The ceremonial gardens located 100 feet Northwest of the Atlantic Pavillion are one of the Mall’s best kept secrets.  They were designed by James A. Van Sweden, the landscape architect for the Memorial.  Until recently, the area always seemed either incomplete or in disrepair but this year, the gardens seemed to come into their own.  It’s an overlooked and tranquil setting:  a nice place to host a small group or for an Honor Flight to rest amidst the Mall traffic.  These “Variegated Hosta with Creeping Virginia on the Leaves” (credit for floral identification goes to Susan Barr) will make a nice addition to the DC image library.