The lotus and lily blossoms are back at the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, just minutes from the Route 1 corridor, with options to see them in person or online.
The National Park Service and the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are holding the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival through July 31, though some events are being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 70-acre marsh is home to a variety of water plants, and you can spot herons, ospreys and even bald eagles there, but the lotuses and water lilies are its top attraction, with some comparing the annual festival to the cherry blossoms in downtown D.C.
For those visiting in person, the park at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE in D.C. is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.
Through Aug. 6, it will also be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays, with a picnic area where you can bring your own food and a food truck on site most Fridays.
This year, the festival also includes several virtual events, including explanatory talks, lessons on how to take good photos with an iPhone and meditative yoga.
The aquatic gardens closed during the beginning of the pandemic, reopening last summer with more one-way paths.
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