The National Arboretum
Location: 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, D.C.
Established: 1927 as an Act of Congress
Size: 446 acres (1.80 km2)
TL;DR: In the modern sense, the Arboretum works much like a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants and providing a center for research on horticulture. There’s also a famous pair of Bald eagles that have made the Arboretum its mating nest.
A true hidden gem of D.C., the U.S. National Arboretum has been operated by the Agriculture Department (USDA) and opened to the public since 1959. It rests only 2.2 miles northeast of the Capitol building. With close entrances from New York Avenue and R Street.
When you think about it, the Arboretum acts as a living museum for trees, flowering plants, shrubs and turf, as well as some cool sculptures. It has a display of gardens which you can virtually explore here. With time, it has also developed a rich research program in ornamental horticulture and a library with 11,000 volumes and approximately 100 publications concentrating in botanical literature, with special collections on bonsai, penjing, ikebana, viewing stones and related arts.
Mission: To serve the public need for scientific research, education, and gardens that conserve and showcase plants to enhance the environment.
The Arboretum today faces some growing challenges with a diminished budget and a growing population of visitors. It has a master plan which was updated last in 1989 from a plan prepared in 1984 but really adopted in 1996. The strategic plan sets out the goals that will guide the future development of the Arboretum over the next 20 years. I’m guessing by these numbers that we need a new plan and a website that is no longer in the 1990s. (Oops 😛 )
+Fun Facts
- The Arboretum offers free concerts and events periodically!
- It has additional research centers in Beltsville, Maryland and McMinnville, Tennessee.
- Probably the most well known structure (and work of art) of the Arboretum, the National Capitol Columns originally supported the old East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. These were placed in the Ellipse Meadow after being removed during the expansion of the Capitol in 1958.
- Philanthropist Ethel Garrett struck upon the idea of preserving them at the Arboretum where the columns would have a permanent home and the public could enjoy their power, beauty, and historic associations.
- Unfortunately, Garrett died before she could see the 22 of the original 24 columns stand again.
- Nonetheless, a close friend and landscape designer, Russell Page, saw her vision through and determined the east side as the ideal location, where the columns would be in scale with the more than 20 acres of open available at the site.
Now, to a fascinating happening…
- In 2014, a pair of Bald Eagles mated high in a Tulip Poplar Tree amongst The Azalea Collection. They were named: Mr. President and the First Lady.
- In 2015, they nested and raised one eaglet (DC1) at the National Arboretum, first time since 1947.
- In 2016, they hatched a pair successfully, DC2 & DC3, who have officially been named Freedom and Liberty.
- This year, On February 19 -23, the first (DC4) and second (DC5) eggs for the season were laid. The eaglets emerged in March, and after 30,000 people cast their vote, they are formally known as Honor and Glory.
- How American is that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7HyuD6xwFYOh, and there’s a live cam where you can spy on these majestic eagles 😉#matingseasonready
- How American is that!