More Gardens, Parks and Landscapes to Visit, for Locals and Frequent Visitors

More Gardens in DC

Dumbarton Oaks gardens in Georgetown were designed by landscape architect Beatrix Farrand and are now owned, along with the mansion and other facilities, by Harvard University. Click here for information about visiting. Photos by john Weiss, Steve Silverman and V.

Tudor Place Historic House and Gardens in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington. Formal Gardens. South lawn is in the manner of an 18th century English park.

The American University Campus is a designated public garden and arboretum.

Old Stone House and Garden in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC

More Gardens in Maryland

McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD are at their peak in May when shade-loving azaleas, rhododendrons (and more) are blooming. The gardens, managed by Montgomery County’s Brookside Gardens, surround a residence that was donated for public enjoyment in 1978.

The University of Maryland‘s College Park campus is an Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Riversdale Garden  is located on the grounds of the Riversdale House Museum in Riverdale Park, Maryland.

More Gardens in Virginia

Ben Lomond Historic Site and Old Rose Garden in Manassas, VA. Collection of antique roses, most dating from the 19th century or earlier. Manor house used as Civil War hospital.

Bon Air Park and Rose Garden in Arlington, VA. Horticultural gardens: Azalea/Camellia Garden, Ornamental Tree Garden, Sun Garden, Shade Garden, Wildflower Area, Memorial Rose Garden.

Ida Lee Park and Master Gardeners’ Garden in Leesburg, VA. Organic demonstration garden, children’s garden.

The Native Arboretum, Marie Butler Leven Preserve in McLean, VA. An Earth Sangha project. Volunteers needed. Started in 2004, and still a work in progress.

Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, VA. Formal garden, nice winter interest.

Landscape Memorials on or Near the National Mall

The FDR Memorial is a favorite of local gardeners, and no surprise – it was designed by the world-famous landscape architect Lawrence Halprin as a series of garden rooms with five large water features.

Two other prominent landscape-style memorials are the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, both very close to the Lincoln Memorial.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is still new and its landscaping not fully developed, but we’re keeping an eye on the progress of ROMA Design Group’s design.

The Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was designed by famous landscape designer Michael Vergason to opened to great reviews in November of 2014.  Here’s one.

An exciting new redesign for Constitution Gardens has been approved!  Coming soon.

 

The Pentagon Memorial (to 9/11 Victims) is serene and beautiful, and easily accessible by Metro. Click here for a description and many more photos, all taken in September. Here’s the Landscape Architect’s Guide to the Pentagon Memorial.

DC-Area Parks to Visit

Rock Creek Park is part of the National Park Service system. For visitor tips, we recommend the Washington Post’s Guide to Rock Creek Park.

C&O Canal offers 184.5 miles of adventure!, quoting its website. There’s lots of good visitor and event info on the C&O Association website.

Dumbarton Oaks Park. Read Adrian Higgins’ great story about it in the Washington Post.

Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. Spectacular drifts of Virginia blue bells bloom in mid-to-late April.

Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria, VA. Historic garden in Old Town Alexandria. 

Rippon Lodge Historic Site in Woodbridge, VA. Has 42 acres of grounds with old-growth trees, such as elms. Early 20th century decorative garden. Free access to grounds, small charge for tours of 1747 house.

Winkler Botanical Preserve in Alexandria, VA. Pleasant stroll in the woods around a pond with native plantings. Educational center for school groups.

Photo credits:  Vietnam Memorial, FDR Memorial, Korean War Memorial.