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DC is the land of azaleas. |
Springtime, even when it's still dipping down to 40F at night, is a flowery pollen-filled time in Washington, DC. This town, and northern Virginia (and I assume Maryland too), is just covered with azaleas everywhere you look. They used to drive me allergies insane, but the shots have helped a lot these past few years. (These are iphone pics.)
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Even more azaleas. |
I tried growing an azalea on my balcony in a pot, it looks more like the Charlie Brown Christmas Azalea. It's getting donated to my condo's rooftop some day soon.
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My sad two year old encore azalea. |
DC also has a lot of trees that may, or may not, be cherry trees. They all bloom at the same time, and while we usually think they're all cherry, I suspect many are not.
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I'm assuming cherry blossoms. |
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More cherry blossoms? |
I'm a big fan of Japanese Maple trees. I have one on my balcony that does surprisingly well, other than in August when it burns. I get too much light, and there's really nowhere to protect it. Am hoping my bamboo will grow big enough to help some year.
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Mini Japanese maple. |
And my bignonia is finally starting to bloom. This will be stunning when it stretches across my entire balcony railing in a few years.
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My bignonia. |
These are quite fun. They're trees at a local foundation, cut in the French way. They're pruned every fall in a way that makes the ends of the branches scar into this knuckle looking thing. I love them. You'll see them all over France. I remember once, when I was 19 and living in France, being told that they're called "Grandma's knuckles."
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Grandma's knuckles |
And finally, Sasha is ever vigilant in the park, waiting for the ducks to come back this summer.