Last Friday, I attended the annual garden and plant sale at the U.S. National Arboretum, a 446-acre garden oasis located only a few minutes from downtown in northeast Washington, DC. Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress, the vast property is a living museum of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants all grown for scientific and educational purposes. At the time of my visit, acres of pink and white flowering trees, jewel-toned azaleas and bright yellow daffodils were just bursting into bloom.

ABOUT THE U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM

Although it hosts over 500,000 visitors annually, the National Arboretum remains relatively unknown to many of the area’s inhabitants. This is an astonishing fact, given the wealth of plants on view along the property’s nine miles of winding roads. The horticultural display unfolds across roughly seven regions, each containing distinct plant collections. These include massive single-genus groupings of azalea, boxwood, daffodils, holly and magnolia among other species.

 

 

Spring was just getting going in the city, but the Azalea Gardens, located on Mount Hamilton, were already a blaze of color. Sparkling rays of sunlight pierced through the woods’ fresh green canopy to illuminate thousands of colorful species. Located on the south slopes of the Mount, the Glenn Dales Hillside is considered the arboretum’s most spectacular display of azaleas in terms of number and variety of hybrids all blooming nearly at once.

Nestled into the rolling contours of the slopes, many of the shrubs are the result of breeding work undertaken by former Arboretum Director Benjamin Y. Morrison. The hillside includes 10,000 of these unnamed hybrids, which were planted in the mid 1940s. A winding network of woodland paths ribbon through the dazzling collection and make their way gradually uphill.

 

 

 

One of Washington D.C.’s most notable and unusual landmarks and the image most frequently associated with the arboretum, is the National Capitol Columns.  Reconstructed on a natural knoll overlooking the 20-acre Ellipse Meadow, the dramatic grouping of Corinthian columns, made of sandstone from quarries at Aquia Creek, Virginia, calls to mind the ruins of ancient Greece.

Installed at the arboretum little more than a decade ago, the 22 columns were originally part of the East Portico of the United States Capitol. When the iron dome for the Capitol was completed in 1866, however, it was determined that the columns appeared out of proportion. They were subsequently dismantled in 1958 to make way for the east front extension.

In their new home at the arboretum, the hand-carved columns are set on a foundation of stones built from the steps that were once on the east side of the Capitol. A single bell-shaped capital (top) from one of the columns appears on a small patio overlooking the meadow. Positioned at eye level, it allows visitors to view the elaborate carvings close up. Acanthus leaves, quarry marks and multiple layers of paint, which were applied while the columns were still in place at the Capitol, are still visible on the stone.

 

 

Another unique space is the National Grove of State Trees, a collection of trees representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each of the trees, which embody important historical events linked to each state, was acquired from the state it represents. Planting was begun for the Grove, which covers 30 acres of ground, in 1989. The trees are spaced so that they can grow unhindered to their mature size. They are interspersed among various other trees that were already on the site.

The white oak is the state tree of Maryland, my home state. I found this beautiful specimen (above) in the Grove. For a list of all the state trees and flowers click here.

In addition to the Grove of State Trees, other major gardens in the arboretum collection include Aquatic Plants, Fern Valley, the Flowering Tree Collection and Tree Walk, the Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the National Herb Garden. Volunteers do most of the gardening at all of these locations.

A favorite of DC-area gardeners of all levels, the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) Garden Fair and Plant Sale is held each year on the last weekend of April. The fair includes many rare and unusual plants as well as many standards and tried and true favorites. I saw many unusual species and there were plenty of garden experts on hand to guide me in making my selections.

 

The U.S. National Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue, NE. For more information on the gardens and other associated activities, click here.