Water plants often hold religious significance.
Buddha was born from the heart of a sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera.
Water lilies are botanical wonders; plant taxonomists believe they represent
an early side branch on the evolutionary chain leading to most other flowering
plants.
The U.S. National Arboretum Aquatic Garden is
a stunning jewel that surrounds the Administration Building and Visitor
Center. The sound of water calms your nerves and sets the stage for your
visit. The forms, textures, and colors of the plants invite you to think
about the nearly limitless variety
of the plant kingdom. And the brightly colored Japanese koi appeal to everyone,
especially children.
The Administration Building and the gardens around
it are notable features also. The building was designed in the early 1960s
by Albert G. Mumma Jr. of the architecture firm Deigert & Yerkes and combines modernistic elements from the
time period with oriental form. The parking area just inside the
R Street Gate is the starting point for most visitors. From it, you
can easily reach the Arbor
House Gift Shop and, when available, the
Arbor Cafe. Inside the Arbor Gift Shop you can pick up an Arboretum Visitor Guide and
a wealth of other information.
The gardens around the Administration Building
showcase some of the best plant introductions developed in the decades
of plant breeding and research accomplished by Arboretum scientists.
In these gardens, you can see everything from ground hugging 'Nikko'
deutzia to tall 'Prospector' elms. You can find more information
about these wonderful plants on the Plant
Introductions Page. One of the most recent additions to the gardens
near the Administration Building is the planting in the traffic circle
just outside the building. Designed by Meriwether Rumrill, the area
is densely planted for autumn and winter interest. 'Morning Light'
Japanese silver grass and the deciduous 'Sparkleberry' holly bring light
and warmth to the dreary days of winter, and daffodils and an assortment
of perennials bring texture and bold color to the growing season.
The terraces that surround the Administration
Building are also a great place to get ideas for container gardening.
An assortment of plants in large containers highlights exciting combinations
of foliage and flowers that is sure to inspire you to create your own potted
paradise on your deck, balcony, or patio.
The Administration Building is also the hub of
some of the Arboretum's most notable collections – the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Herb Garden, and the Friendship Garden.
All of these areas are handicapped accessible, and most of our visitors
spend more than an hour exploring them. Be sure to bring some quarters
so you can buy some food for the koi before driving to another collection
on the grounds or going home.
The element of water adds the essence of nature and a soothing dimension to
any garden. The diversity of water plants is astounding from the huge floating
pads of the Victoria hybrid water lilies to the narrow, grasslike leaves
of dwarf cattails. The aquatic garden is also a garden of sound,
where the play of droplets from fountains or waterfalls reminds us of the
timelessness and sanctity of water. It is a habitat, too, for fish, frogs,
and insects.
Last Updated March 19, 2012 11:43 AM
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