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Founder of Gratefully Nourished, follower of Jesus, new mom and registered dietitian. I provide resources and coaching to women and moms who are looking to eat healthy without obsession–and without sacrificing their relationship with food.
Winter is not my favorite time. So when it starts to look remotely like Spring, I am all about it. Almost annoyingly so. Since moving to the DC area, I’ve loved exploring all the different options to get outside, especially to see flowers. I absolutely love the Cherry Blossoms and think everyone should see them at least once, but this year the Magnolia Saucers may have been my favorites.
I found out about the Magnolia Saucers while I was stalking the Cherry Blossoms watch website. The photographer who shares updates week by week and eventually day by day shared that the Magnolia Saucers are a hidden gem that bloom a week or two before the Cherry Blossoms. (Honestly, reading that guide is probably more helpful than this one, but hey! Thanks for sticking around.)
Long story short, I wanted to go see the saucers but wasn’t sure when I’d make it down. For reference, I work in DC — just a couple miles from the Enid A. Haupt Garden, which is where these Magnolia saucers live. (I know, I know, soooo far. But in DC, it kind of is.) While I was planning my trip to see the saucers on my own time, I found out our team at work would be going to the first meeting for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to listen and take notes. (The DGAC is the group of smart people who write a report and give it to the USDA/Dept of Health and Human Services who then make the actual Dietary Guidelines for Americans.)
And guess where this meeting will take place? At the USDA, which is literally right across the street from this garden. Amazing, right!! I thought so. So I woke up at the crack of dawn to get down to the meeting an hour and a half early to take pictures. I made friends with some photographers who were clearly really, really great at photography. It was a balmy 55 at 7:45 in the morning, abnormally warm. I was really pleased.
How to get there:
Take the Silver/Orange/Blue line to the Smithsonian stop and when you get off, use the left exit. You’ll come out right in front of the USDA building. Head to the right one block and the back of the Smithsonian will be across the street. You’ll see the garden. The gates were open when I got there and I meandered around taking photos from different angles.
Hope you can visit these beauties sometime 🙂
