Cherry Blossom Time

April 8, 2018 by megtraveling

This is the first time that I’ve gone to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. and it was beautiful! The cherry blossoms were simply spectacular, and walking around the Tidal Basin was quite an adventure. There were enchanting views of tree after tree in full bloom. Lots of other people were walking on the paths but there were plenty of opportunities to see the blossoms and take as many pictures as you wanted. It was a cloudy day and chilly as well, but since snow had been predicted it was a relief to just have cloudy skies with no precipitation. I bought a wool hat at Union Station to wear for the day and it helped me stay warm. Too bad I didn’t buy some gloves as well! I couldn’t help but take hundreds of pictures and my hands were cold, but it was worth it.

Cherry Blossoms

I’m not sure how far I walked but this was one of the views from the path:

Cherry blossom path

Some of the trees were quite old and had interesting trunks.

Very old cherry trees

It was a day I’ll always remember. I’d like to go back next year, preferably on a warm, sunny day!

Viewing the monument

Fluffy blossoms

Blossom drama

A Little Snow Before Christmas

December 17, 2017 by megtraveling

Last weekend we had some snow and since it’s December it seemed like a good time for it. After all, it’s almost Christmas. However, when the sun came out a few days later it warmed up and now the snow is gone. That one cold, snowy Saturday turned out to be a perfect time for staying home, writing Christmas cards and having a cup of hot chocolate! I’m also enjoying the displays and decorations I’ve seen this month that are so cheerful for the holidays. These pictures are of scenes that I’ve admired from past Decembers. Sometimes it’s nice to stop and simply enjoy the season, especially when a little winter weather comes your way.

Festive scene

Flower arrangement

Indoor trees

Simple decorations

Shiny ornaments

Holiday wreaths

Colorful arrangements

Merry Christmas!

Souvenir Pictures from July 4

July 8, 2015 by megtraveling

The morning of July 4 I drove to Washington D.C. to see the fireworks. I arrived around noon and my first stop was the Library of Congress for a walking tour. I admired the impressive walls, floors and ceilings.

Graceful arches

Stained glass window

Look up and see this…

Colorful ceiling

Tiled floor

Next I walked to the Botanic Garden for a visit. The outdoor gardens were in full bloom and there were a number of displays inside. There was a thunderstorm late in the afternoon and it rained for more than an hour. I started to wonder if the rain would affect the evening’s fireworks, but when I checked the weather map on my phone I saw that after the storm went through there wouldn’t be any more rain.

Welcome sign

Flowers in bloom

Outdoor garden

Colorful tiles

After the Botanic Garden closed for the day the next stop was the Air and Space Museum. There were a lot of people walking around and probably waiting for the weather to improve. Later when the museum closed it was time to look for a place to sit somewhere on the Mall for a good view of the fireworks. The evening went slowly…7:30…7:45…8:34. Then suddenly it was dark and the program began! There was lots of cheering for the impressive display of fireworks. While it was happening I didn’t want to miss anything but I managed to get this picture.

When it was over there was applause and cheering, and now I have these souvenir pictures along with my happy memories of July 4.

Intricate

May 3, 2015 by megtraveling

When I was in Washington, D.C. a few months ago the Dome of the Capitol building was under renovation. There was a lot of scaffolding so I only took a few pictures. However when I saw this scene in the Reflecting Pool I thought it was much more interesting! Here is how it looked from the water.

For more on this theme look here.

Flowers for all Seasons

December 29, 2014 by megtraveling

I’ve been thinking about this year and all the opportunities that I’ve had to see flowers while traveling. It seems that each season features colorful and unique flowers. Here are some of my favorites from the spring, summer, fall and winter. It’s a nice way to remember the year! I’m looking forward to the year ahead with new opportunities to travel as well as time to enjoy being near home.

I’ve noticed that spring and summer flowers are both bright and dainty:

Flowers in May

It’s spring!

Flowers for sale

Fresh spring color

Lilies

Day lily

Summer morning

Here are some interesting autumn and winter flowers:

Autumn garden

Early fall with bees…

Flowers in December

Cheery colors

Holiday flowers

I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Travel theme: Golden

December 22, 2014 by megtraveling

I was in Washington, D.C. over the weekend and it was a festive time for a visit. I did a lot of walking and saw several of the Smithsonian museums and ended up at the Botanic Garden. The displays were so colorful and inviting so I stayed quite a while so I wouldn’t miss anything. Along with flowers there were replicas of many buildings that were gold in appearance. The garden was full of visitors from all over the world, but it was possible to find places to stand and simply enjoy being there.