Wake up and smell the roses! Spring has sprung in DC, and we can’t wait to stroll through these 12 glorious gardens. 
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Bishop's Garden at the National Cathedral
Built into the south side of Mt. St. Alban, Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral attracts thousands of tourists and residents alike. The 59-acre Cathedral Close—formerly the home and garden of George Washington’s registrar of the United States Treasury—provides a beautiful sanctuary with breathtaking views. Aside from the Bishop’s Garden, the Cathedral’s grounds consist of the Olmsted Woods, a flourishing forest of oak and beech trees. 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, 202.537.6200, cathedral.org
Brookside Gardens
Situated within Wheaton Regional Park, Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden. The gardens cover several distinct areas, from the aquatic garden and Woodland Walk to butterfly and rose gardens. Not to mention, the formal garden area features an array of perennials and yews, along with the Maple Terrace and Fragrance Garden. 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, Md., 301.962.1400, montgomeryparks.org
Dumbarton Oaks
This historic estate is popularly known for its research institute, but its beauty lies in the rolling grounds and lush landscapes that Dumbarton Oaks has to offer. Nestled in the city’s Georgetown neighborhood, landscape gardeners Beatrix Farrand and Mildred Bliss transformed the 18th-century farmlands into terraced garden rooms and vistas. As you roam around Dumbarton Oaks, the landscapes progress from formal and elegant stepped terraces to a rustic wilderness adorned with meadows and streams. 1703 32nd St., NW, 202.339.6400, doaks.org
Enid Haupt Garden
Situated between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue, the Enid Haupt Garden effortlessly combines the cultures and architecture of its surroundings. As guests wander down brick paths draped with hanging baskets or enjoy the sounds of the splashing fountains, few realize that they are standing on the roofs of the National Museum of African Art, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the S. Dillon Ripley Center. 1050 Independence Ave., SW, 202.633.2220, gardens.si.edu
Hillwood Estate Gardens
Once the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post—an American businesswoman, socialite and philanthropist—Hillwood Estate Gardens flowers with 25 acres of diverse trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Stop in the east orchard house to see Phalaenopsis orchids burst with color before wandering through the expansive estate, filled with violas, African daisies, Nemesia and more. 4155 Linnean Ave., NW, 202.686.5807, hillwoodmuseum.org
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
The temperatures are rising, and so are springtime blooms at Kenilworth Park. Revel in the historic ponds, water gardens and greenhouses as you watch beavers build their homes or turtles basking on logs. Not to mention, the park manages habitats for ground-nesting and aquatic and woodland birds, making it an ornithologist’s paradise. 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE, 202.692.6080, nps.gov
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Thirty diverse gardens await at this Wolf Trap gem. Promenade through 95 acres of botanical and forest gardens before stopping by one of the three lakes where Great Blue Heron, frogs, koi fish and turtles abound among waterlilies. And, with cherry blossom season underway, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is a pink paradise. 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, 703.255.3631, novaparks.com
Meridian Hill Park
A garden fit for an aristocrat, Meridian Hill Park is known for its alluring architecture and lush landscape designs. The park stretches two levels, each boasting an assortment of amenities. The lower plaza hosts a 13-basin cascading fountain perched atop a reflecting pool, while the upper plaza houses the well-known Joan of Arc Statue. 16th St. & W St. NW, 202.895.6000, nps.gov
National Arboretum Herb Garden
As the largest designed herb garden in the United States, the National Arboretum Herb Garden houses the plants we experience every day in our kitchens, perfumes and medicines. The Herb Society of America gifted this garden to the U.S. citizens in 1980, and since then, lavender, rosemary, chile peppers, roses and more have made it a fragrant paradise. 3501 New York Ave., NE, 202.245.4523, usna.usda.gov
The President’s Park
Bask in panoramic views of the White House as you forge through the trails and gardens of The President’s Park. Spanning over 82 acres, the sanctuary encompasses two trails: the northern trail takes you to historic Sherman Park, while the southern trail winds past monuments, memorials and fountains. Learn about the individuals and events that shaped our nation’s history as you explore the grounds at your leisure. 1450 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 202.208.1631, nps.gov
Tudor Place
Cared for by the prominent Peter family for over 178 years—from 1805 to 1923—the Tudor Place gardens reflect the rich history of their stewards with five-and-a-half acres of greenery and blooms. Sit shaded beneath Bowling Green’s overhanging trees, stroll through daffodils on the South Lawn or explore the camellias and azaleas near the Box Knot—the choice is yours. 1644 31st St., NW, 202.965.0400, tudorplace.org
US Botanic Garden grounds
From roses to orchids, tropical plants and Mid-Atlantic flora, the indoor gardens and galleries at the U.S. Botanic grounds offer the perfect foil to April showers. Guests can bask in the resplendent diversity of form, color, fruit and fragrance of the conservatory’s jungle, desert and primeval landscapes. Outside, view the finest Mid-Atlantic plants within the National Garden or observe a range of sustainable approaches to the home landscape at Bartholdi Park. 100 Maryland Ave., SW, 202. 225.8333, usbg.gov
Photography by: Karen Komar
