Capital Blessings

For Easter Joy

If you are in DC walking around anywhere near the Mall or the Tidal Basin today you are probably thanking God under your breath you got to see such beauty. It is rumored to be over 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) this Easter week-end so if you can get out to see the Cherry Blossoms and Dogwoods blooming in brilliant pinks and whites all over the place, do it soon because they are likely to drop by the end of this week-end. Resurrection- the Cherry Blossoms return every year. The timing couldn't be more perfect.

If you are around the Mall there are two Must Sees in keeping with a true Resurrection spirit-you can hear the angels singing at you sit quietly by the reflecting pool watching the gulls chase the ducks to the other side of the pond. The Orchids garden exhibition at the National Botanical Conservatory just on the southwest side of the main Capital building is a slice of Paradise. It's free-just walk into the little piece of heavenly mystery on earth and take in the glorious deep purple, white and every shade in between of tropical Orchards in the moss dripping conservatory that evokes images of Asian jungles. I didn't want to leave. The Purple Orchard is about as powerful as a red rose in it's intent- it should only be given to one you think you truly love and never taken as a mere potted plant to take up coffee table space. Properly nurtured it will speak passionate love to you for a lifetime.

Then, since you are so close, pop your head into the National Gallery and take a look at the Sacred Made Real Spanish exhibition- which features sculptures from Spain's 17th century in which a new technique of sculptured wood painted realistically like portraiture was developed. Spain holds the chair this year as head of the EU. This exhibition is courtesy of the Embassy of Spain and other generous benefactors. You should go if for no other reason than that you won't believe that Saint Ignatius of Loyola actually looked like that- and it's probably the closest most realistic image of him anywhere in America now as this life-sized statue was done in 1610 and is still in remarkable condition-as are all the featured sculptures. It looks like he would actually say "hi" back at you.

It's a gloriously sunny day in DC- time to smell daffodils, climbing roses, orchids, and time to landscape the reed pond around the Native American Museum. Proud to be an American.