September 22, 2025 at 12:16 pm
We’re thrilled to unveil a fresh chapter in the story of Smithsonian Gardens, featuring our new logo and visual identity. Smithsonian Gardens’ dynamic new branding identity honors our deep roots in horticulture, where plants and art come together. Each element of the logo reflects a key part of who we are. Leaves symbolize growth and […]
August 22, 2025 at 2:18 pm
If you’ve ever tried your hand at gardening, chances are you’ve come across the word “fertilizer.” But what exactly is it—and why should you use it? In simple terms, fertilizer is any substance that gives plants the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. These nutrients include the big three—nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and […]
July 1, 2025 at 12:41 pm
What’s cooking at the Victory Garden of the National Museum of American History this summer? Nematodes! On the National Museum of American History’s east side, tucked next to the shaded woodlands of a lovely collection of oak trees, is Smithsonian Gardens’ Victory Garden. This ornamental vegetable garden has been sharing the stories of World War […]
April 22, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Trees are not just silent observers of our lives; they are companions that hold within them the threads of our past, present, and even the possibilities of our future. These majestic beings stand tall and proud, witnessing the unfolding of human history and personal journeys. Each of us has that one special tree, which I […]
February 24, 2025 at 2:08 pm
This article is part two of a two-part series. If you missed part one, check it out here! In the January edition of the Smithsonian Gardens Newsletter, we started a discussion on winter pruning. We considered why pruning can and should be done during the winter, the importance of knowing the reason behind pruning a […]
January 24, 2025 at 1:06 pm
This article is part one of a two-part series. Stay tuned for the February newsletter for part two! With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, now is the time to start thinking about getting back outside into your garden. No, not just to shovel snow or refill the birdfeeders…but rather for some winter pruning! Ornamental […]
June 13, 2024 at 12:26 pm
In 1987 the renowned biologist and conservationist E. O. Wilson addressed a gathering at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. Wilson hypothesized in his talk, “The Little Things That Run the World,” that if insects disappeared most flowering plants would also disappear. Because so many flowers are pollinated by insects, natural […]
November 6, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Fall is officially upon us in the Washington, D.C. region. This is especially evident at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) where our native plant landscape is awash in shades of golden amber, orange, crimson and rustic brown. It’s hard to believe the museum and landscape are gearing up for their 20th anniversary […]
September 22, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Change is happening in the gardens around the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). If you’ve visited recently, you may have noticed the transformations. The landscape is maturing as it completes its seventh year in the ground. Trees have established and reach for the sky while woody shrubs fill their borders. […]
August 1, 2023 at 11:12 am
The Victory Garden at Smithsonian Gardens is a demonstration vegetable garden located on the east side of the National Museum of American History. It is used by our gardening staff to interpret the Victory Garden trend that was popular during World War II (1941-1945). During that time, millions of victory gardens in all shapes and […]
May 31, 2023 at 5:07 pm
Roses have been a beautiful and fragrant part of our garden palette for thousands of years. Humans have cultivated roses for their medicinal properties, for the floral trade, and for beautifying our public and private gardens. Through breeding, we have increased the flower petal count from the typical number of five on a species rose […]
December 27, 2022 at 6:15 pm
I like to add a bit of whimsy to the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden whenever possible, especially during the winter months. Last year I created a gnome that I named LeRoy. I had seen a similar idea when I visited a garden center in North Carolina and figured out how to make one of my […]
November 7, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Visitors to the Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery most certainly notice the 25-foot-tall trees that inhabit and beautify this wonderful indoor space between the two museums. These twelve trees, all part of the Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection, answer to the common name ‘Shady Lady’ black olive and belong […]
September 9, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Don’t accept the rule that the best way to care for your home landscape in the fall is by making it cleaner than your kitchen or better organized than your garage. In the past, the standard approach would be to prune all evergreens into the shape of a meatball, chop all perennials after the first […]
August 18, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Smithsonian Gardens (SG) and the Archives of American Gardens (AAG) have a lot to celebrate in 2022. This year marks a series of institutional milestones, including the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Smithsonian Gardens in 1972, the 35th anniversary of the formation of the Archives of American Gardens in 1987, and the 30th anniversary […]