2007年VOA标准英语-DC Azalea Collection Oasis of Beauty, Peace

By Zulima Palacio
Washington, D.C.
14 May 2007
 

In the middle of one of the busiest and most crowded areas of Washington D.C. there is an oasis¹ of peace.  And every year around this time, the U.S. National Arboretum² blossoms with thousands of azaleas.  Producer Zulima Palacio takes us on a visit there.  Jeffrey Young narrates³ the story.

Azalea collection in Washington

Come on; walk with us up the path.  This is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in America's capital city.

This is the azalea collection at the U.S. National Arboretum.  Fifteen-thousand of them, spread over 16 hectares of forested hillside.  Most of these azaleas are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. 

Barbara Bullock has been the horticulturist in charge of the collection for the last 17 years. "The azalea collection was the number one reason that the arboretum was opened to the public."

Soon after Washington's more celebrated⁴ Cherry Blossom Festival, the National Arboretum's azaleas are in full bloom from April through June.

"I don't know how many species there are,” admits Bullock. “There are 7,000 cultivar in the reference book I use.   There are about seven main range of colors, but in every one of those colors, there are shades and tints⁵, blends. There are hundreds and thousands of different ways the colors are manifested."

One azalea is a Glenn Dale cultivar with a unique combination of solid and striped blossoms on the same plant. Another has a different color combination on the same branch.

The multitude of colors, the fragrance⁶, birds and paths, make this azalea collection in Washington, an oasis of peace and beauty.  Those who know the secrets of this place keep coming here year after year.

"If people find out about it, well, it would be great!" says Bullock proudly.

1 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

2 arboretum   

n.植物园

参考例句：

• We can go to the arboretum in the southern suburb.我们可以去南郊的植物园。
• The arboretum is full of exotic flowers and rare herbs.植物园里长满了各种奇花异草。

3 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 tints   

色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹

参考例句：

• leaves with red and gold autumn tints 金秋时节略呈红黄色的树叶
• The whole countryside glowed with autumn tints. 乡间处处呈现出灿烂的秋色。

6 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。