We visited the US Botanic Garden’s annual “Season’s Greenings” display titled “Roadside Attractions” featuring plant-based recreations of iconic sights from across the United States, with G gauge model trains chugging around, below, through and above the displays.

In the heyday of Route 66 road travel during the 1950s and 1960s, this historic building was a Phillips gas station and service garage. It was converted to a diner in 1987 and retains much of the original building, including a working hydraulic lift. The diner prides itself on its collections of Route 66-era items, such as neon signs, Betty Boop memorabilia and one of the largest PEZ candy dispenser collections in America.

Building materials: Palm fronds (roof); acorn, gourd (clock); winged euonymus, redbud seed pods, palm stem, willow, elm bark (façade); star anise, wheat (lights); and red oak, birch bark, blue straw flowers and Harry Lauder's walking stick (sign).

U.S. Route 66, in eight states, posted earlier: