Hillwood Gardens & Museum

Our third stop today was at the Hillwood Gardens and Museum.

This mansion and the grounds (guesthouses, gardens, pet cemetery, art research library greenhouses) once belonged to Ms. Marjorie Merriweather Post and upon her death was donated to the Smithsonian.
Ms. Marjorie Merriweather Post was the sole heir to her father C.W. Post's cereal empire.  She had four marriages, three daughters and a knack for hosting amazing parties.  One account is that after she hosted a Congressional soiree on her property, she left the tent up the next day for a Kentucky derby celebration.  And that Monday she had a benefit honoring Veteran soldiers.  What reveler she was!

The mansion

Greenhouse

Boxwood from Mount Vernon gardens

Put-put course

She has one of the few Japanese gardens that was developed after WWII.  Many Americans were straying away from interest in Japanese garden design and culture, but she embraced the Japanese outlooks on gardens and design.

The Orchids in the greenhouse were spectacular.

On exhibit in one of her many guesthouses are wedding dress from the many weddings she participated in and her daughters had.  It was nice to see how fashion has changed from 1874 now.

After touring her grounds, we went into her mansion.  The mansion consisted of all her collections of the Russian art, decorative arts, antiques, Russian icons, Faberge eggs and other Soviet kitsch ;) (Merriweather Post lived in Russia for a year with one of her Ambassador husbands and became obsessed with the art and culture).

National Cathedral & Gardens

Today, my work took the second of our three planned field trips for the summer.

Our first stop was the National Cathedral and its garden. 

After having a short inside tour, we got to climb the stairs and stand on the top of the cathedral.  Our guide said few get to do this, so the Smithsonian definitely has the hook up.  The views inside and outside the cathedral were amazing.

In the Bishop's garden we found Cedar tree branches that had been smuggled in a suitcase and delivered to the Cathedral around the 1960s, a 9th Century fountain from Charlemagne's time, a rose garden, gazebo and amphitheatre. 

My two favorite tid bits were a stain glass window that resides in the Cathedral holds an actual MOON ROCK in the window piece.  Crazy!

Can you see the Washington Monument?

Peace!

Rosa Parks

Mother Theresa

Bishop's Garden

Cedar's from Jerusalem

me and my fellow Smithsonian interns

Also, a somewhat comical discovery was that DARTH VADER is etched into the Cathedral.  As the legend goes, in the 70s there was a contest for what to put on a spire of the cathedral.  A middle school kid won and they put Darth Vader's head up there.  No - this is not a joke! Check out the pics!

Darth is on the right....can you see the helmet?

The Moon rock is in the top section of this stain glass window.

Smithsonian's Annual Folklife Festival

Every summer, the Smithsonian Folklife Center hosts a two week long festival.  This year's fest started June 30th and will end July 11th.

Each year, the festival typically focuses on three themes or areas of the world.  This year, the honored subjects are:
Columbia
Peace Corps (50 year anniversary)
Rhythm & Blues

All of which have fabulous food tents, entertainment, craft and speaking sections at the festival.

Today, the Smithsonian hosted a Staff picnic at the festival.  Last weekend at the folk fest I had West African dinner , Yassa.  This afternoon I tried some pad Thai from the - you guessed it - South East Asia tent.

After lunch, I headed over the the "Marketplace" with my fellow Longhorn friend, Carin.  She is a Smithsonian summer intern as well.  We awed at the sundresses displayed, but were held back by the prices :(  BUT i could not be coaxed out of my three CD buys.  The titles sound EXTREMELY interesting and are all from the Smithsonian folklife music archives. :))))))

They include:
American Blues
Classic Canadian Folk songs (includes the tune "A Poor Lone Little Girl in Saskatchewan" (see lyrics at the bottom of this post - they are quite entertaining)
Afro-Cuban Spirituals

My ears are so happy.

One thing I LOVE about DC is the rich, cultural diversity one is able to access each and every day - without even having to get on a plane!!! Can you imagine that ....


Lyrics to aforementioned song:
Anne Halderman, "A Poor Girl in Saskatchewan"(undated)

O, have you not heard of that plaguey pest,
That’s known by the name of the great northwest;
For the wondrous land of the setting sun,
Has taken my beaus away every one.

For one by one, they have all cleared out,
Hoping to better themselves, no doubt,
Caring but little how far they have gone
From a poor lone girl in Saskatchewan.

First, I was sweet on man named Len
He owned a good farm but he had a yen
To see the Peace country and try his luck
Now he’s in Grande Prairie and here I’m stuck.

There was dear Billy Mack and I thought ok,
I hinted he better get spliced and stay.
But he said to me tho’ I think you’re pretty
I have urgent business in Dawson City.

My lover, Ern Siefred, had rheumatis’,
In spite of that I was bound to be his,
But with Rouey’s linament he cured the ache,
And soon he was headed for Great Bear Lake.

Then there was Bob Black, oh what a catch
I thought it would be the perfect match
But he seemed in no hurry to take a wife,
Now he’s prospecting in Yellowknife.

I’ve made reservations with TCA*;
I’m off to the north and I’m going to stay,
I won’t give up ‘til I’ve found a mate,
If I have to follow to Bering Strait.

*TCA = TransCanada Airlines

Garden Scenes

My work has over 30,000 glass lantern slides!!! Check these beauties out! Breathtaking...