Photograph Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens July 4th

In previous years, the rangers said they try to get to the park and open the gate by 7:45 AM.

From the website:
https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm
Waterlilies are bountiful all over the park! Our volunteers moved the tropical lilies from the hothouses to the display ponds, and they are vibrant. Bird enthusiasts have been enjoying watching the 3 young fledgling red-shouldered hawks, nesting orchard orioles, and kingbirds. Turtles have been laying eggs, and tadpoles and frogs are abundant in the ponds.

Every year, we visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on July 4th. The lotus flowers start blooming in early June and will be plentiful by the end of the month. The best time to visit is in the morning as the temperatures are cooler and the flowers close up in the heat of the day, usually around 1:30 pm.

I know it is outside of the Virginia Beltway, but it is not far. It is a very unique place in Washington, DC. I will be there in my red smart car and rain or shine (hopefully shine)!

Bring:
Tripod
Comfortable shoes
Water
Fully charged batteries
Empty memory cards
Rain poncho and plastic bags for camera and lens in case of rain.

Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos.

Park Facts
Entrance Fee: Free
Allow Dogs with lease: No
Bathroom: Restroom in the Visitor Center
Address: 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington D.C. 20019
Lat, Long: 38.913003, -76.940142 - Parking Lot
Plus Code: W375+6W Washington, District of Columbia
Website: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm

I generally schedule this meetup on the Fourth of July as I would have the day off. They are open on July 4th, but one year we waited until 9:00 AM until a ranger showed up to unlock the gate and it wasn’t a holiday. I also want to mention security as one year a photographer in my group was at the gardens and saw someone’s car being broken into in the parking lot.

From the parking lot, walk towards the gardens down the path. I usually stay to the left and head into the lotus fields. Please be careful as there are just dirt paths between the fields and if there has been a lot of rain there can be ruts and I almost twisted my ankle.

You actually need a fairly long lens as the Lotus flowers are tall and can be some distance away. A wide-angle is only good for some overall shots and a good size macro works as well. Another thing folks do not realize is that the flowers do bloom into September, but have many full blooms. This is one park where you do not have to worry about mosquitos as they are eaten by pond beetles, dragonflies, and damselfly larvae, and also by frogs and birds.

There is a boardwalk at the back of the flower fields that goes out to a marsh area. I have seen many types of birds and dragonflies in that area. Being there makes it hard to believe that you are in Washington, DC.

On the way out, allow some time to check out the small ponds with different lotus and lilies that also attract frogs and dragonflies.

Why you will not see any mosquitoes in the park:
https://www.nps.gov/keaq/learn/nature/insects.htm

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