Friday, November 13, 2009

National Arboretum

Hippo likes to go out and explore nature, especially at this time of year when nature is so pretty. When he doesn't have time to travel far, he likes to visit the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

It was a little early on Hippo's visit in October to see much color in the trees. But he liked this bright orange one and thought it'd make a wonderful Jack o'Lantern.

These columns were part of the US Capitol for over a century. When the Capitol was expanded the columns were moved to an open field where they contrast beautifully against the sky.

In the quiet areas of the Arboretum, the trees act a little silly when they think nobody is watching. Hippo caught this one make shadow puppets with its leaves.

The wooly worms were busy getting ready for winter. Hippo noted a faint smell of grapes and apples emanating from their dens. They must be stocking up on food for months of cold and snow.

There's a Scratch & Sniff garden that Hippo likes to explore. Sometimes he rubs his paws in the mint and herbs so he can remind himself of the delicious smells when he gets home.

4 comments:

Lorem Ipsum said...

Love the scarf, Mr. Potamus.

Regulus said...

"They must be stocking up on food for months of cold and snow."

Hippo, you are clever little hippo indeed, but I wouldn't put too much stock in what those caterpillars are "saying" -- if anything, they are just "telling" you how the weather was in the spring and summer, so it's more of a hindcast than a forecast.

They don't really have scientific or psychic abilities into what the winter will be.

YOU might, though.

Besides, we don't typically get much snow around here, all the local media panic notwithstanding.

Hippo A. Potamus said...

Well, no matter much or little precipitation we get, or how cold the air feels, it is all pretty rough when you're built that low to the ground! His teeny-tiny caterpillar knees could get frostbite from just a few flakes of snow. Maybe I should have shared my scarf with him to help him stay warm...except I'm not sure which end was his neck.

Hippo A. Potamus said...

We got almost two feet of snow here in DC. Now I know what Mr. Wooly Bear Caterpillar was trying to tell us!