7 of the most beautiful gardens in the D.C. area

Is Hillwood, the estate owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post, best known for its collection of imperial Russian art and Fabergé eggs, or for the lush grounds and gardens that surround it? For many people, it’s the latter. Hillwood is known for azaleas that burst to life in the spring, which, a guide explained on a recent tour, is intentional: Post spent winters at Mar-a-Lago and summers in New York, so the gardens were designed to look their best when she was in Washington in the spring and fall. But don’t think it’s empty now: More than 11,000 warm-season annual and tropical plants are in the process of going into summer displays, says Jessica Bonilla, Hillwood’s director of horticulture, in addition to seasonal blooms in other gardens.

Star gardens: The Rose Garden is one of the most beautiful spots on the estate, with beds of colorful floribunda roses and a flower-covered pergola surrounding the column containing Post’s ashes. The Cutting Garden, located in a prominent position between the greenhouse and the mansion, was designed to supply the mansion with fresh-cut flowers year-round, so it’s constantly in bloom, to the delight of bees and butterflies.

Best bench: The Four Seasons Overlook, a small, circular plaza on the Friendship Walk between the Rose Garden and the woods, is a quiet spot with several benches among the statues and bushes. There are also chairs in the French Parterre, a formal garden with ivy-covered walls surrounding a long central fountain and elaborate plantings.

What not to overlook: Pay a visit to the greenhouse to enjoy vibrant displays of orchids and tropical plants, and make your way down the hillside beyond the lawn to the Japanese Garden, which has cascading waterfalls, Japanese lanterns and sculptures, and where the contemplative setting seems removed from the bustle of tour groups.

Events and tours: Gardener’s Focus tours, led by staff horticulturists, are included with admission and provide far more detail than the guidebooks alone; the next series is focused on the Cutting Garden (June 11-21), but get to Hillwood early: Space on the tour is limited, and tickets are first-come, first-served. Hillwood offers programs for families with preschoolers every other week, with upcoming themes including “Colors in the Garden” (May 14-15) and “Sensational Scents” (June 11-12).

Essential info: Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. hillwoodmuseum.org. Adults $15-$18; college students $10; $5 for ages 6 to 18; free for ages 5 and younger.

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