(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities.
Events
Calendar of Events
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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2 events,
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(VA) (Arlington Parks) Meet one of the Animal Ambassadors that live at Gulf Branch Nature Center and learn their histories and how they came to live here with us. Find out fun and interesting facts and stories about these amazing animals. Families. |
2 events,
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(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 7 a.m. April through September. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.
Free
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for a sunset cruise aboard the pontoon boat. We’ll search for beaver lodges and feeding sites, and hopefully see some beavers! As the sun sets, we’ll use our bat detector to help us find feeding bats. Please register and pay for all participants. You may want to bring a jacket or sweater as it is ...
$7
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2 events,
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(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. ...
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(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) Artificial lights have become such common nighttime fixtures that we take them for granted. But what do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars, but the solutions can have an immediate impact. Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile ... |
1 event,
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join our new Therapeutic Recreation Kayaking Program for a fun, inclusive experience on the calm waters of Little Seneca Lake. Participants with disabilities will learn kayaking skills like basic strokes, boat control, and more taught by certified instructors. Our trained staff will ensure a safe and enjoyable program. Each registered participant can bring one guest by answering ... |
4 events,
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(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide and author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and A Year in Rock Creek Park, leads a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of ...
$60 – $80
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(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. |
5 events,
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(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide and author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and A Year in Rock Creek Park, leads a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of ...
$60 – $80
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...
$11 – $16
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7 events,
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(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join a National Park Service volunteer birder for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. The ...
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(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 ... |
2 events,
-
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...
$11 – $16
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(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities. |
1 event,
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(VA) (NOVA Parks) Learn print making using a carving tool and rubber block! We will be joined by a guest instructor, Laura Damian. Participants will learn how to choose an image for making prints, tricks on how to easily transfer the image onto the block, and pro tips on how to best use the carving tool to produce a high-quality ...
$25
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3 events,
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(DC) (Hillwood) Marjorie Merriweather Post loved displaying fresh cut flowers throughout her home. This tradition continues today as the cutting garden produces nearly one thousand stems a week during the height of summer. From sunflowers and zinnias to eucalyptus and lisianthus, a weekly harvest supplies a bounty of flowers which are used in arrangements throughout the property. Tour the garden ...
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(DC) (Hillwood) anabata, the Japanese Star Festival, celebrates the legend of Orihime, the weaver princess, and Hikoboshi, the herder. These lovers, separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. Enjoy a summer evening relaxing in Hillwood’s spectacular gardens and take part in festive indoor and outdoor entertainment.
$5 – $20
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3 events,
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Immerse yourself in the transformative power of nature through Strolls for Well-Being—an evidence-based program designed to nurture emotional wellness and inspire self-discovery. Over eight weeks, you’ll enjoy twelve unaccompanied walks (or strolls!) through the serene beauty of Brookside Gardens, guided by a stunning, full-color, 110-page journal. You’ll also have the chance to connect with others during three ...
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(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Connect your mind, body, and spirit with nature through guided mindfulness programs on Wednesdays during summer evening hours. Save the date — registrations are coming soon! |
1 event,
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(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities. |
2 events,
-
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 ...
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(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Travel across the country through music, exploring our many traditions—from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Every Friday through August 14 (except June 5 and July 3). Pre-show dance classes on May 22 and 29, June 12, and July 24. Event registration through ... |
2 events,
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(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Discover nature-inspired art, ceramics, jewelry, paper goods, plants, and handcrafted accessories, while enjoying refreshing drinks and delicious sweet and savory treats. It’s a festive opportunity to shop for unique gifts, support small businesses, and connect with fellow plant lovers in a beautiful garden setting.
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(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow native plants to thrive in the understory. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 ... |
4 events,
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Take a bird walk with an expert instructor and learn the basics of using binoculars, listening for bird calls, using field guides and digital tools, and looking carefully in all directions. Stop at the spots in the garden that are most attractive for local birds and learn more about them. Borrow a pair of our binoculars or ...
$4
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(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. |
1 event,
-
(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 7 a.m. April through September. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.
Free
|
5 events,
-
(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. ...
-
(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. |
8 events,
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(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join our volunteer team once a month, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and help count butterflies and dragonflies in Dyke Marsh on: June 17, July 22, August 19, September 23 and October 21. Surveyors do not need experience or specialized knowledge. Meet in the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, sun and ...
Free
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Tai Chi is an ancient, Chinese form of exercise perfect for adults seeking stress reduction while strengthening muscles, improving balance and increasing flexibility. The Forms are repetitive patterns that emphasize slow, flowing motions and controlled movements. Classes will help beginners to learn the Forms while providing regular practitioners the guidance of an experienced instructor. No walk-ins will ...
$14
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3 events,
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(DMV) (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Set up your yard, pick up on signs that birds are nesting near you, and keep your eyes peeled for special summer bird sights!
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(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Ranger for a talk about the park! The talk will cover the history of the park, the waterlillies and lotuses that are grown in the ponds, and the importance of the marshes that are connected to the ponds. Meet at the Visitors Center. |
11 events,(DC) (Smithsonian) Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer throughout the weekend as museums across the National Mall and beyond hold special events and stay open until 11 pm. (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. ...
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(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults. Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations. And be ...
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(DC) (Hillwood) Experience the serenity and beauty of the Japanese-style garden, just as Marjorie Post and so many of her guests did. Join Michael Rollinson, gardener, as he shares a behind-the-scenes look at the intricately manicured, yet “naturally wild,” Japanese-style garden. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This thirty-minute tour is limited ... |
15 events,
-
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities.
-
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 ... |
9 events,
-
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.
Free
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...
$11 – $16
|
1 event,(Pollinator Partnership) Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Popular events include planting for pollinators, hosting garden tours, participating in online bee and butterfly ID workshops. Check out events with Pollinator Partnership and organizations throughout ... |
3 events,
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Montgomery Parks & Friends of Sligo Creek at a volunteer park cleanup! Help beautify your community green spaces, keep litter out of our streams, and protect wildlife! Children under 14 years old must volunteer with a parent/guardian.
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(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us each Tuesday evening in June for a series of musical performances set in the beauty of the Gardens! Admission is free, and no registration is required. Bring your friends and family, and don’t forget your chairs, blankets, and picnics (allowed in the Gardens on concert evenings only). Food trucks will also be available for your ... |
6 events,
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(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy a relaxing guided sunrise kayak paddle led by ACA certified paddling instructor and NOVA Parks' Roving Naturalist, Matt Felperin. Calm morning waters should make this an easy paddle, and we hope to see lots of wildlife along the way! Expect to see Great Blue Herons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles. We will begin with a brief paddling ...
$40
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(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines at Branch Ave Park in DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing invasives. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix). This project ... |
7 events,
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(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!
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(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Ranger for a talk about the park! The talk will cover the history of the park, the waterlillies and lotuses that are grown in the ponds, and the importance of the marshes that are connected to the ponds. Meet at the Visitors Center. |
6 events,
-
(VA) (Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia) This talk explains why the destruction of native plant habitats is contributing to a significant and ongoing decline in bird and insect populations. Extension Master Gardener Julie Acker shows you how to identify many non-native invasive plants and suggest alternatives that look and “behave” similarly.
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(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, ... |
9 events,
-
(DC) (Tregaron Conservancy) Did you know that the Tregaron Conservancy is a birding “hot spot”? Over 130 species of birds have been identified in our woodlands. Join birding expert Sam Krause on a walk to observe and learn about Tregaron’s resident and visiting birds.
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(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines around the Hillcrest neighborhood in Washington DC. We will meet at the Hillcrest Rec Center and spend 30 minutes doing training. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents. We may also drop ... |
3 events,
-
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.
Free
-
(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Virginia Master Naturalist Anne Ellis for a leisurely walk in search of butterflies. We’ll explore the Xerces plantings, “bugging strip”, and nearby meadows. This is a good opportunity to learn some of the 50+ species that visit our gardens. |
3 events,
-
(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 7 a.m. April through September. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.
Free
-
(VA) (NOVA Parks) This is a very special tour that we can only offer when the conditions line up just right. Enjoy a relaxing sunset before night falls, then watch as the skies darken before the full moon rises like a fireball and illuminates the water! We will begin with a brief paddling instruction overview before heading out. Previous kayak ...
$50
|
5 events,
-
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...
$11 – $16
-
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities. |
2 events,
-
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for informal walks through Gelncarlyn Park in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.
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(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Connect your mind, body, and spirit with nature through guided mindfulness programs on Wednesdays during summer evening hours. Save the date — registrations are coming soon! |
2 events,
-
(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.
-
(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join Nancy Morgan, Director Emeritus, Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, for this monthly workshop, to enjoy the combined health benefits of time spent in nature and writing thoughts and feelings. Each session is a stand-alone event – come when you are able. Registration for each session is open through the morning of the workshop. |
0 events,
|
2 events,
-
(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join a National Park Service volunteer birder for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. We will gather in front of the visitor center. The walk will ...
-
(DC) (Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) Explore the gardens, tune into your senses and connect with nature during this guided Forest Bathing walk. The WELLderness series brings members of the community together to engage in activities that have a positive impact on their physical and mental health and well-being. Sage is a certified Forest Bathing Guide, who has been practicing ... |
