Name of Garden:
United States Botanic Garden
History and Description:
The United States Botanic Garden traces its beginning to 1816, when the constitution of the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences in Washington, D.C., proposed the creation of a botanic garden to collect, grow, and distribute plants of this and other countries that might contribute to the welfare of the American people.
In 1842, the idea of a national botanic garden was reestablished when the return of the United States Exploring Expedition to the South Seas (the Wilkes Expedition) brought to Washington a collection of living plants from around the globe.
Description:
Bartholdi Park:
The Park was created in 1932 and named for Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the historic fountain located at its center. The beds in the Park were geometrically arranged and planted in formal classical style to feature the fountain and to accommodate public gatherings. The plantings have been redesigned during the last decade and are continuously updated.
The National Garden
The National Garden will open to the public on October 1, 2006. It will provide "living laboratories" for environmental, horticultural, and botanical education in a contemplative setting.
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is designed as an outdoor garden room featuring many varieties of the rose, our national flower.
The First Ladies Water Garden
The First Ladies' Water Garden, a simple but elegant square with a frame of surrounding paving, is designed to create a memorable image of the central role that water plays in the well-being of plants, animals, and humankind.
The Regional Garden
The Regional Garden will present outstanding plants native to the mid-Atlantic region in naturalistic settings arranged along a moisture gradient.
Location:
U.S. Botanic Garden
245 First Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20024.
Telephone:
General Information 202-225-8333
Program and Tour Reservations 202-226-4082
Plant Hotline 202-226-4785
Special Events 202-226-7674
National Fund Office 202-226-4083
Directions:
Admission to all public areas of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) is free. The Conservatory is open 10 AM - 5 PM everyday, including weekends and holidays. The Conservatory main entrance is located at 100 Maryland Avenue, SW (use this address for internet mapping searches). Visitors are welcome in Bartholdi Park from dawn until dusk and can access it from any of the three bordering streets - Independence Avenue, Washington Avenue or First Street.
Facilities Map:
http://www.usbg.gov/your-visit/images/cc_map_entrances.gif Hours:
Groups of 10 - 25 visitors may reserve a free 45-minute guided tour of the Conservatory. These tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m and on weekends when space permits. Please make tour reservations at least three weeks in advance by calling (202) 226-4082.
Website:
http://www.usbg.gov/index.cfm |
