Botanic Gardens

United States Botanic Garden

US Botanic Garden made entirely from natural materials.

Window made from natural materials.

Pomegranate tree - I've eaten lots of pomegranates but never seen one growing!

Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum 

What's seven feet wide and takes 12 months to grow?  The Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum!  This method originated in China and Japan more than 200 years ago and is a very exacting science.  One plant is cultivated to produce 1,000 perfect blooms.  Any plant with more than 500 blooms qualifies to be called a Thousand Bloom.

Supreme Court

Contemplation of Justice Statue

Pinecone rooftop

United States Capitol

Yes, that's Scott!

Pink Powder Puff

Pitcher Plants

This is a very rare White-topped Pitcher Plant.

Can you see where the insects get trapped?

"Blue Tango" Bromeliad

Bull Horn Acacia

Bangkok Rose - Amaryllis Family

"Hawaiian Charisma" Orchid

"Tainan Gold Canary" Orchid

"Everything Nice" Orchid

"Howard's Dream" Orchid

"Tree of Okazaki" Orchid

Lollipop Plant

Bird of Paradise 

Cacao Tree

We get chocolate from these pods!

Strangler Fig

Liana Vines

Rainforest trees and plants.

Epiphytes - these plants grown without any dirt.  There roots get nutrients from the air.

Here I am on the upper level canopy walk of the Conservatory looking down on all the tropical plants.

Coral Aphelandra

We spotted this interesting frog in the rainforest.

"Vanda Coerulea" Orchid

The Botanic Garden was a great place to spend the afternoon.  There were many different rooms or habitats;  I especially liked the Orchids Room, the smell was amazing when you first walk in, and I liked  the Rare and Endangered Room.  Scott liked the Garden Primeval with ancient plants and ferns that have survived since Jurassic times, a mere 150 million years!