The United States Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in the country. Through its Conservatory, National Garden, and Bartholdi Park it informs visitors about the fundamental value and diversity of plants.
The first permanent collection was formed by naval commander Charles Wilkes who led six ships on a four-year expedition around the Pacific in 1842. There are three living pieces of this historical collection in the Conservatory today: a queen sago (Cycas circinalis), a ferocious blue cycad (Encephalartos horridus), and a vessel fern (Angiopteris evecta). This is a fantastic article to read.
The Children’s Garden
When children use their imagination to relate to their surroundings, they develop a life-long affection for the natural world. In the Children’s Garden, kids can see what’s in bloom, dig, plant, water, and touch and smell plants!
The garden is open seasonally from spring to fall. Young visitors can flex their green thumbs in a garden full of real gardening tools, climbing structures, and shaded seating.
To encourage more families to explore the garden, the U.S. Botanic Garden recently launched its first “Morning at the Museum” program. This special program offers pre-visit preparation materials, a calmer visitation period, and a quiet “take-a-break” space for individuals with cognitive or sensory-processing disabilities.
The US Botanic Garden’s mission is to educate people about the importance and diversity of plants, and their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological value. They also strive to promote sustainable practices and foster community horticulture through programs like City Farmers. For more information, visit USBG’s website.
The Conservatory
One of the best ways to experience the botanical garden in Washington DC is to take a tour through the Conservatory. Inside this state-of-the-art greenhouse, you can view a wide range of plant life from all over the world.
From jungles and deserts to temperate forests, you can explore plants that are found in all types of climates around the globe. You can also find entire rooms dedicated to orchids and medicinal plants.
The conservatory was designed by Chicago-based Bennett, Parsons & Frost and is modeled after the seventeen-century orangery in Versailles near Paris. It was completed in 1933 and is now the home of the US Botanic Garden’s collection.
There are two courtyard gardens and 10 garden rooms under glass that provide a diverse and engaging experience. Behind the scenes is a state-of-the-art, completely automated environmental control system that manages to mist, shade cloth, fans, air-handling equipment, and window vents to achieve a perfect range of day and night temperatures and humidity. More places to also visit by clicking here.
The Endangered Species Garden
The Endangered Species Garden at the United States Botanic Garden Washington DC, in the Conservatory, is home to a changing display of rare and endangered plants. The conservation stories of these species are shared through interpretive panels that help tell their story to visitors.
The Garden’s collections, as well as the growing of rare plants, are driven by the need to conserve plants that have a connection to our lives and environment. The garden works with other organizations to conserve plants that are threatened with extinction.
The garden is one of the dozens of centers in the country that accepts confiscated plants from border officials as part of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) program. These plants may be from illegal donations or have been confiscated by border officials as a result of attempts to smuggle them across the border without proper CITES documentation.
The National Herb Garden
In the shadow of the Capitol, the United States Botanic Garden offers a welcome respite from the clamor of Washington DC’s museums and monuments. It is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America and is rooted in our nation’s history.
The National Herb Garden is made up of four “rooms,” each focusing on a different aspect of the herbal world. The Entrance Garden highlights seasonally changing beds and specimen plants in containers; the Knot Garden is between two arbors and displays evergreen shrubs in a knot pattern reminiscent of Elizabethan Era designs; and the Specialty Gardens emphasize how herbs play an important role in our lives.
Plant-loving visitors are encouraged to take a walk around the garden to appreciate the different textures, aromas, and tastes of the herb collection. A tour of the garden is also an excellent way to learn about herb cultivation and propagation. Up next is Anacostia Park.
Driving directions from Couvrant to United States Botanic Garden
Driving directions from United States Botanic Garden to Anacostia Park
