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 […]
November 26, 2024 at 4:43 pm
With nearly 1,800 trees across the Smithsonian campus, Smithsonian Gardens (SG)’s Tree Collection is one of the Smithsonian’s most visible, widespread, and accessible collections. Over 25 million visitors each year have an opportunity to engage with the Tree Collection, a significant visitation number which presents both a wealth of opportunities and some unique challenges. Tree […]
October 15, 2024 at 12:30 pm
He had a great appreciation for roses, ink, and paper. He lavished as much attention on national parks in the U.S. as he did on his own garden. If you don’t recognize the name J. Horace McFarland, you’re not alone. He might be the most famous man you’ve never heard of. McFarland (1859 – 1948) […]
September 30, 2024 at 11:53 am
As you walk through the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington, D.C., you will notice a variety of birds. The city is home to over 300 bird species, from tiny finches clinging to flower heads to large hawks soaring in the sky above. These birds rely on diverse plant life and green spaces to nest, feed, and […]
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, […]
June 17, 2024 at 7:42 pm
Juneteenth is a day of commemoration and a time to reflect on the remarkable resilience of enslaved individuals seeking freedom. The historic record has little on freedom seekers’ experiences during their journey to freedom to escape enslavement. Few details have been found on the survival methods of people fleeing enslavement, including the means to find […]
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 […]
April 12, 2024 at 7:04 pm
Smithsonian Gardens (SG) is transforming the ways we share information about our living collections to make the plants and their stories more accessible to all. This fall, SG staff selected orchids from the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection with conservation stories to highlight in the 2024 Future of Orchids exhibit. Through digital photographs, 3D models, and […]
March 1, 2024 at 2:49 pm
In fall 2023, the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection (SGOC) hosted intern Mimi Diaz-Salgado, a recent graduate of Wellesley College, for an 11-week learning opportunity. Mimi’s internship involved both hands-on orchid care and research related to the biocultural connections of orchids in the collection, of which the blog below is a result. SGOC is grateful to […]
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 30, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Finding out that someone you know has a talent is a gift that makes you even more grateful to know them. After a casual conversation with one of our longtime Smithsonian Gardens volunteers, I received such a gift. Annette B. Ramírez de Arellano began volunteering with SG in 2012. In 2014, she was trained as […]
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 […]