We returned to the National Arboretum on Sunday as I had wanted to visit their bonsai display and Japanese garden. A lot has changed since I was there some eight years ago. The bonsai were still spectacular, but the Japanese garden was closed, although there is now a Chinese pavilion. There are also many more buildings in the complex than I remembered.

We stopped off first at the US Capitol Columns, 22 of the 24 that were part of the east central portico of the US Capitol. They were completed in 1826 and stood until 1958, when they were dismantled to make way for the east front extension of the Capitol, which is adorned with marble reproductions.

The entire arboretum was packed, with people enjoying the beautiful weather, even though the azaleas were pretty much spent, but we did walk around a mountain on the grounds and saw their peony garden, which was in full bloom.