Capital Nature

Summer Evening Hours at USBG
2026-07-16 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join us for extended evening hours on the third Thursday of each month. The Conservatory will stay open until 8 p.m. for visitors to explore the USBG plant collection while enjoying live music and refreshments at our four extended evening hour events.
Tonight, enjoy live music by Night Hawk as you explore the Conservatory. In partnership with the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden, local vendors Vintage Views will have lemonade, botanical non-alcoholic mocktails, and snacks available for purchase. Additionally, local frozen treat vendor Here’s The Scoop will have gourmet ice cream and non-dairy sorbet available for purchase.

Exhibit: America's State Flowers
2026-07-16 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-08 10:00 - 17:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden will bloom with the flowers each U.S. state and territory has chosen as their official flower. Explore the display throughout the Garden that will showcase the state and territory flowers with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations, and herbarium specimens.
Associated educational programs will be offered throughout the run, including workshops by botanical paper artist Emily Paluska, drop-in demonstrations, online talks, and more.

Flower to Fruit: A Pollinator Journey
2026-07-06 10:00 - 12:00 | U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20515, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join Lilly Andersen, USBG Family Education Specialist, to investigate the differences in plants before and after pollination, including in our beloved state flowers! In this drop-in program, dissect a flower to learn about its different parts and how these components attract and interact with pollinators. Watch a fruit dissection demonstration to see how flowers develop into fruits after pollination.

Nature Walk at Meadowlark
2026-06-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-06-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ 95 acres on Tuesdays. Each 75-minute walk will be over uneven, hilly terrain, have a positive focus, and include a silent, meditative portion and a few interesting facts from our docent along the way.

Demonstration: Repotting Orchids
2026-06-25 10:00 - 12:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Connect with horticultural experts as they present tips and techniques related to their field of expertise. On this occasion, George will be in the Conservatory Garden Court showing how to repot orchids. Stop by to strengthen or stretch your skill set!

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.

Plant Clinic at Arlington Library
2026-06-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Arlington Central Library, 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA, 22201, United States
(VA) (Arlington Public Library) The Plant Clinic at Arlington Central Library is staffed by Extension Master Gardeners, who answer general gardening questions as well as questions about pests and diseases and plant identification. They also provide free soil test kits on request.

Lei Making at USBG
2026-06-06 11:00 - 13:00 | U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20515, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Each June, in honor of Kamehameha Day, the local Hawaiian community crafts beautiful lei using plant materials sourced from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. During this drop-in program at the Garden’s Conservatory, learn about Hawaiian culture, and try your hand at lei-making. Then watch as members of the Hawai’i State Society of Washington D.C. prepare lei for the ceremonial draping at the U.S. Capitol.
This drop-in experience will be repeated several times over the course of two hours.

Cocktails & Conversations: Future-Proofing D.C.'s Flora
2026-05-28 18:30 - 20:30 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Experience the magic of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory at night and get inspired by the potential of plants and people. Join USBG Executive Director and botanist Dr. Susan Pell in conversation with local experts as they discuss the science and community efforts behind native plant seed saving and habitat restoration in the District and beyond. You’ll hear first-hand from the researchers and community changemakers leading plant conservation solutions.

Expert Is In: Neuro-Botany
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Interested in learning how plants affect our brains and bodies? Drop by the Medicinal House to talk with Dr. Terri Postma, Neurologist and Health Policy Advisor and learn about the intersection of botany and neurology. You’ll hear about the dual nature of plants, how their complex chemistry can serve as both a source of life-saving medicine and a potential neurotoxin, and learn more about how our well-being is deeply rooted in the botanical world.

Native Plant Walk at Meadowlark
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the beauty of spring woodlands on a guided walk through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ Potomac Valley Collection! Led by Keith Tomlinson, former Garden Manager who developed and curated Meadowlark’s native plant collection, this walk offers a unique opportunity to explore the region’s rich botanical diversity.
With 45 years of experience in botanical gardens, museums, environmental education, and plant conservation, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this immersive tour. His expertise and passion for native plants will deepen your appreciation for the beauty and ecological importance of our local flora and fauna, information that will be helpful to those who are interested in adding native plants to their own yards.

Seed Swap Festival
2026-04-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Mount Rainier Nature Center, 4701 31st Pl, Mount Rainier, MD, 20712, United States
(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Anacostia Watershed Society, & Mount Rainier Public Library to celebrate a belated National Seed Swap Day. Exchange seeds with your neighbors and meet local organizations as you prepare for spring and diversify your garden!

Florals: Art, Memory, and Meaning (Virtual)
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Washington DC
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Garden historian and author Abra Lee joins native Washingtonian floral artist and author Teresa Speight, whose celebrated book “Black Flora: Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard” features as one of Abra’s favorite books. Together Abra and Teresa will explore the connective power of orchids and florals through both storytelling and lived creative practice.

Spring Garden Tour at Hillwood
2026-04-09 14:30 - 15:15, 2026-04-07 14:30 - 15:15 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Explore Hillwood’s magnificent spring displays featuring tens of thousands of cheerful bulbs. Learn about the design process that led to this year’s unique display and first-hand stories of practical gardening lessons. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This forty-five-minute tour is limited to twenty and meets in the visitor center conservatory.

Beauty of Bluebells Walk
2026-04-05 07:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-04 07:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park’s most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

Exploring Leaf Shapes
2026-03-30 10:00 - 12:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join Lilly Andersen, USBG Family Education Specialist as you observe leaves of different shapes and sizes while considering the question: Why do leaves come in so many different forms? Learn to recognize patterns between the shapes and structures of leaves from a wide variety of plants, and then use your new knowledge to explore the Garden with a new perspective.

Wild Rice Seeding at Kingman
2026-03-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join AWS to propagate wild rice (Zizania aquatica) seeds through mudballing (seeding) in wetlands at Kingman & Heritage Islands Park. We will mix the wild rice seeds in mud and toss our wild rice mudballs into exposed mudflats to encourage plant growth.

Nature Narrative Writing (Virtual)
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington DC
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) In the spirit of her book, “Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World,” Kathryn Aalto, Historian, Teacher, Speaker, and New York Times Best-selling Author will guide participants in how to observe the world around them with a writer’s eye, translating your observations into powerful, evocative prose that not only informs but also inspires readers to see the natural world in new ways.

Rare Plants of Virginia (Virtual)
2026-03-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Washington DC
(VA) (Arlington Parks) From the top of Mount Rogers to the beaches of the Eastern Shore, Virginia hosts an incredible diversity of plants and plant communities including cacti, orchids, and carnivorous plants. Join our naturalist on a photographic journey of some of the most unusual, uncommon, and threatened plants found in the commonwealth.

Hillwood Orchids Tour
2026-03-25 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-03-18 10:30 - 11:00 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Join one of Hillwood’s orchid experts for a twenty-minute tour of the greenhouse, which houses Marjorie Merriweather Post’s extensive collection of exotic orchids, as well as cut flowers grown for floral arrangements throughout the mansion.

Drawing Carnivorous Plants (Virtual)
2026-03-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Washington DC
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Both beginners and experienced artists can explore the weird and wonderful world of carnivorous plants! Their unique botanical structures make carnivorous plants terrifyingly terrific drawing subjects. These ferocious drawing subjects provide a great opportunity to develop your artistic eye for detail, proportion, and balance.
Mary Ellen Carsley, Artist Educator

Wild Rice Seeding at River Terrace
2026-03-14 10:30 - 12:30 | River Terrace Park, 382 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society to propagate wild rice (Zizania aquatica) seeds through mudballing (seeding) in wetlands along the River Terrace Park section of the Anacostia River. We will mix the wild rice seeds in mud and toss our wild rice mudballs into exposed mudflats to encourage plant growth.

Fruit to Poop: A Seed's Journey
2026-03-13 14:00 - 16:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) What’s the connection between fruit and poop? Join Lilly Andersen, USBG Family Education Specialist, and and USBG volunteers to explore how plants and animals help each other and the relationship between plants making fruit and animals eating that fruit. Think and learn about what makes a fruit a fruit, why fruits tend to taste sweet, and why it benefits plants when animals eat their fruits.

Growing Orchids at Home
2026-03-11 11:30 - 13:30 | Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Meet an orchid expert from Smithsonian Gardens or the United States Botanic Garden and learn more about this incredible plant family! This week, USBG Gardener (Advanced) George Guenthner will share tips for caring for orchids at home, including how to repot an orchid. Drop in at any time during the program and be sure to bring your orchid questions.
This program is offered in partnership with Smithsonian Gardens and the More than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Free timed-entry passes are required.
