The National Botanic Garden’s gates will open to welcome visitors for a weekend this spring for its third annual Spring into the Garden event. From April 19 to 20, guests can explore the grounds with a self-guided tour, including the debut of a new attraction.
At April’s preview event, the first of the season, visitors can tour the 60 acres of carefully curated landscapes and art. These stunning gardens are the work of Peter and Beata Knopf, who have spent years designing the land.
Because the gardens are on privately owned land, the property is closed to the general public most of the year. It opens a few times a year for sneak preview events, when visitors get to see the diverse range of plant life, artistic landscapes, and sculptures that Beata Knopf created from reclaimed material.
There’s a lot to take in on your visit — there’s the cacti garden, a sculpture garden, bamboo gardens, and the Hobbit Town, a tiny borough made of stone. There will be some stunning plants and trees, including bluebells, bleeding hearts, Vinca minor, a Japanese dappled willow, redbuds, and dogwoods.
But the big draw is the new destination open to visitors: the mountain, a high artificial peak that was built up and landscaped by the garden’s owners and designers, is open for the first time. It’s the highest point of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and overlooks four states from its peak.
For an extra $10 ticket, visitors can climb to the mountain peak. It’s about a 1-mile hike, with roadways, hedges, and guiding ropes along the way. Climbers should be prepared for a moderate-level hike and budget about an hour-and-a-half of time for this expedition. Binoculars are recommended to get the best views — on a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of the Washington Monument.
Including the mountain expedition, it will take about three hours to explore all of the grounds. Bring plenty of water, dress for the weather, and wear shoes that are appropriate for a lot of walking. Picnic lunches are encouraged, but glass and alcohol are not permitted. Pets are not allowed.
The next preview event, the Art in Nature Festival, is scheduled for May 25 to 27, followed by June’s Summer Flare in the Garden. Dates for June’s event have not yet been announced.
26320 Ticonderoga Rd., Chantilly, $35 for garden access only, $45 for garden and mountain access
Feature image courtesy National Botanic Garden
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