One of my favorite places in Washington, DC to truly get away from the hustle of the city (without actually leaving the city) is the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at Anacostia Park. Especially during the annual blooming of the sacred lotus flower, which happens in spring.
W.B. Shaw, a Civil War veteran bought a 37-acre marshy farm when he came to DC from Maine to work for the Treasury Dept. He preferred the areas of ponds and marshes on his property so that he could continue to grow his favorite flower, water lilies. Starting with just a dozen, over the years, he experimented and expanded the types he grew. By 1912, he had over 60 varieties which he then began selling commercially.
The land today is still almost exactly as it was when Shaw’s daughter sold it to the National Park system. It’s now an urban retreat for nature lovers and a center for studying water plants and fauna.
The highlight of the gardens is the annual blooming of the field of sacred lotus flowers (which as also a type of water lily) from late-June until mid-August. Some varieties of lotus flowers are edible, think lotus root, lotus flowers and for making lotus teas. You can even pop the seeds similar to popcorn.
Park Ranger garden tours are usually offered on weekends at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. during the summer.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
1550 Anacostia Ave. at Douglass St., NE
Washington, DC 20020
202-426-6905
Dates and Times – The garden is open daily, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It’s best to arrive early in the day, as the lotus flowers tend to close in high summer heat.
Admission - Admission to the park is free.
Directions - It can be tough to find the Gardens, depending on where you are coming from, as the street signs directing you to the park is limited. Click on the map at right for the park's general location or here for written directions.
The park is located west of Kenilworth Avenue (I-295), between Quarles and Douglas Streets, on Anacostia Ave. It's probably best to map it before your visit.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Deanwood - Orange line, then a 1 mile walk.