in the news a lot this spring because they had a pair of nesting eagles living there, and they set up an eagle cam that allowed anyone to follow the progress of the hatchlings. 

We might have missed out on the Corpse Flower, but we won because we spent many happy hours roaming through the grounds of the arboretum - and we didn't even get to see half of it!  

We spent time in the Bonsai Garden, the National Herb Garden, Fern Valley, The Children's Garden and over by the Capitol Columns. 

This quiet little corner of DC, located far from the maddening crowds of the traditional tourist attractions located around the National Mall is worth a visit!

Some pictures from our day:

A flower bed in the kids garden!

A tipi made of vines!

The Capitol columns, removed from the Capitol building to make room for an expansion. 

Fern Valley.

More Fern Valley. 

From the Bonsai Garden. 

More from the Bonsai garden. 

From the Herb Garden.