Azalea Walk Photos

Azalea garden with stairs: Photo by Ben Wheeler

Every spring I look forward to walking through the U.S. National Arboretum's fantastic Azalea collections. The woods seem to burst with every color azalea in existence and it's a beautiful hike through the azalea laden forest. According to the Friends of the National Arboretum Save the Azalea & Boxwood Collections brochure, "nearly 10,000 azaleas cover Mount Hamilton at the U.S. National Arboretum in a blaze of color. The annual spectacle draws as many as 100,000 visitors to the Arboretum during peak blooming season in April and May."

Bicolor azalea: Photo by Phyllis Wheeler

Azalea path: Photo by Phyllis Wheeler

Sunlit azalea path: Photo by Phyllis Wheeler

Azalea garden bench: Photo by Ben Wheeler

Hope you enjoyed this photographic walk through the National Arboretum's Azalea collection. May God bless you!

Secret Gazebo Photos & Haikus (Short Poems)

Secret Gazebo: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, May 2013

Secret Gazebo Haiku Poem

 Secret gazebo

Hidden in the pine forest

Nestled in spring blooms

There's a secret gazebo nestled in the midst of the National Arboretum's Conifer Garden. I love visiting it with my husband and taking in the fresh air and quiet surroundings. It's especially beautiful in spring with azaleas and other flowers blooming nearby.

Gazebo Window: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, May 2013

 Spring Happiness Haiku

 Hiking through the pines

Enjoying fresh spring air and

time with my husband. 

Inside Gazebo: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, May 2013

Sometime I'd like to visit the arboretum with a friend who likes to read so we could just hang out in this gazebo and enjoy reading in the fresh air together.

Gazebo View: Copyright © by Ben Wheeler, May 2013, used with permission

My dear husband took the photo above and he kindly consented to let me share it with you. May God bless you, dear friends!

Related posts:

• National Arboretum Flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/national-arboretum-flowers-insects.html
• Azalea Walk Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/azalea-walk-photos.html
• Orchid Jubilee: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/orchid-jubilee-at-us-national-arboretum.html

Herb Demonstrations at the US National Arboretum

Mary Lou Winder demonstrates herbal jewelry making
Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

Today my husband and I went for a walk at the US National Arboretum and happened upon their free "Under the Arbor Herb Demonstrations". What a pleasant surprise and blessing! According to a National Herb Society representative, 2012's herb of the year is the rose. Most of the demonstrations focused on roses. In the above photo you can see Mary Lou Winder making beads from roses. If you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see some of her hand made rose jewelry (earrings at the bottom left and necklaces at the bottom right of the photo). This was, to me, the most amazing part of the event. I'd never heard of jewelry made from roses before and Ms. Winder kindly explained the process and demonstrated the last two steps for me.

People discussing herbs and looking at the variety of $1-$3 herbs for sale
(there was a sign indicating that proceeds went to charity)
Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

National Herb Society, Tidewater Division, Year of the Rose Display
Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

Display of herbal products made with roses
Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

All of the displays were fun and had interactive elements. I was able to try a handmade rose petal salve and they even had some handmade chocolate candy balls made with rose hips (I didn't try any because it had powdered sugar which often has corn starch and I'm allergic to corn and all of its by products but it looked yummy.)

If you want to see some of my husband's and my US National Arboretum photos I have a photo tour of their Famous Azalea Walk as well has some rainy day foliage photos taken on Earth Day 2012. Hope you have a pleasant surprise in store for you this weekend. May God bless you!

Have you had a pleasant surprise lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Disclosure: I wrote this voluntarily and wasn't asked to write it. As usual with most of my posts (unless specifically specified otherwise) I have no financial relationship with any of the people or organizations mentioned in this post although I am a frequent visitor of the US National Arboretum.

Autumn Bonsai Exhibit At U.S. National Arboretum

Yesterday my husband and I happened upon the National Arboretum's Autumn Bonsai exhibit in their National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. If you're within driving distance of the Arboretum the exhibit runs until November 10, 2013. The outdoor bonsai trees photographed better but the indoor ones were amazing too. The bonsai tree pictured above was located outside.

 This amazing pear tree bonsai was also located outside.

This spooky bonsai tree with bat art greets visitors as the enter the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

 My photo doesn't do this beautiful bonsai justice but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

 I thought this little bonsai was neat. I think it was the smallest on display.

I think this is Japanese blood grass and I'd like to add some to our garden next year (along with a Mr. Lincoln rose and some variegated Solomon's seal). I hope you enjoyed my mini photo tour of the Autumn Bonsai exhibit. May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Azalea bonsai: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/06/azaleas-of-old-japan-satsuki-bonsai.html
Secret gazebo: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-gazebo-photos-haikus-short-poems.html
Orchid jubilee: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/orchid-jubilee-at-us-national-arboretum.html
Dragonflies and butterflies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragonfly-and-butterflies-on-flowers-at.html
Day lilies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/beautiful-day-lilies-and-day-lily-haiku.html

Cool Flowers from the U.S. National Arboretum's Asian Collection

Pretty anemone flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy floral Friday! This week features flowers from the U.S. National Arboretum's Asian gardens. It's a favorite place of mine to walk in the summer because it's mostly shady.

Purple flowers and buds: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I'm guessing that these purple flowers are a type of aster. I liked both the open flowers and the unfurling buds. So did the bees and a few moths.

Delicate pink rose with white center: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 This little pink rose was a pleasant surprise.

Unusual daisies: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 These neat daisy like flowers appeared to have hollow petals.

Yellow day lily in front of variegated bush: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The yellow day lily looked especially striking against the variegated shrub's leaves.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Secret shady gazebo: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-gazebo-photos-haikus-short-poems.html
National Arboretum flowers & bugs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/national-arboretum-flowers-insects.html
Amazing day lily colletction: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/beautiful-day-lilies-and-day-lily-haiku.html

Autumn Asters, Honey Bee and Capitol Columns at US National Arboretum

Honeybee on purple aster: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy floral Friday! Asters are one of the joys of autumn. I think this honey bee would agree.

Asters and field foliage: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

This week at the U.S. National Arboretum the purple autumn asters are in full bloom. 

Capitol columns with autumn color: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The area by the capitol columns is a great place to view them.

Autumn aster field and foliage: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The asters contrast nicely with the autumn foliage of nearby plants.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you this autumn and always!

Related posts:
Autumn bonsai tree foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/10/autumn-bonsai-flowers-and-chrysanthemum.html
2013 Autumn bonsai foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/autumn-bonsai-exhibit-at-us-national.html
Fall foliage at USNA: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/fall-foliage-at-us-national-arboretum.html

Orchid Jubilee at the U.S. National Arboretum

Ben (my beloved husband) and I attended the National Arboretum's 65th annual Orchid Jubilee today. The orchid display building smelled amazingly wonderful with the scent of so many orchids. If you live near Washington DC the event runs through Monday, October 8, 2012.

 Some exhibitors really got into the 65th anniversary theme.

All of the flowers were beautiful in their own way. The judges certainly had a difficult task. Here are some of the blue ribbon winning orchids.

 These boldly colored orchid blooms had photographers clamoring to get photos.

 But I thought these delicately colored orchid blooms were just as lovely, in their own way.

And some of the orchid displays seemed like they came right out of a fairy tale. This was certainly a treat for the senses.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! May the God of all creation bless you today and always!

PS: If you enjoyed this post you'll likely enjoy the following posts too:

• Orchid extravaganza: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/02/orchid-extravaganza.html
• Floral art photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/floral-fair-photos-art-and-arrangements.html 
• National Arboretum flower and insect photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragonfly-and-butterflies-on-flowers-at.html
• National Botanical Garden photographs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/national-garden-photographs.html 
• Cherry blossom and Washington DC monument photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/washington-dc-cherry-blossoms-and.html

Fall Foliage at the U.S. National Arboretum

The fall foliage at the U.S. National Arboretum seemed to peak this week and it's a great time to visit if you're close enough. If you look closely you can see the capitol columns in the background in the photo above.

I love the different reds in the Japanese maple trees in the photo above (taken outside the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which is within the National Arboretum).

This interestingly shaped tree is near the old capitol columns (I plan to feature a picture of them in an upcoming post so be sure to return in a few days!).

 Graceful yet fiery Japanese maple tree.

Here's an overall shot of the little bonsai maple from yesterday's blog post. Some of its companions have lost their leaves already but it's still a striking display.

May God bless you this autumn and always!

Related posts:
Autumn bonsai: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/autumn-bonsai-exhibit-at-us-national.html
Autumn blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-autumn-blessing.html
Fall foliage in Maryland: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-foliage-in-my-suburban-maryland.html
Peaceful pond trail foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/peaceful-pond-trail-photos-haiku-poem.html

Beautiful Day Lilies and a Day Lily Haiku

Day lily time has arrived in Maryland and Washington DC. I took these photos at the U.S. National Arboretum this weekend. They have a delightful day lily garden with an amazing variety of blooms. I liked the varied colors and fringing on the day lily in the photo above.

 The day lilies above are giant (larger than my hand!) and colorful.

National Arboretum Day Lily Haiku

Day lilies blazing

So many colors and shapes

lighting up the field.

These neatly colored day lilies have an unusual yellow stripe through the red leaves and a faint tinge of red edging the yellow leaves.

This deep violet day lily has a gorgeous yellow center. There was also a violet day lily with a green center.

This apricot and yellow day lily has a tinge of white on the edges of the leaves and I love the ruffling. If you live in the DC area the U.S. National Arboretum's day lily garden is a wonderful sight! And if you're too far away to visit in person I hope you enjoyed this mini virtual tour.

May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
USNA Day Lily Garden 2012: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/06/dazzling-day-lilies.html
Our yellow day lily: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/06/hydrangeas-cosmos-primrose-and-day.html
Our bi-color double bloom day lily: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/zinnias-roses-joe-pye-weed-day-lilies.html

Fun Ideas from the Children's Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum

My husband and I enjoyed a walk in the U.S. National Arboretum's Children's Garden, more formally known as the Washington Youth Garden. I thought they had some clever gardening ideas and hope you enjoy the photos. Above is a garden room created by leaving space in a three walled giant sunflower garden. The sunflowers aren't blooming yet but I thought this was a neat idea and it will look even more fantastic once the giant sunflowers show their sunny yellow faces.

Here is a mini garden in a wheelbarrow. The radish seedlings are already up (and I'm thrilled to find out that I'm not the only one growing seedlings in this heat) and it looks like their flower seedlings will soon sprout.

 They have colorful signs with plant names. The photo above is from the herb garden section but they also have a berry bush section, at least two butterfly gardens, a huge vegetable garden and more.

 This giant bird seems like the garden's mascot and probably serves as a scarecrow too.

Seeing this literal garden bed made me smile and probably laugh out loud. I thought it was a highly creative idea.

If you live in the Washington D.C. area and have kids (or just like interesting gardens), you'll probably enjoy the Washington  Youth Garden. The vegetable, herb and fruit gardens aren't always open to the public (even with the main part of the U.S. National Arboretum is open) so you might want to call ahead and make sure the gates will be unlocked before driving over.

May God bless you this summer and always!

Dragonfly and Butterflies on Flowers at the U.S. National Arboretum

Dragonfly on water lily photo by Phyllis Wheeler

Happy floral Friday and holiday weekend to you! My husband and I took these photos at the U.S. National Arboretum and we hope you enjoy them. I felt blessed to be able to capture this dragonfly on the water lily because the insect was moving around rapidly.

Butterfly on orange zinnia photo by Ben Wheeler

 A rare untattered swallowtail butterfly. Most of the ones I see are kind of raggedy (but still beautiful).

Future butterfly on white flowers photo by Ben Wheeler

This insect isn't yet a butterfly but hopefully will be soon. I liked how my husband caught the caterpillar wrapping itself around the flowers and stem of the plant in the herb garden section of the National Arboretum.

Butterfly on orange zinnia photo by Phyllis Wheeler

This butterfly looked more blue in person and was moving about even more rapidly than the dragonfly. Isn't God's creation amazing? May He bless you today and always!