Checking Out Our Government's Greenhouses!

~Highlight of the Day: Finding my presumed long lost black ear-thingy for my skull candy earphones (it was the last medium sized one. . . only the medium ones fit my ears!) ~

So I could write a ton of juicy details on the operations of the Smithsonian greenhouses and the U.S. Botanical Garden greenhouses, and then go on to list off a bunch of Latin names and what not. Or. . . I could just post a few pictures, only explain the really interesting ones, and get to bed at a semi-decent time :)  

Gotta be green - the yellow flats are made of corn,
and the pots are made out of wheat. I guess
 if anybody gets hungry before lunch they're set :)

spiderweb begonia!

How great is this? I thought it odd that Longwood has random topiary animals stashed away in dusty corners (like the life sized elephants in the barn at the nursery. . . ) but apparently it's something everybody does!

Now can you imagine my surprise when I, who just yesterday was
wondering about this flower, found it casually hanging out next to
 some cold frames back behind the US Botanic Garden greenhouses,
with a label!

I've decided I really like cacti and succulents. I think I may have to start a collection when I stop moving every three or four months :)

Look at this! We totally used to have one of these
when I was little! I may have
been more excited about this than the plants. . .
maybe :)

Um. . . dreadlocks. That's all I can think of when I look at this.

Variegated Ginkgo biloba!?! How awesome is that?! I want one. . .

Ok, so I still ended up talking way too much and spouting off Latin names. . . but much less than I would have, let me assure you! Also, must Downton Abbey be sooooo incredibly sad and emotionally draining? I'm having some issues here.