An Urban Exploration

 In 2023,  we will be spending about half of our time in Metropolitan Washington.  We are "grand parenting".  Can I find natural habitats to satisfy my photographic interests? This winter, I've been including a good number of black and white edits that look largely at form in an image when colors are frequently lacking.

An initial exploration was the Great Falls of the Potomac on the Virginia side.  It's a powerful falls, and that was my focus.

The falls is huge, but the real feel is better captured in a close view.  The sky would be a distraction, right?

Our location in DC requires only a five minute walk to be in Rock Creek Park where I can find many walking trails and also park roads closed to thru  traffic.  On one morning, I road a bus north towards the Maryland border and quickly was on a nice trail into the upper part of the park.  The traffic on Sixteenth Street was roaring, but in the park I only saw a few walkers.  The trail topped a rock bluff overlooking the creek.  The next day I returned to reach the opposite side of the creek.

I discovered several beds of wildflowers along my path.  Next week, I will be back for these as I expect the Snow Drops to be blooming.  

Along the creek, I discovered early hints of spring including these red maple tree buds. 

The stream side beech trees were still holding onto last year's leaves.

By all appearances, Rock Creek Park is an old growth forest.  There are no sawed off tree stumps; no evidence of any timber harvest in a century. I saw many truly massive trees.  Along the banks of the creek, large trees often send their roots over the bank toward the stream. Beautiful.

Near Military Road, I came upon the Joaquin Miller Cabin at a stream side picnic grove.  The cabin's namesake was an eccentric poet who lived in it from 1883 to 1885.  Originally located at Sixteenth and Belmont Streets, it was relocated to the park when city growth targeted it for removal.

Here's a final discovery from my rambling along the creek.  I wonder how I will treat these scenes when the leaves begin to add greens and also start to hide some of the details I find so easily now?

Of course,  I did find some colors to celebrate even in early March. This bunch of daffodils is far removed from any garden.  Perhaps the squirrels relocated them?

Another good location I have found is Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland.  It is rich with carefully designed flower beds and ornamental trees.  These Asian Witch Hazel flowers were more dazzling than the nearby native varieties.

On my next visit, I am hoping to find more flowering trees including the famous Japanese Cherry Trees.  Finding them in bloom will require some mastery of the bus system plus some magic with the spring weather. I make no promises. 

I am actually surprised at what I could find to photograph, and also that Rock Creek Park was largely free of litter.

Paul