Landscape and Lawn Care Advice: Visit Public Gardens Now, While You Can

The Washington Post’s Weekend Section yesterday featured “Best Bets” that are all outdoors and include most of my favorite places in DC. They’re all free and OPEN, at least the outdoors part and at least for now.

Here are the 6 available outdoor places available even in a pandemic – and worth visiting especially in one. Just check their websites before you go because things are changing fast.

All photos were taken in April. See lots more photos of DC-area gardens in April and even more in May.

Not local, and not about to travel to DC anytime soon? I hope this inspires you to find gardens near you that are open now.

One note of worry: if we crowd these spaces unsafely, the authorities may have to close them. When I visited the Arboretum yesterday a staffer told me he’s hoping that they will close completely because it’s been so crowded.

The National Arboretum’s Magnolia Grove.

Hillwood House and Gardens usually charges an entrance fee; not now.

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens doesn’t have water lilies yet, but there’s plenty of land plants blooming. Photo credit: NPS photo: M. Marquez.

The importance of Tudor Place is something I recently learned from my architectural history professor at the University of Maryland. The home was designed by William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol.

The Franciscan Monastery’s first floral peak is in April, when the tulips are blooming. Or visit in May when the roses are spectacular.

The famous cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin are peaking this weekend, so they’re included in the Post’s “Best Bets,” but I wouldn’t bet on it myself. I heard from someone who’d arrived there yesterday morning at 7:30 a.m. to find it swarming with people. And not particularly safely. I’m skipping it this year.

But nearby, there are plenty of Smithsonian Gardens to enjoy, and they’re all open.