The 446-acre National Arboretum, situated in Northeast Washington along the Anacostia River, has a huge collection of azaleas that draws crowds until July. We have gone in years past and thought this time we’d go when the azaleas were supposed to be at their peak, but I think a lot of them bloomed early due to our unseasonably warm weather in February. Still, it was a beautiful display and a pleasant time spent walking around the enormous grounds (twice now), especially after the sun came out. We also got to see one of several resident bald eagles and its nest, so an added bonus (except a third of the park was closed to the public because of them).

We have never been to the arboretum before when the dogwoods were in bloom. They were everywhere, and gorgeous.

View from the gardens: US Capitol columns, posted earlier: