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Located at 1st Street SW and Maryland Avenue, the US Botanic Gardens are an annual must for Washingtonians, and the most popular visiting period in during the December poinsettia display. In the 19th century, US explorers brought back many specimens from the South Seas, and this demanded a suitable storage place. In 1842 the Congress authorized the very first greenhouse, and this has developed into a 3,716sq-m conservatory. It lies at the southwestern corner of Capital Hill, and is a very pleasant combination of iron and glass greenhouse, and stone orangeries. The gardens presently boast more than 4,000 different plant species. The main entrance hall acts as a seasonal show room, and rotates Christmas poinsettias, tulips and hyacinths or chrysanthemums. Nearby there is an impressive planting of high desert flora and a steamy tropical display in the large glass pavilion. If you visit on a weekday morning during winter, you can easily picture yourself in the middle of Arizona or the Sahara. Beautiful orchids, coffee, chocolate, banyan trees and plants resembling those of the Jurassic period, can all be found in the smaller conservatories. Across on Independence Avenue, lies one of the most beautiful pocket parks in the city, with its Bartholdi Fountain which is embellished with sea nymphs, monsters, tritons and lighted globes. It represents the elements of light and water, and is worth the visit alone. |