Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

This morning we ventured out to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a national park in Southeast DC, which maintains a century old collection of cultivated water lilies from around the world. The kids had fun running around chasing the wildlife. We spotted and pursued turtles, geese, ducks, herons and muskrats. We watched Osprey hover on the wind above us hunting fish and listened to the red winged black birds call to each other. Reuben followed raccoon tracks and examined beaver teeth marks on trees.

I enjoyed watching the wind send shudders through the fields of lily leaves. I found myself reflecting on the ability to see beauty. How could Monet look at a similar lily pond, full of mud and life, and use it to create his water lily paintings? What is that process? It made me think we are all given the raw experiences worthy of making masterpieces.

The kids also had fun shaking the young pussy willows, making them release bright clouds of pollen. We all left happy but sneezing.