Arlington National Cemetery Part 2: UPDATED Jan 2017

BY SKEETER

Back at Arlington National Cemetery, we get a front view of "The Tomb of the Unknowns". I was captivated by the tree lined wall leading up to the site.

Backing off a bit, we see a fountain as well. Off for the winter of course but none the less making a beautiful photo. I only wish I had the Saint move our car up a bit (duh)  I do not know how to photo shop it out of the perfect picture.

The Wall of trees were stunning and I have no idea what type trees they could be. Does anyone have any information they can share on them?

******************************

UPDATE: JAN 10, 2017

The Saint and I visited Arlington National Cemetery once again over Christmas vacation 2016. I have solved the mystery of the Wall of Trees along the Tomb of the Unknowns.

 Just as Janet from the Queen of Seaford said, they are indeed Linden's. Here is a photo of one of the signs posted along the Walled Route!

 And there are more Lindens "Littleleaf" in the area as well.

 Facing the Tomb, the trees to the right seem to have been damaged since our last visit 4 years ago. I can only assume ice or brutal winds, age and disease are the blame. So there you have it, Wait around long enough (in this instance 4 years) and I will have your mysteries solved, In the Garden...

*****************************

Zooming in a bit we can see the monument a bit better and a rare photo as no spectators are in view. An early arrival assured this view.

Zooming in a bit closer and you see the Guard at work.

And zooming in yet a bit more, you can see the "Tomb of the Unknowns". I have a simple little camera but it has a powerful zoom, I tell ya. Click HERE to learn more about the Tomb of the Unknowns.

We continued on up the hill to the Tomb. Green Grass, the tree lined wall, water fountain and evergreens in view.

 Upon the Guards turn, you can see the pretty flowers in the planter behind him. 

We witness the Changing of the Guard and also a Wreath Laying Ceremony complete with the playing of Taps. I had to hold back the tears with this touching ceremony with so many sad emotions taking over my body.

I spotted this Holly filled with berry's which quickly turned my mood around.  

This evergreen tree caught my eye as well. It reminded me of the Christmas trees of Germany.

 Blooms were popping open reminding me of life.

We visited John F. Kennedy's plot. 

Now we head up to Arlington House also known as Lee's House. That hill must be fun to mow. 

Views of downtown Washington D.C. from above. 

The side of Arlington House shows signs of gardens.  

 I have never been there during the summer so have no idea what the gardens are like. I must return during a warmer month.

The Kitchen Gardens are lacking this time of year as to be expected.  

Signs tell us they grew Asparagus, Lettuce, Tomato, Peppers and Cucumber. Strawberry Patch and Herb Garden as well. Chickens and Guinea Hens were kept on the property also. I am assuming they have a nice veggie garden in the summer months. 

Near the house one finds a small amphitheater.

Vines are growing up each support of the arbor.  

This tells me that the vines are Wisteria. I can only imagine the blooms in the spring.  

The setting for many Memorial Services. Click HERE to learn more.  

Zooming in just below the stage, I spotted Rose's.

I found a pathway that led to some stairs so I took them to get a front view of Arlington House.  

I was overcome by a stench and soon discovered these fruit all over the place.  

I looked up to the tree above to discover a huge tree! Upon further investigation I spotted these leaves telling me that I have found a Ginkgo Tree! I have talked about the large Ginkgo tree that I grew up with in my childhood home. Click HERE to read that blog. With that posting so long ago, people mentioned the bad scent of the Ginkgo tree which I had never experienced. A male/female thing and now I can say I have experienced that nasty scent so many complained about!  Imagine me discovering this in all places, Arlington National Cemetery!  

Pink Rose and Muhly Grass.  

Once leaving the House area, one is reminded of being in the middle of a cemetery and not a garden.

I spotted this oddly shaped monument and decided to get a closer peek.  

 This one touched home as my hometown in Clarksville, TN is connected with Ft Campbell, KY.

After reading this, I see why the shape of the monument to the fallen. 

At that very moment, a Military Fly Over took place above my head. Every hair upon my arms stood straight up! I knew someone had just been laid to rest near by. This really got my attention and reminded me of all the sacrifices made for us here in the United States of America! I have never walked on such sacred grounds as ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, In the Garden...


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Giving Thanks

By Skeeter
On this day I would like to Give Thanks from my Georgia Garden.
I am most happy to Give Thanks for my good health and wonderful family and friends...
I would like to give Thanks for the beauty which surrounds me... I would like to give Thanks for the childhood memories of this beautiful Ginkgo Tree in the front yard of our old house...

(I talked about This Ginkgo Tree a while back and my mom was kind enough to send me a picture of it this fall when in full fall glory. Go to the link to see how big this tree once stood in the 70's and imagine how huge it would be today had someone not topped the beauty.)

I would like to give Thanks to my eyes for without them, I would not see such beauty around me... I would like to give Thanks for blogging as it has opened those eyes to many things I would have never noticed without you...
I would like to Give Thanks for the fallen leaves. Most would view them as a pain in the butt. I view them as a gift from the trees reminding me how lucky I am to have a home and leaves to rake...
I have so much to be grateful for that I could go on and on with GIVING THANKS, In the Garden...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Ginkgo Tree

By Skeeter

Ah, the fond memories I have of growing up in that old Farmhouse outside of downtown in Clarksville, Tennessee. In this picture dated around 1981 or so, you can see the front porch filled with plants. You can see my grandmothers iris to the front of the house. You can see some sort of bowling ball statues at the stairs entry that I know Tina will find interesting. As I pick up limbs on the ground from high winds here in my Georgia Garden, I cannot help but think of one of my favorite trees from that old house. You see the naked branches of that tree in this winter picture. Wow, they don't have snow falls like this any longer in that area. This pic was around late 70's.
With time, the house was sold and became an apartment dwelling loosing its appeal to the eye. The Iris have been buried over with cement, the porch is gone as are the interesting Bowling Ball entry to the steps. Sigh, that is the way it goes at times. Nothing remains the same. Or does it? Look at that Green Tree standing tall after all these years! I snapped this picture when home on a recent visit. About 30 years later and she still stands tall.

This is a Ginkgo Tree or Ginkgo Biloba. It has no close relative and is known as a Living Fossil. The Ginkgo is from China where they may grow well over 100 feet tall and live to be thousands of years old. A 3,000 year old Ginkgo is said to be in the Shandong Providence of China.

Note: The tree to the right (in the picture above this one) is a Walnut Tree that either my dad or his foster brother planted in the 50's.

The leaves of the Ginkgo are fan shaped. I have seen these leaves on fossils in the Smithsonian Museum and also on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC where one is currently growing. A Google Search on the Ginkgo tells me the female tree has fruit and also a bad odor. Our tree must have been a male tree as it had no foul odor or fruit.

Here are a couple of pictures I snapped back in 1978 of the tree in fall. Even as a teenager, I was snapping pictures of such things never knowing I would one day be writing a blog about it. Funny how that works...
The leaves turn a Bright Yellow which is an understatement. I think the tree is turned to Gold. Then within a few days, all the leaves fall to the ground as if overnight! They are very heavy leaves to rake and I sure did my share of raking them as a child. Glad I don't have to rake them today! The only time I am home during fall is usually the third week of October to attend a Humane Society Benefit Ball so I am not lucky enough to see the Gold Tree as it is just starting to turn colors when I am there. As you can see the Jack-o-Lantern is in place in this old picture so Oct 31 was soon to be. So I am guessing the leaves fell just after Halloween.
Upon a closer look, I can see this poor tree has taken a beating over the years. It has been pruned a few times and someone has pounded Railroad looking spikes into the tree. I counted 6 before I got so upset that I had to stop counting.
I am not sure the reason why someone would do such a thing to a tree but I have two guesses. One is to climb the tree. Okay, I can see that as they were placed as if one may want to climb it. The second guess is to possibly kill the tree! Remember me saying those are heavy leaves to rake when they fall? Maybe the apartment tenants are responsible for the yard clean up and they don't like to rake leaves. Hum....
If they are trying to kill this tree with the spikes, I think it may take a bit more then spikes to kill it. After the Atom Bomb was exploded in 1945, only a few things were found living in the area and the Ginkgo tree was one of them. They are standing tall and are healthy today! In this above picture, you can see where the tree has healed itself from another form of damage.
Look at the size of that tree trunk. I don't know how old this tree is but it has been in this spot since the 50's.
Ginkgo's have been used as pharmaceutical purposes for Memory Loss, Concentration issues and Vertigo. It's use has been proven ineffective in Alzheimer's and Dementia studies.

It is depressing to see the once beautiful city Farmhouse I called home but soon my eye is taken up high to the GINKGO TREE, standing tall, In the Garden...

If you are ever in the area of Commerce Street just behind the Catholic Church around the end of October, look for the big glow in the sky!