Spring is a time for growth, warmth and the return of plants as they bloom. As the popular proverb goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” That couldn’t be truer for the DMV, which is home to a plethora of outdoor attractions including aquatic and botanical gardens, where the family can go to see exactly what the April showers brought.
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20001
This is a unique garden with a rich history dating back more than 200 years. It fulfills a vision George Washington had for the nation’s capital to include a botanic garden that demonstrates the important role of plants.
The United States Botanic Garden is actually an independent federal agency in the legislative branch, established by Congress in 1820, and is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the U.S.
The garden consists of the Conservatory, the Gated Outdoor Gardens and the Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens.
Stop by with your family this spring to see special exhibits, including one that showcases the harsher side of the plant world with survival adaptions, or register for educational programs with experts.
usbg.gov
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
1900 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, D.C. 20020
This garden showcases the natural aquatic beauty along the Anacostia River on the opposite bank of the Navy Yard in D.C.
The aquatic garden is part of the larger Anacostia Park, run by the National Park Service (NPS), and is the only aquatic garden under the NPS. The location offers opportunities to enjoy recreational fields, trails and wildlife watching opportunities.
Learn about complex aquatic ecosystems and get a glimpse into the past, as the garden helps preserve the original natural environment of the Anacostia River.
nps.gov
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA 22182
Meadowlark has 13 different gardens on its property for families to enjoy including a children’s garden, where young kids can explore local flora in a fun space.
The land was donated in 1980 to NOVA Parks to create a 95-acre space for preserving natural beauty in Northern Virginia. It has since become a haven for conservation and ornamental plant collections.
Visitors can enjoy wildflower hikes, birding, invasive species discussions, frequent educational events and more.
novaparks.com
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
This award-winning 50-acre garden in Montgomery County is located within Wheaton Regional Park and has 10 distinct areas including an aquatic garden, Japanese-style garden, butterfly garden, azalea garden, children’s garden and more.
Brookside Gardens also includes two conservatories for year-round enjoyment.
In May, azaleas, bulbs, clematis, dovetree, flowering shrubs, fringetree, Japanese dogwood, perennials, red buckeye, smokebush, viburnums and wisteria will all be in bloom as top attractions.
Try Brookside’s educational programs, which offer classes for children and adults and plant clinics with master gardeners.
montgomeryparks.org
Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312
This garden in Northern Virginia is filled to the brim with educational resources for visitors of all ages and can serve as an inspiration for the home gardener.
The land has a wooded stream valley with ponds, a naturalistic native plant garden, more than 20 thematic demonstration gardens, a greenhouse, a historic house and a horticulture reference library.
Green Spring has frequent public events ranging from educational events to tours and fun workshops for families to have a blast.
fairfaxcounty.gov
