August 30, 2024 at 9:19 pm
The Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse Facility’s Interiors section is responsible for beautifying many indoor spaces within the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Our staff grows, installs, and cares for handsome specimens inside the museums. Keeping the plants looking fresh and healthy means identifying plants that periodically need to be changed out. When the plants are removed, […]
January 5, 2024 at 4:26 pm
The future of orchids is lush, bold, inspiring, and something that we can realize together. This year’s orchid exhibit, The Future of Orchids: Conservation and Collaboration, takes visitors on a deep dive into the weird and wild world of orchids, highlighting large-scale artworks that invite visitors to imagine the future of orchids, and sharing […]
December 11, 2023 at 11:54 am
It’s that time of the year to celebrate the holiday season again! The lights, the wreaths, and the tree all combine to make one big festive holiday display in and out of our homes. Poinsettias are often part of that display as they are one of the most popular flowers associated with the holidays. Native […]
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 19, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Bromeliads are one of the wonders of the tropics. They are found in many different habitats and have a unique ability to create valuable microenvironments for tropical fauna. A coveted houseplant, bromeliads are also a prized ornamental for indoor and outdoor spaces thanks to their ease of care and varied colorful shapes and sizes. The […]
September 20, 2021 at 11:28 am
As horticulturists working for Smithsonian Gardens, we have the unique opportunity to work on collaborative projects with Smithsonian museums and outside artists. One such instance was a recent exhibit now on display at the National Museum of Natural History called Unsettled Nature: Artists Reflect on the Age of Humans. One of the artists featured in […]
September 11, 2016 at 6:00 am
Last year, I had the opportunity to design an exhibit in the Ripley Center, “Design for Small Spaces.” Featuring stumpery, fairy gardens, green walls, terrariums and dish gardens, I hoped to inspire visitors with some ideas they could try at home, even in the smallest of spaces. A favorite component of the exhibit was the […]