US Botanic Garden

Every yard needs a garden, and the National Mall is no different. Situated at one end, off to the side by Capitol Hill, sits the United States Botanic Garden.

Housed inside what appears to be a giant greenhouse of multiple levels, the garden is actually in three parts. There's a conservatory with a variety of different plant species, a National Garden with various gardens within, and Bartholdi Park, which was created in 1932. Though it takes up only two city blocks, the garden is impressively large and high, and one can easily spend a few hours wandering through it.

The garden's concept began in 1820, and a block of land was selected for its location near Capitol Hill, at the present place. After plans waned for several years, a different garden was created in 1842 as a collection of plants from around the world and housed away from the selected location. In 1850 it became open to the public, and then moved to its present location in 1933.

The Botanic Garden is a great place to go year-round, particularly on rainy days when you want to feel like spending a day “outside." The only drawback is not being able to enjoy the outdoor sections of the garden, obviously. The Conservatory houses the widest variety of habitats, including Hawaii, the Children's Garden, Garden Primeval, Plant Adaptations, Medicinal Plants, Orchids, Southern Exposure, Rare and Endangered Species, and Plants and Culture. Each explains the mini-garden functions.

There's also World Deserts, which hosts several types of cacti and succulents. The Children's Garden allows children to explore and learn about plants and flowers through the senses. The main part of the conservatory is a jungle of plants with several levels to climb, a somewhat humid habitat with benches for people to bring a book and sit a spell, particularly on a rainy day.

The National Garden has a showing of mid-Atlantic native plants, a Rose Garden (for the national flower), a Butterfly Garden, a First Ladies' Water Garden, and an amphitheater. Outside, the Bartholdi Park houses the historic Bartholdi Fountain, currently under renovation through 2011. The garden surrounding it continuously changes with new plants and trends in horticulture.

The Botanic Garden is continually acquiring, studying and exchanging information with other institutions. It also rescues confiscated plants discarded at the borders. The Garden offers lectures and tours on many of its exhibits and horticulture topics, and various events throughout the year. There's even a cell phone tour you can take on your visit, so mobile devices are welcome at this museum.

- by Rin-rin Yu, Washington Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Rin-rin Yu

Rin-rin is an award-winning writer and journalist based in the Baltimore-Washington area. Her work has appeared in China Daily, DAYSPA magazine, Luxury Home Design, Aquatics International, Not For Tourists and other publications. Rin-rin has also worked for ABC News, WHDH-TV (NBC) in Boston and Hanley Wood Business Media. She has a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is an avid world traveler and maintains a travel blog, www.mytravelhats.com.