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.

The Luling water tower resembles a watermelon to honor the local watermelon industry. The tower is 154 feet tall and 56 feet in diameter. The tower is a notable landmark and attraction for travelers. Every year, Luling holds the Watermelon Thump, a festival with competitions for melon-eating and seed-spitting that has been ongoing since 1954. The current world record for seed-spitting
is almost 70 feet.

Building materials: gourd, palm fronds, bamboo, willow, wisteria, kiwi vine

View from the Capitol columns, posted earlier: