FALL
FOLIAGE
IN THE U.S.CAPITAL
Sunrise through oak leaves
at Buck Hollow Overlook.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park
BY LISA FRANCE
EVERY DAY, D.C. IS AWASH WITH TOURISTS
LOOKING TO ENJOY THE PLETHORA OF HISTORIC
AND ARCHITECTURAL SITES THE DISTRICT
OFFERS. FALL IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO ENJOY
TEPID TEMPERATURES, FEWER TOURISTS, AND A
REMARKABLE NATURAL AMBIANCE AS THE LEAVES
ARE CHANGING TO VARIOUS HUES OF YELLOW, RED
AND ORANGE. IN AND AROUND THE D.C. AREA THERE
ARE VISUAL DELIGHTS TO ABSORB WHILE IMBIBING
SLICES OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
There are many guided tours available, but should you desire
to trek out on their own to see the fall foliage, we suggest
starting at the President’s home for an undeniable spectrum of
beauty and color.
The White House is a great place to view stunning fall colors.
From John Adams, the fi rst President to live in the White
House, to as recent as the Obama Administration, planting
a tree has been an important part of 1600 Pennsylvania.
President Rutherford B. Hayes began the tradition of
commemorative tree planting. White oaks, sugar maples
and scarlet oaks were all planted in early years. In addition
to the arboricultural interest of early presidents, there was a
landscape architect named Andrew Jackson Downing who was
inspired to create a collection of trees, which would grow in
the ‘climate of Washington.’ These, and other trees, turn vivid
AUTUMN 2017 45 FLYWASHINGTON.COM