by
Sarah Clark, All About Lawns Columnist
Explore the 26,000 plants featured in the United States Botanic
Garden, the oldest garden of its kind in the U.S. Here you can find
inspiration for your garden, discover new flora, or pick up some new
landscaping ideas. The U.S. Botanic Garden's
(USBG) proximity to the Capitol building is your first indication that
this is an important destination. Situated adjacent to the pool that
reflects the Capitol dome, you'll find the USBG in a neoclassical
structure that is consistent with its formal surroundings.
Botanic Garden Exhibits
Inside the Botanic Garden, your first
encounter will likely involve a walk through an exhibit dealing with
some aspect of horticulture or botany. Current exhibits include Orchids
in an Art Deco Garden, The Birth of Coffee, and How Plants Work. USBG
also offers exhibits designed expressly for children that include
interactive features and games.
The Permanent Collection
The jungle canopy probably affords
the most breathtakingly stunning views. Here you'll find a convincing
replication of a rainforest, replete with towering palm trees, numerous
varieties of rhododendrons, and other tropical plants.
Surrounding the jungle canopy you'll find the rest of the gardens,
including a section on medicinal plants. Learn many of the varieties of
medicinal plants, where they come from, and what medicinal qualities
they possess.
One of the garden's most popular collections
includes an exotic assortment of orchids, totalling some 12,000 plants.
You'll likely encounter orchid species you've never seen before in
dramatic colors and unusual shapes.
For Desert Landscaping Enthusiasts
The desert plants exhibit
provides an interesting contrast to the lush landscaping displayed in
the orchid and tropical rainforest collections. Here you'll find
numerous species of cacti, shrubs, grasses, and flowering plants.
You'll also observe a more lush example of desert landscaping through a
rendering of a real desert oasis. Here you can learn how plants such as
palms and fig trees can exist in a desert climate.
The
botanic garden also provides many places to sit and enjoy the views
along the way, including a formal orangerie and garden court with
fountains, high ceilings, and tall trees.
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in the Washington metro area.
