EDITORletter

Your editor posing with the orchid plants and Mercury Fountain in the Rotunda of the National Gallery of Art’s West Building in Washington, DC.

Winter Warmth in Washington

When the gray Washington winter starts to wear on, I seek out solace in various warm indoor gardens across the city. Here are a few of my favorite oases. All are free, Metro-accessible, and open to the general public. • The Kogod Courtyard is situated between the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The enclosed courtyard with its elegant glass canopy, designed by world-renowned architects at Foster + Partners, and four water scrims (each one-quarter inch deep) are a feast for the senses. Plantings include lush greenery and ficus and black olive trees. Plus, you can purchase food from the Courtyard Café to enjoy in the courtyard. • The Mercury Fountain in the Rotunda of the West Building of the National Gallery of Art is always surrounded by beautiful plants—orchids in late winter give way to azaleas in early spring. • The U.S. Botanic Garden’s Conservatory is a breath of fresh air, when the winter winds blow. I especially like going into “The Tropics,” which is the center of the building. It is a tropical forest, with a dome that rises to 93 feet and also has a raised walkway level from which to view the forest canopy. •The National Zoo’s Bird House is a terrific series of smaller exhibits that encircle a large indoor jungle, complete with free-flying tropical birds. Alas, it is closed this winter for renovation, but it will reopen soon and promises to be an immersive ecosytem that I cannot wait to experience. Did I miss any of your favorite indoor jungle spaces in the District? Drop me a line and let me know.

Sincerely,

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener KathyJentz@gmail.com

Credits

Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com

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Volume 17, Number 11 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2023 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published monthly.

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