The U.S. National Arboretum Re-Dedicated the Friendship Garden, 26 years after OvS’ initial installation.
For the past four years, OvS has been working with the U.S. National Arboretum and National Capital Area Garden Clubs to revitalize the Friendship Garden at the National Arboretum, a commission installed by OvS in April 1991 at the request of the Arboretum’s then-Executive Director, Dr. Marc Cathey.
The new garden, installed last summer, was rededicated during a ceremony at the Arboretum on May 22, 2017. Eric Groft, OvS’ Principal-in-Charge of the project, gave remarks as did Lauren Vaughan, Secretary of the District of Columbia (on behalf of Mayor Bowser), National Arboretum Executive Director Dr. Scott Olsen, and the National Capital Area Garden Clubs’ Ellen Spencer. Eric Groft led a tour of the renovated garden immediately following the ceremony. OvS CEO Lisa Delplace, Friendship Garden Project Manager Lili Herrera, Marketing and Communications Director Justin Maglione, and Summer Intern Benton Williams were on hand for the re-dedication.
The updated garden maintains all the same values and design philosophy as the original installation– it is low maintenance, has low water, herbicide, and fertilizer needs, and offers maximum visual impact 12 months of the year. Some of the original “patchwork’ styled plantings were reinstated, but the current incarnation of the garden highlights a series of plant communities – groups of naturally associated plants that work together in support of each other seasonally and botanically.
The U.S. National Arboretum grounds are open from 8:00 to 5:00 PM open every day of the year except December 25th. Admission is free.
