Azaleas at the National Arboretum

If you have never seen or photographed the spectacular azalea collection at the National Arboretum, you have missed out on one of the most gorgeous floral displays in the DC area! Blooming bushes in a myriad of colors delight the eye from late April to mid-May. There are plenty of photographic opportunities, with a walled garden (the Morrison Garden) with Boxwoods as well as Azaleas, the Glenn Dale Hillside on the south slopes of Mount Hamilton, and rustic woodland trails that wind through the Frederick P. Lee Garden, which is on the northeast slopes of Mount Hamilton. Azaleas are planted by their hybrid groupings as well as in color groupings of red, pink, salmon, purple, white, and bicolor.

Your instructor, Sherryl Belinsky, has photographed Azaleas at the National Arboretum as well as many other spring flowers in and around the DC area and will provide tips and techniques for photographing these beautiful blossoms.

Bring your camera, your wide angle, macro and telephoto lenses, and join us for this new photo safari at the Arboretum, during which we will cover white balance settings, exposure, ISO settings, lens use, polarizing filters, depth of field and composition for floral photography.

If you drive, during “peak bloom” season, the R Street gate is exit only, so all vehicles must enter through the New York Avenue gate. Make your way to the Azalea Gardens on Azalea Rd. NE. The group will meet at the entrance to the Morrison Garden, which is located near the intersection of Eagle Nest Rd. NE and Azalea Rd. NE. The closest Metrorail subway stop is Stadium Armory Station on the Blue and Orange lines. Transfer to Metrobus B-2; disembark the bus on Bladensburg Road and walk 2 blocks to R Street. Make a right on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.