Resting From My Labors

usbg
Originally uploaded by Randuwa

I decided to go down and spend the morning (and it bled into the early afternoon) on the Mall in DC. I visited the National Gallery of Art, The National Museum of the American Indian, and the United States Botanical Garden. www.usbg.gov.

The USBG is one of the hidden gems on the Mall. Everyone knows about the Museum of National History (the dinosaur museum), The Air & Space Museum (Wright bros. plane to Apollo capsules), and the Smithsonian castle, among others; but only hardcore enthusiasts would actually make the pilgrimage for the Botanical Gardens. Or so I thought! But today while you could here a pin drop at the NGA and move about the exhibits in sparse company at the NMAI, the USBG was absolutely packed. Not that it's that big to begin with, but...

It was established back the later part of the 19th century and over the years has undergone some dramatic transformations. One sort of glorified greenhouse to another. In 1997 it was closed to the public and underwent its latest and most extensive metamorphosis reopening to public in the spring of 2002.

Within the structure there are permanent exhibit halls, classrooms, and spaces dedicated to a Tropical Jungle (upper right image), a rare species room (with plants from Hawaii currently), a rotating exhibition space (with an exhibit of red hot chili peppers -- the plant not the band), an orchid room, a world desert room, a primordial forest (upper left image), to name a few.

Beyond the building, the gardens continue with a large garden of mostly native species complete with a pond inhabited by a least one little blue gill (the koi are in the stream in the Tropical Jungle). The visit is completed by a series of exterior exhibits along the front and capital facing side of the main building designed by botanical gardens from across the nation. Gardens in Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, New York, etc.

If you're planning a trip to DC, and you have a gorgeous day like today, don't spend all of it inside; check out the USBG.