Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

Promoting environmentally sound gardening practices for over 35 years!

Phlox Subulata (moss pink) in landscape. Photo © Elaine Mills

Regional Gardens

Gardens that Educate and Inspire

Celebrate National Gardening Week by taking a virtual tour of eight gardens maintained by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia and six public gardens in the Washington metropolitan area to see examples of good gardening techniques and gain inspiration for your own home landscape. Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills, a coordinator at the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden in Arlington, Virginia, showcases best management practices and design concepts employed by her fellow demonstration garden leaders in a wide variety of settings

Read moreGardens that Educate and Inspire

REGIONAL GARDENS: The United States Botanic Garden Celebrates 200 Years

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) in Washington, DC marked its 200th anniversary in 2020. Then, in February of this year, the USBG opened a two-part major exhibition, “Deeply Rooted, Branching Outward,” giving visitors an opportunity to examine historic images of the garden and learn about plant exploration through the years, as well as to discover how the garden works today. Unfortunately, celebratory events planned for the anniversary have been cancelled because of the pandemic restrictions. Learn more about the garden through this informative article.

Read moreREGIONAL GARDENS: The United States Botanic Garden Celebrates 200 Years

REGIONAL GARDENS: Green Spring Gardens

This October marks the 50th anniversary of Green Spring Gardens, a public park in nearby Fairfax County, Virginia, whose landscaping and educational programs focus on practical horticultural techniques appropriate for home gardeners in the Washington, DC area. The Gardens had originally scheduled a large celebration to mark the milestone but the in-person event has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, learn all about this local treasure in this informative article by Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills.

Read moreREGIONAL GARDENS: Green Spring Gardens

Regional Gardens: Winterthur Garden

Explore Winterthur Garden through the eyes of Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills. Winterthur is an excellent destination for a day trip or weekend away from Northern Virginia. The former estate of Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969), a horticulturalist and renowned collector of antiques, houses an important collection of Americana and features 60 acres of formal and naturalistic gardens.

Read moreRegional Gardens: Winterthur Garden

Regional Gardens: Chanticleer Garden

Regional Gardens: Chanticleer Garden

Chanticleer Garden, located in Wayne, Pennsylvania, about a three-hour drive from northern Virginia, is a wonderful destination for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. With its stately buildings, broad lawns, and wide vistas, Chanticleer Garden (Chanticleer) retains the feel of the private estate it once was, while serving as a demonstration garden with more than 5,000 plants.

Read moreRegional Gardens: Chanticleer Garden

Regional Gardens: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

This 95-acre property, operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), features a wide variety of planted beds, three lakes, four gazebos, and special plant collections, which are linked by multiple walking paths and surrounded by lovely forested hills. Numerous benches and seats are located throughout the garden, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy both garden details and panoramic views.

Read moreRegional Gardens: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Back to Top