Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The National Arboretum has many gardens and walking paths. All are well-signed and easily fol-
lowed. For this hike, start with a nice wooded walk from the visitor center past several of the arbor-
etum's research fields. After that, the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection is a fascin-
ating place to visit. There is no specific path, but you may wander through the trees as long as you
wish. Most of these trees are about fifty years old, but because they are slow growing, they are very
small. Look for the Hinoki false cypress, which is less than a foot tall. The collection contains other
kinds of conifers as well—tall, thin junipers, weeping cedars, and pine trees. In summer, the crape
myrtles add a touch of pink and white to the landscape.
Near here is the Dogwood Collection; take the short connector road to the parking area and walk in-
to the grove toward the fountain at the far end. The state flower and tree of Virginia, dogwoods bloom
in white and pink in the spring. The collection sits on a bluff overlooking the Anacostia River and is a
peaceful spot any time of the year.
The Asian Collections area is a wooded hillside that stretches from the road down to the river, with
several trails that meander through different sections. Something is always blooming here: If you come
in the fall, amazing camellias are in bloom, and in winter, the Japanese apricot trees. Begin at the park-
ing area that leads down through the Japanese Woodland. Most of these plants were collected in Japan
and now grow successfully here, including white and yellow chrysanthemum and purple asters. Head-
ing back up the slope, bear left and enter Asian Valley. A round patio is a nice place to rest and look
straight into the valley, providing beautiful views of the collections and the Anacostia River. From the
patio, continue down the hill to the red pagoda. Take the short stone trail to the right of the pagoda and
walk down the slope to the river. Return back up the hill and continue past the pagoda into China Val-
ley. In the fall, look for the dark red colors of the seven son flower tree. This trail leads back to Hickey
Hill Road.
Hollies are perhaps best known for the red berries that appear in winter, giving this area a splash of
color in the cold, gray weather. Magnolias are evergreens as well, so the garden is green throughout
the year, with white blossoms appearing in late spring on the magnolia bushes. The arboretum has cre-
ated several hybrids, including the Galaxy magnolia tree, which blooms after the last frost of spring,
and the sparkleberry holly, which has red berries that last longer than other holly plants. The Holly and
Magnolia Collections offer color throughout the year.
The Fern Valley Native Plant Collection displays plants native to this region—by “native,” it is
meant only that these plants grew here before colonization. The walk through this garden is like a
miniwalk through the mid-Atlantic region, with diverse plants providing a continually changing land-
scape. Wetland plants grow along a small pond in the center of the collection.
If you haven't stopped at the National Capitol Columns on a hike through the west side of the arbor-
etum, you should stop at this spot on your way back through the meadow to the trailhead and parking
lot.
