The U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington melds architectural beauty and a slew of rare and unusual plants.

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 11, 2003

Sitting on a wooden bench tucked under a canopy of tropical trees, Bill Imershein was doing a little people-watching. He smiled as passersby discovered the sweet fragrance of gardenia blossoms.

"Everybody comes up and takes a sniff, and they say, 'Ooooh,' " he said.

Imershein, of Solomons, Md., was one of the many recent visitors enjoying the U.S. Botanic Garden and Conservatory in Washington, D.C. Opened in 1931 near the U.S. Capitol, the facility was noted for classical architecture and rare plants, some of which date to 1842.

But by the 1990s, time had taken its toll on both. The conservatory was closed for renovation in 1997. Some of its rare plants were propagated and kept in the area; others were moved to warmer climates or kept in other greenhouses.

A year later, it reopened. Everything is now controlled by computers, unlike the days of hand-cranking large greenhouse windows. Although the facility was greatly modernized, its architectural beauty was carefully preserved, executive director Holly Shimizu said.

"We had to respect the historical integrity of the building," she said.

For anyone interested in plants and gardening, it's well worth the trip.

A visit begins in the garden court, where the gardenia tree is easy to miss but for its sweet perfume. The glass ceiling invites the sun, which, when it comes in just right, glows bright green in the large leaves of the banana plants. Dividing the room are two long, rectangular pools gurgling with jets of water. The court focuses on plants used in business, the gardenia for perfume, the banana for food and so on.

Galleries flank the central court to the east and west. The West Gallery features a show of botanical art, its detail enhanced by the natural light streaming through the skylights.

From there, visitors are led into the Jungle, an area that recreates the fauna growing around an abandoned plantation in a tropical rain forest. The clear glass dome reaches 93 feet in the air. It's fun to ascend to the mezzanine to get an overhead view of the huge space.

On the ground, children and adults are amazed at the huge leaves stretching over a walkway and stop to be photographed under the canopy.

Surrounding the Jungle are 10 other areas, each with a special garden:

Medicinal plants: Looks at herbal medicine from around the world.

Orchids: Features 200 of the 12,000 orchids in the conservatory's collection.

Plant exploration: Highlights plant discoveries in the wild and the lab.

Meditation garden: Features North American natives arranged in the eastern Asian tradition.

Rare and endangered species: Looks at the need to protect plants threatened by habitat destruction.

Children's garden: Children can play and learn about plants in an informal setting.

World desert: Seeing cactus in bloom is a rare treat.

Oasis: Filled with palms, figs and other fruit plants, this area explains how a fertile area can thrive in a desert climate.

Garden primeval: Filled with plants that have been around for 150-million years.

Plant adaptations: Allows visitors to see how plants evolve in response to their environment.

In rebuilding the conservatory, Shimizu's goal was to make it more creative, educational, scientific and inspirational.

"Seeing people respond positively is what I love, and that we can make it meaningful," she said. "Bringing together people and plants is what I live for."

If you go

The U.S. Botanic Garden and Conservatory is between First and Third streets SW, Washington D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and admission is free. Parking is free in front of the building and in front of the Capitol on weekends. For information, call (202) 225-8333 or visit www.usbg.gov.

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