May 18, 19, 25 and 26
DINNER OUT WITH FRIENDS
After arriving in DC, Ned, Camille, and Bob met Frankie and Jessica at a Mexican restaurant in the lively Adams Morgan district. A good time, and a few mojitos, were had by all.
CABIN JOHN CREEK
We had another great hike with Ned in his Cabin John neighborhood. Ned lives a few blocks from both the Potomac, and Cabin John creek. We were looking at the flotsam piled up by a huge rainstorm the end of May.
MATRIARCH
Aunt Jeanette is the current matriarch of our family. She is Camille’s Mom’s older sister. On the left, a family portrait of Aunt Jeanette’s mother’s family, circa 1910.
BIKING ALONG THE POTOMAC
Ned and Father-Brother Joe get the bikes prepared for a jaunt up the river.
ALWAYS A BOUNTY
Staying with Ned each year is always a highlight of our spring. He was Bob’s college roommate his freshman year at University of Colorado – Boulder, way back in August 1976. Camille and Alison went to the farmer’s market while Ned and Bob bought compost and starts for the garden. The mushrooms they brought home from the market included morels, chanterelles, shiitake, lion’s mane, oyster, portobellos, and crimini. Criminy! They were amazing.
GARDENING, LIKE WE DO
Ned built some great patio containers that extend to the dirt below the deck. Alison is being worked like a rented mule moving the compost.
EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED
Bob was mixing the “soiless” mix of compost and peat moss while Alison was continuing to move materials.
PRESTO!
Instant food! We planted tomato, basil, pepper, beets, and edamame. We visit Ned the end of each May, so it’s a perfect time to get some garden on.
VINE ERADICATION
Alison displays on of the legacy vines that she and Ned pulled out of the landscaping. Ned is serious about his work, as you can see.
MESSING AROUND AT THE TREE ZOO
Bob had fun displaying a Japanese Maple leaf on his forehead, a third-eye patch. We toured the National Arboretum on a gorgeous day, and took time to sit often…like old folks.
CAPITAL IDEA
We posed for some pictures at the herb garden with the orignal US capital columns in the background.
TRADITION
Ned and Bob have made a point of taking a “sunglass picture” when they get together, a tradition that began at a Fleetwood Mac concert in Boulder back in 1977. Bob borrowed Alison’s sunglasses for the occasion. The US Capital columns were installed at the arboretum after they were removed from the capital building back in 1958.
BONSAI!
Who doesn’t love bonsai? We spent much of our time at the arboretum contemplating the dozens of bonsai specimens in the collection, some of them started training in the 1600’s.
VENERABLE PINE
A nearly 400 year old pine is on display. It stands about three feet tall and is flawless.
PERFECTION
Not a blemish on the camellia, and who knew the much despised sweet gum could be so distinguished.
VIEWING STONES
The are called suiseki in Japanese – meaning “water stones”, and they certainly are beautiful.
DIGITALIS
Back outside, we came across some digitalis, also known as foxglove, in the medicinal garden, where it belongs.