The World of Plants Blooms in the Nation’s Capital

The Chinese Pavilion is just one part of the extensive Asia Collections at the arboretum. Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

The month of June is recognized as Great Outdoors Month. It originally started as Great Outdoors Week, but was gradually extended to cover the entire month, as more than half of the 50 states were participating by 2019. Outdoor enthusiasts are always keen to kick off the month with National Trails Day, which covers everything from hiking to mountain biking and birdwatching.

If you live in the city, it may be more challenging to get into the spirit of the great outdoors. However, if you live near the nation’s capital or are planning to visit the area—and need a break from the urban sights, sounds, and smells—the National Arboretum in Washington is a green oasis of trees and a colorful palette of petals as it houses flora and foliage from many different parts of the country as well as from overseas. Here are the highlights of 446 acres of gardens, plots, and land.

Bonsai Exhibit

Adjacent to the visitor center, where you may admire the colorful koi swimming actively in the shallow pool behind it, the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is home to many aesthetically shaped miniature trees. A 2,000-year-old horticultural art form from Japan (bonsai) and China (penjing), it has a strong following, not just from Washington suburbanites but also from all across the nation.

The museum has been consistently voted “Best City Escape in the City“ and ”Best Tour to Take an Out-of-Towner,” among many other accolades. Step into the little pavilions to admire the unique miniature trees, and take some time to sit and reflect in their meditative gardens. Visitors should note that the museum is open only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on federal holidays.

The National Arboretum has more than 200 bonsai trees on display. Shutterstock

Mini-Gardens

Across from the visitor center, the National Herb Garden is home to not just common kitchen herbs but also medicinal herbs, spices such as vanilla and cardamom, and plants used in aromatherapy. In fact, it is considered “the largest designed herb garden in the United States.” There are separate plots for fragrance plants, as well as those used for dyeing. Visitors will encounter many different types of sage and be tantalized by the beauty, uniqueness, and scents of the many rose and jasmine varieties.

A special garden plot showcases the herbs listed by ancient Greek physician Dioscorides from A.D. 60, whose work in documenting herbs is still the basis for modern pharmacology. One learns to appreciate the versatility of nature in the many varieties of plants used in everyday life or those utilized for specific purposes.

The National Herb Garden showcases hundreds of species of herbs from around the world, including vanilla. aappp/Shutterstock

Corinthian Columns

As you peruse the gardens, visitors’ attention will be drawn to a regiment of Corinthian columns standing in the middle of the arboretum. Though neither leafy nor flowering, these sandstone pillars may seem out of place, but they do evoke images of ancient ruins and have become a popular spot for photoshoots.

The 22 columns are what’s left of the 24 that used to be at the east portico of the U.S. Capitol. These columns were witnesses to the inaugurations of President Andrew Jackson all the way to President Dwight Eisenhower. After an extension of the portico led to the displacement of these columns in 1958, they have since been relocated to welcome the many visitors of the National Arboretum instead. Sitting on more than 20 acres of what is called the Ellipse Meadow, it also has its own reflecting pool—much like the Washington Monument in the downtown area, though smaller in scale.

50 State Trees

As you continue southwest from the columns, you will reach what is known as the National Grove of State Trees. The concept of a state tree was introduced in the 1900s, when states, including the District of Columbia, each designated a tree as its official arboreal representative. These trees are native to the state, except for Hawaii, whose state tree, the kukui nut tree, has Polynesian origins.

Each state tree is afforded a 100-foot-by-100-foot plot within the 30-acre area that covers the grove. Visitors to this area will do a lot of walking—great for those who are counting their steps—and is the only designated area for picnic lunches!

Asia in an Hour

On the eastern part of the arboretum, which faces the Anacostia River, the Asian Collections feature a very diverse landscape with special emphasis on the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean plant life. Each area—the China Valley, the Japanese Woodland, and the Korean Hillside—offers a different experience for visitors, with something always blooming depending on the time of the year.

Hybrid camellias, witch-hazels, and a rare dove tree are just some of the plants that can be found in this 13-acre area of slopes and woods. A Chinese pagoda sits nicely between the Asian Valley and the China Valley, and its red color contrasts nicely with the green leaves of the trees in the background. This area isn’t handicap-accessible.

More to See

Just because the other areas—Fern Valley, Friendship Garden, and the Azalea, Dogwood, Holly, and Magnolia Collections—are not mentioned here doesn’t mean they are not worth visiting. The beauty of the arboretum is that it is open year-round and, somewhere in this vast space, it will be awash in colors and blooms at certain times of the year. Think azaleas in April!

Though other urban nature spaces may get more tourist attention, such as Central Park in New York, the National Arboretum is one that truly holds many of nature’s treasures.

Although it is located in the District of Columbia, it isn’t located in the downtown area, which is a plus if you wish to avoid the heavy motor and foot traffic that many urban areas are known for. It has ample parking spaces and different parking lots, making it convenient to visit certain areas of the arboretum. It’s free to enter and is open every day of the year (except for Christmas Day) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As with all places that deal with nature, the only thing you should leave behind is your footprints. And hopefully, you will bring home with you the sights and scents and a better understanding of the wonders of the plant world.

For more information, visit the U.S. National Arboretum website.