By Lani Gering
We decided to stick close to home for this month’s Road Trip. At the suggestion of one of our readers, we ventured into the “City” to the U.S. National Arboretum and spent an afternoon. Our original plan was to visit it mid-week to avoid the potential of weekend crowds but Mother Nature thwarted that plan with a whole day of rain. We ended up being there on the Saturday before the Memorial Day weekend and parking at the Visitors Center meant making a few “loops” around the lot but on the third spin we garnered a space as close to up front as you could get without parking in a handicap space.
I kind of hate to admit that the last time I was at the Arboretum was in 1985 when I was here for a 2-year assignment with the USDA. However, I didn’t feel so bad when my partner, who has lived in this area for 72 years admitted that he had NEVER been there. We are both losers…it really is a nice place that is less than a ½ hour drive from Old Town Alexandria; we will go back.
I toured the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the National Herb Garden that are adjacent to the Visitors Center while Bob enjoyed sitting around the aquatic plants exhibit outside and watching the hundreds of Koi fish swim around. We then took a drive around the acreage. It really is a special place. There were several families and groups picnicking and a good number of folks walking and jogging the grounds.
There aren’t any food venues but snacks and drinks are available in vending machines. There appeared to be ample bathroom facilities and water fountains throughout the grounds. There are also several benches that are nestled among the trees and foliage that looked like a good place to bring a book to read and enjoy nature.
I compiled much of the following information about the Arboretum from content provided by them and the Friends of National Arboretum (FONA) – more about them below. My additional comments are in italics.
The U.S. National Arboretum spans 451 acres in Northeast Washington, D.C. and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Arboretum was established by the National Arboretum Act, signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge on March 4, 1927. In 1953, the National Arboretum was incorporated into USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. It serves as a horticultural research facility and a public green space. The Arboretum manages living collections of woody plants and research fields for breeding plants. It also has a seed bank and one of the world’s most comprehensive preserved plant specimen libraries. The National Arboretum benefits each of us, our community, and the nation through horticultural research and plant conservation.
These 451 acres of rolling forested terrain, including Mt. Hamilton—offers commanding views of the Capitol from one of the city’s highest points—expansive meadows, and the restored Spring House Run riparian habitat. Nine miles of winding roadways and many more paths connect the gardens and natural areas across the grounds. Be sure to take a good look at the layout of the grounds on the wall in the Visitors Center and pick up a map to take with you so you don’t get lost.
The Arboretum hosts the world’s first museum dedicated to the art of bonsai, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, established in 1976. They are very proud to be home to a 400-year-old Yamaki Pine known as the “Peace Tree”. I think that is pretty amazing.
The public display gardens at the National Arboretum grew organically from their early research interests into specific plant groups and collaborations with garden clubs and plant societies into comprehensive collections focused on plant groups important to American landscapes and on important, botanically rich temperate flora. Examples of the latter include the Asian Collections, highlighting plants from China, Korea, and Japan, and Fern Valley, the collection of eastern North American native plants in a scenic woodland settling.
The Azalea collections demonstrate the breadth and depth of diversity amongst azaleas and their relatives and showcase the Arboretum’s contributions to the development of modern, hybrid evergreen azaleas. The Dogwood, Gotelli Conifer, Holly and Magnolia, and Boxwood collections draw attention to these important nursery crops, which are augmented with complementary plantings for year-round appeal. Many of the azalea’s were still pretty much in bloom on our visit but will most likely be gone this month but the Magnolias were starting to bloom and they smelled amazing.
The National Herb Garden is a highly curated display of herbs from around the world in theme gardens and a cottage-style design filled with companion plantings, including heritage roses. The iconic National Capitol Columns create a picturesque landmark in the heart of the Arboretum. I was a little disappointed in this garden but it was early for some herbs so I imagine when I go back this summer it will be bursting. There are some impressive rosemary “bushes” though!
The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) helps the Arboretum fulfill its research and education mission and funds critical operations. FONA is expanding its role with events, programs, communications, fundraising, and more.
As the primary nonprofit private partner of the National Arboretum, FONA raises awareness of the National Arboretum as a major center for horticultural research that benefits the U.S. nursery and landscape industry; spotlights the value of plants for our well-being and connects people to nature; they were instrumental in bringing the Capitol Columns to the Arboretum in the early ’90s. The organization funded the Flowering Tree Walk surrounding the meadow so all people can enjoy its beauty regardless of ability and their volunteers planted over 30,000 native plants along the Springhouse Run creek to improve the Anacostia River’s water quality. The Capitol Columns are pretty impressive. It looked like they were working on the landscaping in front of them while we were there so by the time you check them out, I bet the grass has been restored.
The Washington Youth Garden is the Arboretum’s largest community outreach program. Revenue from the venue rental program funds the Arboretum Director’s Fund which pays for things like consultants, supplies, and maintenance projects. Our plant sales and seasonal festivals support our mission and connect visitors to the Arboretum. Check out their website at fona.org or pull up their Face Book and/or Instagram pages for upcoming scheduled activities. I am looking forward to the next plant sale and taking a picnic and attending one of the concerts this summer. Alcohol isn’t allowed on the grounds – just like it isn’t allowed on the beach. IFYKYK.
Weddings at the Arboretum are managed by the Friends of the National Arboretum in conjunction with the MTG Hospitality. All wedding ceremonies and vow exchanges of any size require prior approval, fee payment and coordination through these entities. Pop up weddings are not permitted at any time. Any unauthorized ceremonies observed on the grounds will be stopped by security and parties will be subject to removal. As a federal facility administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, events and commercial activities, including weddings and photography, are subject to authorities, rules and fees. If you are interested in having your wedding at the US National Arboretum, please contact Natalie Thomas at natalie@mtghospitality.com. There was a wedding in the making not far from the Visitors Center but we left before we could see the entire set up. It was looking pretty amazing in any case.
The grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum are open every day of the year except Christmas Day. FONA is launching a full summer of free extended evening hours at the Arboretum from June 1st to August 30th excluding June 7th, 14th and 21st due to private event rentals. The Arboretum will stay open all summer long from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., instead of closing at 5:00 PM. Visit www.FONA.org for additional details about summer evening hours and specific details – like which gate to enter during evening hours – are subject to change at the Arboretum’s discretion. Their website – FONA.org – is the best place to find the most current information.
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except for federal holidays. Admission to the grounds and museum is free and no tickets are needed.
The Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue Northeast in the District with entrances on R Street NE and New York Avenue NE. For helpful hints on coming into the grounds from all directions in the DMV, detailed directions are provided on their website. We used Google Maps instead of looking at those directions so ended up going in one way and out another.