Set on twenty-five acres adjacent to Rock Creek Park, Hillwood’s gardens feature a diverse and fascinating array of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, offering something to see in every season. 

Plants to note in the gardens:

• Over eleven thousand plants make up this year’s summer seasonal display. Flowers and interesting foliage can be found throughout the grounds. A sea of begonias (Begonia interspecific ‘BabyWing Pink’) surrounds Eros, the Greek god of love in the motor court. These happy little annuals are full of pink blooms. Time is running out on the summer display though so see it while you can. The garden staff will be putting in the fall display starting September 18.

• The cutting garden is full of flowers and alive with movement. Butterflies sip nectar from the zinnias, phlox and verbena. Bees forage on the yellow cosmos and mountain mint while hummingbirds visit salvia and the honeysuckle vine. American goldfinches flit through the garden collecting seeds from the sunflowers. It is a great time of year to enjoy the beauty of this space, both the blooms and the wildlife that they support. 

• Along the edge of the lawn, across from the Adirondack building, pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips') is in bloom. This U.S. native cultivar features hooded, snapdragon-like pink flowers opening on a terminal flower stalk. These flowers have been observed to look like the heads of open-mouthed turtles, hence the common name. The attractive dark green foliage stands out when mixed with other perennials. Pink turtlehead does best in moist, sunny conditions.

Highlights in the greenhouse:

• Various orchids are in bloom throughout the orchid houses. One particularly nice specimen is Odontonia Pacific Paranoia 'Other Side of Cool'. Both parents are recognizable in this inter-genera hybrid. The strong purple petals and sepals come from Miltonia Honolulu. The leopard pattern takes after Rhynchostele bictoniensis. All together, the result is a lovely flower that’s worth a close look. 

• Several slipper orchids are also coming into flower. Phragmipedium Sargent Eric is a very attractive example with reddish-orange striped petals and sepals and a spotted lip. The leaves can be quite long and an older plant can reach three feet across. The lineage of Sargent Eric can be traced to Central and South America.    

• Towering overhead, you may get a glimpse of an upside-down orchid. Stanhopea Ronsard produces pendulous yellow flowers with maroon spots. Stanhopeas need to be grown in special baskets that allow the flower stems to grow out of the bottom of the container. The fragrant flowers only last a few days but multiple flowers spikes push out over the summer. See if you can catch one in bloom.