capitalregionusa.org
GLORIOUS PARKS
AND GARDENS
Quiet urban retreats and stunning mountain vistas
T
HE best-kept secrets in Washington, DC are the city’s
exquisite gardens and parks (mycapitalgardensusa.co.uk). FROM FARM TO TABLE
Take the US Botanic Garden, a parkland garden and
tropical paradise in the heart of America’s capital. ★ A popular approach to cuisine in the Capital Region is
Established by Congress in 1820, it is the oldest botanic ‘farm to table’. To focus on the area’s harvest of fresh corn,
garden in North America and is known as the ‘nation’s garden’. Divided peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, fruits and locally-raised buf_f alo,
into several distinctive sections, it includes a stunning collection local chefs concoct a diversity of delectable dishes for the
of more than 10,000 varieties of orchids, while the conservatory’s region’s restaurants.
impressive indoor garden houses 4,000 seasonal, tropical and
Founding Fathers
subtropical plants.
(wearefoundingfarmers.com)
An hour’s walk from the Capitol Building, the National Arboretum
in Washington, DC and
is another city-centre surprise, an example of a living museum of trees,
Agraria (farmersandfi shers.
shrubs and herbaceous plants. Visitors are greeted by the Friendship
com) in Georgetown are
Garden – full of inspirational ideas for the homeowner – before the
both farm-to-table eateries,
gardens open into a series of
as are Woodberry Kitchen
themed areas, with the Asian
Founding
(woodberrykitchen.com)
Collections one of the most
Fathers
in Baltimore and the
dramatic.
Grandale Farm Restaurant
And DC isn’t short of city-
(grandalefarm.com) in Virginia’s Loudoun County.
centre National Parks (nps.gov)
either. Potomac Park, reclaimed The of_f_i cial Farm to Table programme helps match
in the 19th century from nearly restaurants’ needs with farm output in an arrangement that
Rock Cr
eek Park
700 acres of Potomac River benefi ts everyone – including discriminating diners.
land, stretches west and south
from the Washington Monument and is home to some of the city’s In Monkton, north of Baltimore, the Ladew Topiary Gardens are
most iconic sights, including the Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial and full of surprises. A fox hunt in full fl ight with horses, riders, hounds
the spectacle of the springtime cherry blossom that attracts hundreds of and a fox clearing a hedge, a Chinese junk with sails, swans and a
thousands of visitors each year. giraff e are among the incredible sights that await visitors. Many fox-
Rock Creek Park was a favourite of past presidents John Quincy hunting visits to England – where he also discovered the art of topiary
Adams, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. One of America’s fi nest – inspired self-taught gardener Harvey S Ladew to create the garden’s
and largest city parks, it welcomes DC locals, who cycle its 29 miles of 13 themed areas.
trails, play golf, ride and picnic in its 2,000 acres. By contrast, the Assateague Island National Seashore – a dramatic
Maryland and Virginia, too, off er many options for garden tours and and romantic barrier island off the eastern coast of Maryland and
National Park visits. Virginia – is famous for its wild horses. Local folklore maintains that
PICK UP A PICNIC AT THE MARKET
Roanok
e
City Mark
et
★ Washington’s newly-restored ★ Buy a slice of history at Virginia’s
Eastern Market is a fi xture in the Capitol Roanoke City Market, Virginia’s
Hill community and a colourful visitor oldest continuously-operating,
attraction. It even has its own sit-down open-air market, dating to 1882.
diner, Market Lunch, renowned for its The original market building now
blueberry pancakes and barbecue. forms the core of a vibrant shopping
★
district.
The farmers’ market in St Michaels,
on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has one of ★ For details, visit
the prettiest market settings in the US, mycapitalgardensusa.co.uk
right on the harbour front. and click on Farmers Markets
capitalregionusa.org 39
CRUSA 2010 pp38-40 Parks & gardens.indd 39 11/13/09 12:57:47 PM
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