Capital Nature

Wild Things: The Art of Kusamono
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-21 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (National Arboretum) This three-day weekend event is devoted to the Japanese botanical art of kusamono. Discover how wild grasses, wildflowers, and other small native plants may be artistically arranged to suggest miniature representations of natural habitats. Often displayed alongside bonsai as an accent, kusamono stands on its own as a complete expression, emphasizing simplicity, seasonality, and a sense of place. Come see the exhibit and watch free demonstrations every day in the museum’s Exhibits Gallery. Buy kusamono plants, soil, and ceramics from vendors on the East Terrace.

Exhibit: The Art of Truman Low
2026-06-24 10:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20560
(DC) (Smithsonian) View the first major retrospective of the acclaimed Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) artist: Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Lowe’s elegant, minimalist sculptures made of willow branches, feathers, and other organic materials evoke the rivers, streams, and waterfalls of the Wisconsin woodlands where he was raised and the canoes used to traverse them.

Sound-Inspired Painting at Kenilworth
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) This unique experience invites participants of all ages and artistic abilities to connect with nature through their senses, specifically focusing on the rich tapestry of sounds in the outdoor environment. Guided by various auditory prompts, participants will translate their aural perceptions into visual art using provided painting supplies. Kids welcome!
Joan Kato is a social justice advocate with over twenty years of experience leading change in people of color grassroots communities.

An Artist in Their Garden (Virtual)
2026-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | MD
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join us as Jean Brinton Jaecks, Artist, Gardener, and Educator shares her paintings, her two-acre garden as a family legacy, and how they happily coincide year-round. Dedicated to gardening for biodiversity and maintaining a chemical-free, sustainable environment, Jean will offer her perspective on what it means to invite not only creatures and plants to thrive together, but art and gardening, as well.

Exhibit: A Viewing Stone
2026-06-27 10:00 - 16:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (National Arboretum) Viewing stone lovers find inspiration in the traditional stones found and displayed in China and Japan; however, when it comes collecting stones in this country many stones do not fit the classic traditions. These small natural objects encourage contemplation of larger landscape scenes, objects in nature, and abstract images. Challenge your imagination by comparing the variety of stones on view in this exhibition.
Members of the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, will display viewing stones from their private collections.
This exhibit runs through September.
