Smithsonian Gardens facts for kids
Parterre of the Enid A. Haupt Garden
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| Established | 1972 |
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| Location | The National Mall, Washington, D.C. |
| Type | public gardens and archives |
| Public transit access | L'Enfant Plaza Metro Stop or Smithsonian Metro Stop (Washington Metro) |
The Smithsonian Gardens are a special part of the Smithsonian Institution. They take care of all the outdoor and indoor plant areas. These gardens are like an outdoor museum, helping people learn about plants and nature. They are located in Washington, D.C..
The Smithsonian Gardens manage huge areas of land. They have 180 acres of gardens on the National Mall. They also have large greenhouses to grow plants. Plus, they keep a special collection of over 60,000 photos and records about American garden history. This collection is called the Archives of American Gardens.
Contents
History
In 1972, a new office was created at the Smithsonian. It was called the Office of Horticulture. The eighth leader of the Smithsonian, S. Dillon Ripley, started it. His idea was to use the outdoor spaces for learning and research.
James R. Buckler was the first director of this new office. He was also the first plant expert, or horticulturalist, at the Smithsonian. Gardening was becoming very popular in the United States at that time. This helped the new office share its educational goals with many people.
Buckler's first big job was to plan a Victorian garden. This garden was placed between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue. It was built to celebrate the United States' 200th birthday in 1976. This popular garden later inspired the design of the Enid A. Haupt Garden.
James Buckler led the Office of Horticulture for 23 years. After him, Nancy J. Bechtol became the director in 1995. She led the Horticulture Services Division until 2002. In 2009, the Smithsonian Institution changed the name. The Horticulture Services Division became the Smithsonian Gardens. This new name was announced to everyone in 2010.
Gardens and Landscapes
The Smithsonian Gardens take care of many beautiful gardens. Most of these gardens are near the Smithsonian museums. They are located on the National Mall.
Here are some of the gardens you can visit:
- Common Ground: Our American Garden. This garden is next to the National Museum of American History.
- Enid A. Haupt Garden. This is a rooftop garden above several museums. It is between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue.
- Freer Gallery of Art Courtyard Garden.
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
- Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden. This rose garden is on the east side of the Smithsonian Institution Building.
- Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. This garden is between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
- National Air and Space Museum landscape.
- Native landscape at the National Museum of the American Indian. This garden features plants native to America.
- Pollinator Garden. This garden helps bees and butterflies. It used to be called the Butterfly Habitat Garden. It is east of the National Museum of Natural History.
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. This is an indoor courtyard in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.
- Urban Bird Habitat. This area helps birds in the city. It is around the National Museum of Natural History.
- Victory Garden. This garden is on the west side of the National Museum of American History.
The Smithsonian Gardens use a method called integrated pest management. This helps them control garden pests. They try to use methods that are safe for people and the environment.
A special plant growing facility was finished in 2010. It is located at the Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland. This is where plants are grown and cared for. These plants are then used in the gardens and exhibits across the Smithsonian. The facility also has a greenhouse. This greenhouse grows plants that provide nectar for the Butterfly Pavilion. The Butterfly Pavilion is at the National Museum of Natural History. Before this new facility, plants were grown in 11 greenhouses. These older greenhouses were located at the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home.
Collections
The Smithsonian Gardens also have important plant collections. These collections help with research and conservation.
Smithsonian Orchid Collection
The Smithsonian Orchid Collection started with only five plants in 1974. It has grown a lot since then. Many orchids were given to the Smithsonian to be kept safe and grown. Now, the collection has over 8,000 plants. These plants belong to 256 different types of orchids. You can see some of these orchids in the plant displays inside the Smithsonian museums.
Archives of American Gardens
The Archives of American Gardens is a special research collection. It is managed by Smithsonian Gardens. It has photos and records of over 6,300 gardens. These gardens are from all over the United States. The records show how garden design has changed from the 1870s until today. This collection helps garden designers, historians, and students learn about American gardens.
Garden Furnishings and Horticultural Artifacts Collection
This collection has old garden items. These items include fountains, benches, and urns. They show how gardening and garden design have changed over time. Some of these antique items are displayed in the Smithsonian gardens.
See also
