United States National Arboretum

We had set up round trip tickets from San Diego to JFK, with the plan to take the train down for a few days to visit Ira's family and tour around DC. I had never been before and Ira was excited for me to see all the sights and enjoy all the museums for free. Yes, free! 

We had tickets on Amtrak, but because they are borrowing the rail lines, their trains are often late as they have to give way to the metro trains. I had never heard that before, but we definitely experienced the delay. No worries though, because delayed is always better than cancelled. We were on the train for about three and a half hours all the way to Alexandria, Virginia where Ira's uncle Phil was picking us up. While on the train listening to the stop announcements I realized we had travelled from New York, through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and finally Virginia. Pretty cool! 

It was late when we arrived, so we had a brief tour of Phil and Laurie's home and then it was time for bed. Travelling is tiring.

In the morning we had more time to visit over coffee and tea, until our friend Kevin, came to pick us up. Coincidentally we had bumped into him in Japan at the Kokufu vending area and promised to look him up when we were in town. He generously offered to pick us up and take us to the United States National Arboretum to walk with us through the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

There were two things we were there to see and one of them was the only tree on display outside. The rest we assumed were still inside for the winter.

Japanese White Pine - Pinus Parviflora "Miyajima"

This bonsai has been cultivated for so long that it passed through five generations of a single family of bonsai artists in Japan before arriving  here. The Yamaki family, renowned in Japan for their dedication to the art of bonsai, cared for this tree in their outdoor nursery attached to their home in Hiroshima.

On the morning of August 6, 1945, both the Yamaki family and their beloved bonsai survived the atomic blast that devastated Hiroshima. Thirty years later, bonsai master Masaru Yamaki offered this tree -- one of his oldest and most treasured -- as part of a gift from the people of Japan to the United States in honor of America's bicentennial.

While we were admiring the tree, the curator and assistant curator found us, or more accurately, found Kevin. They took us to where the rest of the trees were being held until the spring weather arrives. Inside was the second bonsai we came to see.

"Goshin" - "protector of the spirit"

Chinese Juniper - Juniperus chinensis 'Feminia'

In training since 1953

This was a gift to the National Collection from John Naka in 1984. This composition was a forest planting of eleven Foemina junipers. The individual trees represent Naka's grandchildren. It's name, "Goshin", references the forest shrine in Japan, that inspired it. John Naka founded the California Bonsai Society in 1950 and is considered the father of American Bonsai.

The following are just a few of the standouts for me. The trees are beautiful, though I feel that in this collection, the donator is just as important as the tree.

Trident Maple - Acer buergeriamum

Donated by Michael Levin

Founder and Owner of Bonsai West in Littleton, MA

Age Unknown

Chinese Elm - Ulmus parvifolia

Donated by Marybel Balendonck, 1990

In training since 1970

Greenhouse

After walking through the greenhouse -- though in my opinion it was too pretty to call it a greenhouse -- the assistant curator took us to the tropical display.

Buttonwood - Conocarpus erectus

Donated by Mary Madison (the Buttonwood Queen), 1990

In training since 1975

Buttonwood - Conocarpus erectus

Donated by United States Central Intelligence Agency

In Training since 1993

Interesting thing about this bonsai. It was originally collected from the Florida Everglades. It was purchased by bonsai professional, Bjorn Bjorholm, at the request of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE gifted the tree to the CIA as a token of their strong partnership. The CIA director accepted the tree on behalf of the museum.

See what I mean about the donor being as important as the tree? Before leaving us the assistant curator walked us to the suiseki display, which was small but impressive.

Chrysanthemum Stone

Hubei Province, China

Gift of Ralph W. Johnson, 2005

The largest in North America (54" tall). It shows how the surrounding matrix can be carved away to enhance the illusion of flowers emerging from the stone.

Mount Lushan

Hualien stone (marble), Taiwan

Gift of Akey Chang-Fu Hung, 2020

Afterwards we walked back to the car and decided to drive up to see the column structure. On the way, we came across this Ginkgo Biloba. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it definitely made us stop and look.

From a distance we had seen these columns and Kevin thought we should probably go check them out. It was cold but sunny, so why not?

The plaque near the columns said:

"The presence of the National Capitol Columns on the knoll in this meadow was the inspiration of Ethel Shields Garrett, patron and friend of the National Arboretum. It is through her vision, courage and determination for thirty years that these historic columns were saved and transferred to this site."

I later found out that these columns were originally part of the U.S. Capitol. They were removed in 1958 during a renovation and stored over 20 years before being moved to the arboretum in the 1980s. 

Why were they removed you asked? to make room for an addition that was added to balance the look of the Capitol after the larger-than-expected dome. Symmetry seems to be a theme in D.C. I'm finding out.

After the Arboretum we grabbed a quick lunch. We assumed Kevin would want to leave us to our own devices but to our pleasant surprise he was free for the afternoon. Ira let me choose what museum to go to, so I the Portrait Gallery. 

More on that in the next post.

A dopo!