Smithsonian Victorian Gardens.

Another trip offered by the retirement community where I live.  This time the destination was Washington, DC, The Smithsonian Institution, and specifically the Victorian garden which resides behind the Smithsonian Castle.

As we exited the Castle through these doors,

 here was the first view.

What a blue sky day, low humidity for Washington, too.

Off to the right and left are large trees with air plants hanging from the branches.

The garden is so symmetrical.

The garden is flanked by two museums which are primarily underground.

In fact the Victorian Garden is on top of the museum spaces for these two museums.

Though the museum with the circle motif is on the left, the gardens on the right have the circle motif.

Another view of the castle.

The docent took us in to a hidden garden where tropical plants are displayed.

If I'm ever here for lunch I'll have to bring it to this out of the way spot.

We then visited the gardens on the left which had a square theme.

See the Washington monument above the trees.  Just this week it has reopened.

Here's another garden we visited on our own on the other side of the Exhibition Hall

One last shot of the castle where our white bus waits to take us back home.

Airplane Noses

A second post from our visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

I was taken by the decorations on the various planes, mostly in the front or the nose.  And that part of the airplane came in a variety of shapes.

I think the first one is a Corsair.  Someone who knows their planes may correct me.  Very popular among pilots in WWII.  Women flew these in the States but not in battle.

Compare the nose above to the Blackbird which flew incredibly fast and used in Cold War aviation.

Skunk on the Blackbird has something to do with how it smelled.  The plane is made of titanium which the US didn't have access to so dummy corporations were formed to purchase titanium from the Soviets.  The plane was then used to spy on the Soviets but never flew over their airspace.

This one as insignia on the fuselage.  Recognize it?

Here's a close up.  It's the USA throwing its hat in the ring to join the war.

Love this eagle!

Look closely at this image.

Yes, daring young men on the flying trapeze.

Here's the nose of the Concord.  It may have been a fast flight over the Atlantic but required so much fuel that it wasn't economical to fly.  Notice the very small windows - necessary because of its speed.

This one is really shiny.

Here is one of the smallest planes.  7 foot wing span!

You know what this one was famous for.

Interesting pattern on this nose.

Can't remember what this was

Here's the nose of the space shuttle.  

To get the shuttle in the building the roof had to be removed above the doors.

It is a fascinating place.  More to come in another post.