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. 

Highlights in the greenhouse:

• Orchid month is here and the greenhouse is a must! The entrance house display is full of slipper orchids! The common name, slipper orchid, is derived by the flower’s pouch-shaped lip which resembles a little shoe. The pouch functions as a funnel causing insects to pick up and deposit pollen needed for fertilization. Many of the flowers sport warts, hairs or long twisting sepals. They can be spotted and striped. They can grow singularly or in multiples. Check them all out!

• The bench of cymbidiums is something to behold! Their thin green foliage mixed in with crotons makes a wonderful backdrop to the stunning number of flowers in bloom. Cymbidiums are native to the foothills of the Himalayans. As such, they need cooler temperatures compared to other orchids and actually like a touch of frost to set flower buds. Enjoy the show!

• Just overhead from the cymbidiums, the noble dendrobiums (Dendrobium nobile) are also strutting their stuff! The hanging pots are full of white or purple and white flowers. Certainly an interesting plant, these orchids are semi-deciduous. After the summer growth period, the noble dendrobium will start to go dormant and drop a lot of its leaves leaving the distinct canes exposed. 

Plants to note in the gardens:

• Spring is here! Bulbs are pushing up and starting to flower! In the motor court, the hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis 'Blue Jacket') are coming on strong! These early bloomers are only a part of the twenty-six thousand bulbs staff and volunteers planted last fall. Hyacinths are known for their sweet fragrance so you may detect their scent before actually seeing them. Also check out the cute daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium 'Mary Poppins') at the Friendship Walk!

• The Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) is in bloom in the Japanese-style garden. At certain times of the day, the sunshine on it makes it glow! There are quite a few of these broadleaf evergreen shrubs throughout the grounds. Attractive bead-like flower buds through the winter open now in spring into chains of beautiful bells. Many cultivars are available in different sizes and with flowers in white, pink or deep rose.

• This is also the time for the star magnolias (Magnolia stellata) to shine throughout the campus. These small deciduous trees are full of white, star-shaped flowers that can be seen at a distance. Star magnolias bloom slightly ahead of other Magnolia species like the saucer magnolia. Many times the flowers are damaged by a late freeze so we need to enjoy them while we can.