Kenilworth Water Lilies getting some Postal Service Love – Also the Awesome Lotus and Water Lily Festival at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is Saturday!!

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

From a press release:

“Four new postage stamps featuring the water lilies of Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens are springing up in homes and businesses across the country. Issued this year by the U.S. Postal Service, each stamp depicts a midsummer close-up of one of four classic garden water lilies cultivated at Kenilworth’s gardens.

“These stamps, like the lilies themselves, are more than simply stunning,” National Park Service Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said. “They shine a spotlight on more than a century of plant propagation and wetlands protections in the northeast corner of Washington, DC. You really have to visit this national park in person to gain a full appreciation for the innovative work taking place here.”

The water lily stamps are available in booklet form online and at post offices across the U.S. See the originals in person now, as the bloom season enters full swing at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens. Water lilies are aquatic herbs that live in both temperate and tropical climates around the world; they are found in still freshwater habitats.

The blooms are still spectacular in early July, making this a great season to visit. On July 11, the National Park Service will hold the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival with support from our cooperating association Eastern National and park partner, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The festival showcases the spectacular display of lotus and water lilies in full bloom and the cultural connections that these plants foster. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can take part in a day of free music, educational programs, art, hands-on activities, and more. The water lily stamps and other products that showcase those stamps will be available for purchase at the festival. Find more information at www.nps.gov/keaq.

Public transportation is the best way to get to the Lotus and Water Lily Festival. A free shuttle service will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the Minnesota Ave Metro station on Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. Parking at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is very limited; satellite parking and a free shuttle service are available at Kenilworth Park and Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center.

The only National Park Service site devoted entirely to the propagation and display of aquatic plants, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is known worldwide for its unique landscape and botanical, educational, and recreational contributions. Ongoing programs introduce visitors to the lush aquatic vegetation and habitat thriving along the marshes just east of the Anacostia River. Find Your Park at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Kenilworth Ave NE, Washington, DC, 20019.”