The United States Botanic Garden

One of the nicest smaller side attractions on the National Mall is the United States Botanical Garden, a collection of gardens and a large greenhouse that sits only a short distance from the U.S. Capitol building.  The garden had a rather exciting start back in 1820 when President James Monroe set aside 5 acres of land for a national greenhouse.  The concept was that plants would be cultivated for their seeds for later distribution throughout the Union.  Many of the founding fathers were "farmers", or rather, agricultural developers, and one of the passions of the more rural among them was to put the land to the plow.  While this might seem a bit dull these days, the United States of that era was all about industrial and agricultural progress and innovation.  The new nation wished to define itself not by directly promoting the concept of individual and civil liberties, but by demonstrating what a free nation was capable of.

On top of this love of learning and invention, a new age was coming about in the scientific world, wherein exploration for new resources was starting to give way to exploration out of love for the beauty and diversity of the natural world.  The United States government, in trying to encourage its citizens to make something truly special of the continent, had already dispatched numerous surveyors and explorers into the interior.  By the 1840's, this exploration reached out to distant parts of the world, with a particular interest in anything having to do with the Pacific Ocean.  Species and specimen examples were streaming into Washington, and the concept of a national greenhouse became more of a need as some centralized location was needed to keep and catalogue the incoming treasures.   Many of these would come to be housed in the nearby Smithsonian museums, beacons of inspiration and learning meant to jump-start the American intellect and directives.  Eventually, permanent greenhouses were established in their present location.   A larger arboretum and support facilities for the propagation of new plants exists closer to the Anacostia River on the eastern side of the city.

The garden, like many Mall attractions, is publicly funded and thus free to enter, though donations are always accepted.  This was the intention behind its use from the beginning, and the garden has served the area as a park and place of repose as much as a learning and cultivation tool.  Along the sidewalks of the surrounding streets are specimens that invite passersby in for closer inspection, complete with labels.  Many of these species are natives of the Mid-Atlantic region, showing viewers what the natural side of the area once looked like before extensive development.  This collection contains wonderful things like the Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia Virginiana), a plant of the coastal plains.

Also found here are the northern trees and plants which just range southwards into the Potomac estuary, like the Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum).

Seeing a nice northern tree like that suffer in the soggy heat with me was sad, but it was nice to know that I was not the only Canadian wilting in the heat.

Moving in from the sidewalks, one enters a remarkably quiet and tranquil world for being so deep into the busy heart of Washington.  The Mid-Atlantic plants are here joined by suitable outdoor specimens from the rest of the country, including some of the hardier Floridian species.  I did not take the time to find the Needle Palms (Rhapidophyllum Hystrix) that grow unprotected in the ground here, but they are supposedly really eye catching, especially in mid-winter.  There are numerous benches and wonderful views of the Capitol amongst this diverse collection of plants from across the country.  Closer to the main structure, these are joined by exotic tropicals in the summer months.

For such a beautiful collection, the garden is surprisingly devoid of people in comparison to the rest of the Mall attraction.  I mean, why just take a tourist shot of the Capitol when you can do so in some lush, lovely gardens?  If the above picture seems deceiving, take a look at the next two pictures and see that the views from this vantage are every bit as photogenic as they are in the open sun and crowds of the grassy Mall.

The Place of Chronic Inactivity

General Grant National Monument

The real magic starts inside the greenhouse, which aside from having some lovely air-conditioned rooms in the front parlors, features some of the lovely flora of Hawaii and the Deep South, including Southern Florida.  Seen below is the first room one enters from the front parlors, a Live Oak (Quercus Virginiana) dripping in Spanish Moss!

Along with the Moss are numerous ferns, cycads, and trees that have remained somewhat unevolved since the Jurassic period.

This experience is capped off by a venture into Hawaii, complete with a waterfall and a "lava tube" made of actual lava.  Things dry out a bit in the next room, dedicated to desert flora.

I was a bit plant drunk at this point, and forgot that the collection does indeed house exotic species from around the world, in addition to native plants from North America.  Fortunately, everything is clearly labeled in both name and origin.  While it may seem a bit off-putting that there are so many exotic species in a "national greenhouse", it turns out that many of these are here as rescues from confiscations at USDA checkpoints at international ports of entry.  Yes, people actually do try to rustle and smuggle large plants into the country.  A few rooms are dedicated to providing the visitor with a "native experience".  The southern exposure room, for instance, is actually a model attempt at making a mid-altitude forest that can be found in the Southwest and northern Mexico.  As it was raining buckets at the time (the exposure is indeed exposed), I missed on any good photos there, and instead ran for cover in the 100 foot jungle room, which... well, just take a look.

And yes, that is a log made into a bridge.  Many plants here are native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Finally, in the first and last room of the self-guided tour, one enters the lovely central court, which is full of plants that have economically and culturally impacted humanity from the early days of recorded history, surrounding a charming fountain.

All in all, one of the nicer places to visit in Washington.