Giving Thanks And An Impromptu Visit To The National Cathedral - Thea McGinnis

Thea here.  A phone call from my friend and fellow garden club member, Anita, prompted a visit to the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

We drove over last week in the early afternoon. We enjoyed particularly good weather and hoped to get a peek into The Bishop's Garden.  The Cathedral is a must-visit for guests to our Nation's Capital, but this day, it was quiet yet busy with tours, students from schools, and worshipers.

When we walked into the Cathedral, though, we also got a delightful surprise.  The Alter Guild and Flower Guild members for the National Cathedral were busy at work adorning the many interiors with autumnal decorations. Anita and I found them breathtakingly gorgeous.

This is a huge endeavor for these teams of volunteers and the beauty of the floral designs and displays.  Next week, I expect they will begin with their Christmas and Holiday decorations.  Here's some shots (taken with my iPhone - sorry!).

We caught the floral team in the middle of creation, and it was fascinating to see how they planned their designs.

The cathedral has many chapels and most have their own baptismal fonts. 

Sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows created quite an interesting light display. 

After touring the cathedral and visiting their fabulous gift shops, we went outside for a bit to explore the Bishop's Garden.  The roses were still blooming!

For visitors, the cathedral has underground parking with elevators to ground level. For more information on the National Cathedral, http://cathedral.org The Alter and Flower Guilds, http://cathedral.org/worship/altar-guild/  and the All Hallows Guild http://allhallowsguild.org that takes care of the beautiful gardens, I'm including their links.  It was such a treat to see the Thanksgiving florals. I plan to make another trip soon to see the Christmas florals.  I highly recommend a visit to the National Cathedral.  I believe the All Hallows Guild also sponsors Tea on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. FMI http://allhallowsguild.org/Tea-Tours/tea-tours  

Post and all photos by Thea McGinnis.