On October 17, 2001, ground was broken for construction to begin on the National Garden. Five years later, the National Garden opened to the public on October 1, 2006. It provides "living laboratories" for environmental, horticultural, and botanical education in a contemplative setting. The major features of the National Garden are the Rose Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Lawn Terrace, the First Ladies' Water Garden, the Regional Garden, and an outdoor amphitheater. The Rose Garden is designed as an outdoor garden room featuring many varieties of the rose, our national flower. The First Ladies' Water Garden, a simple but elegant square with a frame of surrounding paving, is designed to create a memorable image of the central role that water plays in the well-being of plants, animals, and humankind. The Water Garden honors the First Ladies of the United States by recognizing their notable service to our country. The Regional Garden presents outstanding plants native to the mid-Atlantic region in naturalistic settings arranged along a moisture gradient.

The $10 million National Garden project was funded privately via The National Fund for the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG), a not-for-profit corporation assisting the Architect of the Capitol in raising private funds pursuant to Public Law 102-229. This was the first project authorized by the Congress for construction by the Architect of the Capitol financed with privately donated funds. A portion of these funds was raised by the sale of the 1997 USBG silver dollar issued by the U.S. Mint.

For more information regarding the history of the National Garden click here.

To read more about the sections of the National Garden mentioned above, click on the feature name below. These are .pdf documents.
Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Gardening
First Ladies Water Garden
Regional Garden
Rose Garden