This time of year , visitors go in theU.S. Botanic Gardenget this rather somber view of the U.S. Capitol across the street . Inside , from now until New Year ’s Day , the views are festal as all get out . I attended a press prevue this week before the throngs start line up for selfies in front of everything photo - suitable . ( Visitor details here . )
Here in the central atrium are not just the poinsettias and decorate trees you may see anywhere . The highlight are 12 D.C. landmarks , like this Washington Monument replica , made entirely out of plant parts . Click hereto find out which industrial plant were used for each one .
The Smithsonian ’s newish Museum of African - American History and Culture is render for its second twelvemonth on presentation .
DC ’s magnificent Union Station make its debut here , with topiary bear because who does n’t love them ?
visitor pose in front of the U.S. Capitol Building reproduction .
Whole families and twin sister were posing for Instagram or the sodding Christmas cards .
Now for the main event – the wagon train room , which opened for visitor on Thanksgiving Day . This twelvemonth ’s subject – “ All Aboard ” – celebrates and recreates 29 geartrain place across the U.S. , include this Santa Fe Depot in San Diego . The stations were also made exclusively from flora parts and they ’re detailedhere in the brochure , which includes exposure of the real station , and a bit about their history .
A cute solo cable car passes the East Glacier Park Station in Montana .
The Beaux Arts Michigan Central Station in Detroit is one of the grandest .
Here ’s Cincinnati ’s Union Terminal , demonstrate below in real life ( from thebrochure ) .
This interior of New York ’s Pennsylvania Station , which was demolished in 1963 , is a sad storage for many .
Two station are works of pure imagination – this Dino Depot and a North Pole station , using plants thatactually survive there . After all , this is abotanic garden , a font of plant noesis , not some generic theme park !
Train account Meets Agricultural story
Train history yellowish brown will naturally eff this exhibit , but mass with land in their blood will , too – it chronicles the importance of train and their station to farmers throughout the U.S.
Above , a grain lift in Minnesota
That reminds me that the USBG ’s public affairs and exhibits guy is Devin Dotson(profiled here on the Rant)and his degree is in agricultural communicating . So it ’s no curiosity that ag history is taught here at the Botanic Garden , where the focus is n’t just on ornamental , and never has been . Throughout the train set , examples of grains send through the stations are expose along the tracks .
Gardens are Inclusive !
For most public gardens ( perhaps all of them ) , vacation display are meant for everyone , not just Christians . The stave tell apart me this position is top-notch - popular , especially on Christmas Day , with the many Muslims , Hindus and Jews who live in the surface area . Not to mention the untold “ nones ” like me who do n’t practice any faith at all , but still love the “ holiday ” .
So thanks to public gardens for give citizenry who do n’t keep Christmas something awesome to do that day , besides going to the movies . The USBG is free and open every daytime of the class .
