Arriving by airplane, automobile, and train, members of the Orange and Dutchess Counties Garden Club, along with a few spouses, siblings, and friends, gathered in Washington DC for a tour of gardens and historic sites in and around Washington DC.
Union Station – Washington DC – Photo by Paul Brothe
Everyone arrived on Sunday to be ready for our first part of the tour on Monday morning. A bus picked us up at our hotel, Eaton DC, located on K street in downtown Washington DC. After a short ride out of DC, we pulled up to the entrance of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. With 2026 being the 250th birthday of the United States, touring Mount Vernon, where Washington was rooted and developed his thoughts about the future of the nation, was particularly meaningful.
Pamela Breeman and Paul Brothe at the rear of Mount Vernon, with the bowling green leading up to the mansion. Photographer unknown.
Our first tour was the interior of the mansion. The docent explained that Washington had inherited approximately 2,000 acres upon the death of his father. As a young man, Washington was a surveyor by trade. Over the years he accumulated additional acreage, which represented separate farms, bringing his total land holdings to approximately 8,000 acres. He was actively engaged in working the farms, as he felt the U.S. could be a leader in agricultural exports. Grain was a focus, but he also dabbled in a winery, spirits and plants he tried to cultivate that would provide income. The house he inherited was not large. Washington enlarged the house, keeping the original house in the center and adding onto the sides. Slave (forced laborers in the guides words) quarters, and many outbuildings were built by Washington on the grounds.
The mansion is undergoing significant renovations. The entire foundation of the mansion has been excavated to enable stabilization of the foundation. The grounds, on either side of the mansion are a full-on construction site.
The tour began in a large room with high ceilings and Adamesque plaster work. This room served many different purposes. During our visit, it was sparsely furnished, because much of the work on the foundation was ongoing underneath this room.
Main reception room. Photographs by Paul Brothe
Dining room. Photograph by Paul Brothe
One bedroom is located on the main level, while the second level of the mansion contains more bedrooms. Washington’s bedroom was located on the second floor, separated from the other bedrooms, affording him and Martha a degree of privacy. The docent explained Washington’s fame resulted in the mansion being continually filled with overnight guests.
The bed shown in the right photograph shows the actual bed where Washington died. Photographs by Paul Brothe
The key to the Bastille, in Paris, presented to Washington by his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette remarked, “it is a tribute which I owe as a son to my adoptive father, as an aid de camp to my general, as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch.” Photograph by Paul Brothe
View from the veranda to the Potomac River. Looking across the river, the viewshed has been protected by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association and generous donors. Photo by Susanne Williams
Mansion and outbuildings. Photographs by Susanne Williams
We progressed from the house to Washington’s tomb. Paul and Michelle placed a wreath at the tomb, followed by the group reciting the pledge of allegiance. Photograph by Susanne Williams
Dede Petri, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, joined us for this part of our tour and we walked to the slave cemetery.
Commemorative marker in the slave cemetery. Photograph by Susanne Williams
Following the visit to the slave cemetery, Dede walked with us to the pleasure garden and the private dining room where we had lunch.
Pam Breeman and Dede Petri are shown in the photograph. In the background are plates from various presidential dinner services. The dining room with tables set up for lunch. Each person was given a gift of Washington’s Farewell Address and a packet of seeds gathered from the gardens at Mount Vernon. Dede explained the history of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. In 1853, Louisa Bird Cunningham was traveling on the Potomac. She observed a dilapidated Mount Vernon from her boat and made it her life work to purchase and restore Mount Vernon. She founded the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, embarked on what is believed to be the first fund raising effort in America, and secured the necessary support to operate the museum for the past 160 years. It is an inspiring tale of courage, ingenuity and fortitude – all undertaken by women at a time when women had little formal influence. Dede provided each member on the tour with a brochure about Mount Vernon membership and encouraged everyone to join the organization in supporting Mount Vernon. It would be a fitting tribute to Dede if everyone on the tour became a member.
We were joined at the end of lunch by Jonathon Kavalier, the inaugural executive director of gardens and landscapes at Mount Vernon, Melanie Welles Creamer, the senior manager of horticulture and Dr. Holly Gruntner, landscape historian at Mount Vernon.
Jonothan, Melanie and Holly. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Jonothan, Melanie and Holly gave us tours of the gardens. They provided many stories about significant trees on the property, including two enormous tulip poplar trees and a gigantic black walnut tree. Dr. Gruntner told us the bowling green was not just a place for the family to gather and perhaps enjoy some type of outdoor activity but it was also a sign of wealth. The fact that such a large area could be set aside from farming, to serve no particular purpose, and that the cutting of the grass with scythes would have required significant labor over many days, demonstrated Washington was indeed a wealthy man. Another interesting story they shared was regarding cherries preserved in bottles. When the excavation began underneath the house, bottles were found buried in the ground. These were analyzed and determined to still contain, some 200+ years later, preserved cherries. The scientists stated the contents could still possibly be edible, however no one at Mount Vernon attempted to do so. This led to an antidote that Martha Washington’s favorite libation was called “cherry bounce.”
The greenhouse in the pleasure garden. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Members listening attentively in the pleasure garden. This area had formal boxwood bordered areas with flowers planted along the outside edges and vegetables in the center. Photograph by Paul Brothe
It was too late in the season to see the magnolia trees in bloom; however this particular blossom was large and very fragrant. Photograph by Paul Brothe
The entrance to the vegetable garden. This garden contains vegetables and espaliered fruit trees. The current design of the garden was laid out in the 1930’s, Additional archeological work will be done in the future to determine how the garden was laid out in Washington’s time. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Following the garden tours, we went to the museum to a see a display of memorabilia and artifacts from George Washington and colonial life.
Pam and Michele with George Washinton, in the museum. Photograph by Paul Brothe
This concluded our first day. We gathered the group and returned to the hotel on the bus.
Day two included a full day of touring. The bus picked us up at the hotel and took us to Tudor Place, in Georgetown. This was the home of Martha Washington’s granddaughter and her descendants -the last of whom lived in the house until 1983 whereupon they donated it as a museum. The home was first constructed in 1805 with two small structures separate from each other. Early in the 19th century the two structures were joined by building a large connecting structure in the middle.
The tour group beginning their tour outside of the house. Photograph by Paul Brothe
The grounds feature formal gardens, informal walking paths to a dell, a garage with a Pierce Arrow on display, a gazebo and a small kitchen garden. Photograph by Paul Brothe
The ground floor of the house was stripped of its furnishings in order to provide exhibition space for a special showing of artifacts purchased from the estate of Martha Washington. The rooms were nicely proportioned with 16 foot ceilings. The butlers pantry exhibited fine hand painted porcelain dinner services. The museum has some 60 sets of china the family used to entertain. The second floor contained bedrooms.
The tour group in the kitchen. Photograph by Paul Brothe
The group in the butler’s pantry with some of the dinner services in the background. Photograph by Paul Brothe
At Tudor Place we were met by Visiting Gardens Chairs for the Georgetown Garden Club, Marjie Calvert and Jane Matz. They guided us to a private home in Georgetown for a special garden tour. The owners of the home, Tom and Beth Crocker, have lived in the home for many years. Tom grew up in the house. The house changed ownership over the years until finally the current owners were able to once again purchase and renovate the home. Their garden is narrow and deep, befitting an intown location. The garden is tiered as there is a significant change in elevation from the house down to the bottom of the garden, where a stable had once been located. The owners provided the group with detailed descriptions of their plants, the changes in the garden over the years and illustrious nearby residents, including Jackie Kennedy who lived across the street after moving from the White House, Robert Todd Lincoln, who lived next door and contemporarily a Google executive who now lives on the block.
View of the garden. Looking back to the house. Members listening to the owners describe their garden and the neighborhood. Photographs by Paul Brothe
Paul Brothe with Marje Calvert, and Jane Matz, Visiting Gardens Chairs from the Georgetown Garden Club. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Pam found out near the end of the garden visit that the bus had broken down. We improvised by taking Uber cars to our next destination, Washington National Cathedral.
The Cathedral from the Bishop’s Garden. This garden featured some formal planting areas, an amphitheater, woods. and a gazebo. We spoke with the gardener, who was hand watering the garden with a plastic watering can. She explained Washington DC is currently in a drought and it is very difficult to keep up with the garden. Photograph by Paul Brothe
We had a box lunch while sitting on this wall as we waited for our tour to begin. Photograph by Alison Spear-Reese
Paula Giblin at the entrance to the Bishop’s Garden. Photograph by Paul Brothe
We had a wonderful guide who took us around the cathedral, explaining the construction, notable people, events and the various design features of the sacred building. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Tour participants underneath the spire listening to the tour guide explaining the weight of the tower above. Photograph by Paul Brothe
The famous space window with a moon rock encased in a tube in the center of the large red circle. Photograph by Alison Spear-Reese
Our cathedral tour concluded with a visit to the crypt and an elevator ride to the top of the front towers. This view is looking down on the Bishop’s Garden. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Everyone went back to the hotel to get ready for our group dinner at Cafe Fiorello.
We had a delicious dinner. All 22 of us were seated in a narrow space adjoining the kitchen preparation area. Judging by the volume of conversation, the laughter and the smiles, it was a successful dinner. Photographs by Alison Spear-Reese
Day three was a short day. We went to the Smithsonian Garden Archives, where we were greeted by Kelly Crawford, museum specialist.
Photograph by Alison Spear-Reese
Kelly gave a presentation on the archive. She noted that the core of the collection was started by a gift from the Garden Club of America. She explained that each of the various Smithsonian buildings has its own garden. These gardens are maintained by the Smithsonian staff. She concluded the presentation with a slide featuring Helena Rutherfurd Ely, a founding member of the Orange and Dutchess County Garden Club.
In the archive the members could see various items related to the GCA, as well as a book that belonged to Mrs. Ely (the page showing a drawing by the late club member, Mrs. Chandler). The two young ladies in the photograph are summer interns paid for by the GCA. Photographs by Paul Brothe
Leaving the archive, we were entertained by Alex Dencker, the horticulturist for the National Air and Space Museum. Alex gave a lively overview of how the Air and Space garden has evolved over the years. The current layout of the garden was designed by Piet Oudolf, famed for designing the planting scheme for the Highline in New York City. The plantings are predominately native plants that were installed only in the past several years. The planting plan follows what Alex stated is Piet’s signature style of planting with 3 things in mind. The first is using anchor plants, these were often repeated and included lush rows of Amsonia The second is seasonal plants, which have a pop of color for a period of time. The third is ground cover plants. Alex explained the plantings rely on densely planted beds with everything planted close together. This density avoids the need for mulch and cuts down on weeds.
Alex is an animated speaker who takes his work seriously and enjoys sharing his experiences and ideas with others. Photograph by Paul Brothe
Planting list for a new garden next to the Air and Space Museum. Photographs by Paul Brothe
The Air and Space Museum was our final stop. The tour ended and everyone journeyed home. Photograph by Paul Brothe
In spite of extremely hot temperatures, the bus breakdown, and any number of individual happenstances, it was a great trip. We learned about each other, historic sites, informed ourselves about gardens and had fun. Such a trip would not be possible without the organization skills of the Visiting Gardens committee: Pam Breeman, Linda Tawse, Michele Lindsay, Paula Giblin and Paul Brothe. A successful trip is always dependent upon the participants. Our group of 22 is a microcosm of the larger Orange and Dutchess Counties Garden Club, in other words, a welcoming, friendly and wonderful group of people. Thank you to everyone who participated. For those who could not be with us, you were missed!