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Teacups in the Garden

Historical Seamstress & Homeschooler

Gardens at the Capitol and Smithsonian Castle
Visiting Washington DC

Gardens at the Capitol and Smithsonian Castle

July 17, 2017

While walking to the Folger Shakespeare Library for a tour, we enjoyed the massive gardens on the Capitol grounds.

US Capitol Gardens
US Capitol Gardens

After touring the Folger Shakespeare Library, we enjoyed their garden…

Statue with The Tempest Epilogue in the Gardens at the Folger Shakespeare Museum in Washington DC

…before walking down to the Smithsonian Castle…

Smithsonian Castle

…along the way we found more patriotic gardens…

US Capitol Gardens

At the Smithsonian Castle we found prodigious gardens with lovely spots to sit and relax.

Smithsonian Castle Gardens
Smithsonian Castle Gardens
Smithsonian Castle Gardens

As lovely as all the gardens were, my favorite was the parterre, which has an interesting history.

Smithsonian Castle Gardens

Originating in Italy’s 16th century Renaissance, the French adopted the style in the 1580s.

Smithsonian Castle Gardens

For America’s bicentennial in 1976, the Smithsonian Castle installed this parterre, inspired by a print of Philadelphia’s exposition one hundred years before.

Smithsonian Castle Gardens

Two other gardens were built on each side of the parterre in 1987.

While the Moongate Garden was inspired by 15th century China, the Fountain Garden was inspired by 14th century Spain.

Smithsonian Castle Gardens

For more photos, check my Flickr set.

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A former homeschool mom who sees the world through the lens of 18th century Virginia…and discovers Lafayette everywhere she turns.

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