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    Floral Library National Mall

    4.0 (4 reviews)

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    Mary Livingston Ripley Garden - Day Lily

    Mary Livingston Ripley Garden

    4.9(8 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    One of my favorite gardens in the city. The Ripley Garden is beautiful and provides a bit of…read morerespite between the busy National Mall and the Smithsonians. This gorgeous garden is lushly landscaped and includes seating and a centerpiece fountain. I come here often for reflection. Tours are offered and I hope to take advantage soon.

    The national mall lined by Smithsonian museums was designed to evoke open vistas of this great land…read moreand to impress with its wide, open spaces stretching out. However, in truth, the scrubby grass fields in the middle seem non-functional unless you are a frisbee team. Lacking any distinguishing architecture for visual interest, shade for respite, or even whimsical snack stalls for gathering spots, the mall isn't particularly pedestrian-friendly. That's where the gardens tucked into tight spaces between the massive museum blocks, provide a refreshing counterpoint. This Ripley Garden in particular, is an exquisite treasure trove of wondrous botany. You'll find it in a corridor abutting the Hirschorn Sculpture Gallery, and across the street from the historic carousel. A cornucopia of plants with staggered bloom times provide a dazzling array of textures and colors. Plant labeling makes the display more interesting. I feel that this garden could stand toe to toe with the best botanical gardens anywhere (well a miniature one at least!). I take lunch breaks in this garden, and despite the fact that it is a relatively small corridor, it has nooks and spaces with benches for people to pause and ponder the complex abundance of the natural world around them. Every time I walk through, my eye is drawn to a seemingly endless variety of curiosities that delight and amaze, more so because they are drawn from the ever-shifting, ever-evolving natural world, and are not man-made, predictable, and static. By design, it represents the infinite complexity and renewal of the natural world. It's funny how I easily tire of things, in general, but I return to this garden day after day, and find it novel. I've also been able to learn quite a bit about plants. I contemplate the vigor and complexity of plants from Africa and South America and compare them to the native plants of this continent. There's much here to open your mind in wonder. The best part of this garden might be that its a free gift thanks to the Smithsonian! What's not to like? Tip to tourists: Grab lunch from the l'Enfant Plaza food trucks, about 2 blocks away, and bring your grub to eat here.

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    Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
    Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
    Mary Livingston Ripley Garden

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    US National Arboretum - Ikebana

    US National Arboretum

    4.6(375 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    Dear reader, It is…read moreonly fair that I report the National Arboretum remains one of the coolest places in DC. It is massive, gorgeous, and the kind of place that makes you feel like you have briefly escaped the city without actually going very far. There is so much space to walk, relax, and just be outside for a while, and it never really feels crowded. Every time you turn a corner there is something new to look at, which makes the whole place feel like a very peaceful little adventure. The bonsai museum is easily one of the crown jewels. It kind of blows my mind every time that there are so many bonsai there, and some of them are up to or over 400 years old, including the famous Yamaki Pine. It is one of those places that really makes you slow down and pay attention because the amount of care, history, and detail in everything is just incredible. A very quiet flex, if you will. I also love that the Arboretum is not just about plants, although those alone would be enough. We saw bald eagles, there are beavers on the grounds, and it always feels like some kind of wildlife cameo could happen at any moment. Between the trees and plants from all over the country and the world, the Capitol Columns, the bonsai, the gardens, and all the open space, there is so much to take in without it ever feeling overwhelming. Dogs are welcome too, which feels very civilized, though they cannot go into the bonsai museum. Overall, this place is just such a gem. Beautiful, relaxing, and full of little surprises. I will absolutely keep going back, and frankly, I think society should too.

    According to their website, this is a collections-based research facility and public garden of the…read moreUS Dept of Agriculture. The Arboretum is home to the world's first museum dedicated to the art of bonsai, and that's where we started. These bonsai trees are between 30 to 100-200 years old. There is one that is 400! This section alone is impressive. We also walked over to the columns that were once a part of the State Capitol building. With 451 acres the collections are based on categories which is nice. You want to look at conifers all day? Go right ahead. Azaleas and magnolias? Knock yourself out. Pick your spot. Don't feel like you can see everything AND enjoy it in one day...because you can't. Pick 1-3 things and enjoy the day. Stop by the the visitor center for a map and events for the day. Today there were Ikebana classes. Do a restroom call with the gang there before you venture out. There are portables throughout if you need to go. Read the website for areas that are wheelchair accessible or you could drive through to assess your beginning and endpoints.

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    US National Arboretum
    US National Arboretum - Ikebana

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    US National Arboretum - Capital Building Columns circa 1837

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    Capital Building Columns circa 1837

    Floral Library National Mall - parks - Updated May 2026

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