The Duncan Library Garden

The Duncan Library Garden is located at 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 at the James M. Duncan Branch of Alexandria Public Library. The Library is open Wed.-Sat., 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

The Duncan Library Garden at 2501 Commonwealth Avenue in Alexandria, is our newest demonstration garden, located in the heart of the Del Ray neighborhood.  Grounds include two pollinator gardens featuring native and other plants which attract insects and delight the people who pass by.  Additional gardens include a native fern display, an herb garden, a memorial dogwood garden with under plantings, plus a variety of native shrubs and trees.  It is also a designated Monarch Way Station and a Xerxes habitat.  

“Our location is such a plus for making us an asset in the community,” says Susan Hepler, a Duncan coordinator. “Part of the school population walks through the gardens twice a day; the Saturday market has many people passing by. Every time we work in the garden, someone says ‘I love this garden,’ ‘What is that beautiful plant?’ or ‘Thank you for all you do.’  People rest on the benches; day care providers bring their charges to snack at the picnic tables. We are so lucky to be in the center of Del Ray.”

Susan, a graduate of the MGNV master gardener Class of 2009, began working at the Duncan garden a decade ago with Sue Tate, Elaina Palincsar, Annie Stat and others, and the gardening squad has grown into an evolving group of 15–20 neighbors and EMGs.

Duncan was nominated to become an MGNV demonstration garden candidate in 2024. Its prime location for public education and outreach was an instant hit with the Board. “The Duncan Library Garden is a few yards from a K–5 elementary school; located in a lively neighborhood of many young families who want to learn about gardens and plants and want their kids to learn as well; and has a welcoming library with a friendly, enthusiastic staff open to collaboration with MGNV,” Susan said.

The library had recently won a Del Ray community award and used some of the money and a grant to update its gardening book collection. In addition, the Friends of Duncan Library gave the grounds committee a generous annual budget to purchase plants, trees, tools, and soil amendments. “This annual pledge also sweetened our case to MGNV to be a demo garden,” Susan said.

Future plans include:

• a sensory garden,
• a native fern bed,
• Youth Education Programs (YEP),
• native shrubs to replace burning bushes and barberry,
• a long-term plan for additional trees,
• demonstration species plantings of one genus such as dogwoods, and
• bed redesign reflecting pollinator preferences.