Ducking in from the heat in the US Botanic Garden

The US Botanic Garden has a long history. It was established by US Congress in 1820 – and had been the dream of America’s first President, George Washington. Washington wished to establish a botanic garden that would serve in an educational function – teaching visitors about plants.

The Botanic Garden celebrated its bicentennial during our sad COVID year. I was in Washington, DC that summer and in 2021 and found this beautiful space locked up, so it was great to be back again this summer and to see it once again filled with throngs of visitors from around the world.

It is quite literally a stone’s throw from the Capitol, and a wonderful place for both residents and tourists making the rounds of the museums on the Mall to stop off, cool down, and enjoy its peaceful surroundings.

As with most museums in Washington, DC, entrance is free, so visitors can feel free to duck inside to explore a bit, and perhaps come back to explore more on another day.

There’s plenty fo see, including tropical rainforests, deserts, Mediterranean climates – and much more.

There are also interesting exhibitions and explainers on agriculture, and useful labelling to allow you to explore plants from all over the world. George Washington would be proud.

The surrounding gardens also have some nice, contemplative benches. While it was a bit too hot on our visit, those peaceful spaces so close to Congress and the Mall certainly make for a nice lunch break spot or an ideal place to relax a short while with a good book come autumn.

Don’t miss out on the US Botanic Garden the next time you are in Washington, DC. If you’re like us, in America’s capital on a steamy summer day – this is also a great place to duck in and cool off, while enjoying flora from around the world.

Well worth a visit.