Exploring Nature’s Beauty at Green Spring Gardens
A Fairfax County local gem, Green Spring Gardens is a beautiful park with its lush scenery and ties to the local community. Rich in history, Green Spring Gardens is a free park where one can learn about plants and trees with multiple gardens throughout the park. The picturesque area has ponds and natural borders along with the historic house in the center of the area. Located in Fairfax County, Green Spring Gardens is in Alexandria, near Annandale. Great place to learn more about plant and tree species, with pristine gardens all over the park. Here I will discuss the history of Green Spring Gardens, attractions and a tree spotlight. Let’s dive in.
Brief History of Green Spring Gardens
In 1784, John Moss held ownership of the house along with the acreage. The Moss family was involved in politics and government in Fairfax County at the time. Originally 540 acres of farmland, Green Spring Gardens now sits on a 31 acres area. The next owner would be Fountain Beattie, who ran an orchard and dairy business from 1978-1911. During the civil war, Beattie was a part of Mosby Rangers led by John Singleton Mosby. In 1942 a power couple named Michael and Belinda Straight bought this house with 33 acres at the time. They hired Beatrix Farrand, a pioneer landscape designer and Walter Macomber, to remodel and expand the house. Macomber was a resident architect at Mount Vernon. After their work was finished, Green Spring Gardens became a historic landmark status. Several famous guests were entertained there, like Aldous Huxley and former vice president Hubert Humphrey. The Straights owned the property until 1965. In 1970, the house and the surrounding acreage became part of the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Attractions Green Spring Gardens Has To Offer
As you walk around the parking lot you notice beautiful flower beds filled with a myriad of flowers, plants, ornamental trees and shrubs. Lots of work has been done to the whole property and the workers do a fabulous job at keeping up with the gardens and all the greenery around the park. At the end of the parking lot, you will notice the Horticultural Center and Glasshouse. Inside the Horticultural Center you will find a library, and a gift shop along with exquisite pictures for sale of wildlife and plants.
As you walk out of the center, there’s a long circle walkway along the house. As you continue walking there’s different types of gardens lining the walkway. They have a variety of gardens along the trail. Lots of detail went into the design of the landscape. Some of the most outstanding gardens are the gazebo garden and the arbor garden. Also, Green Spring Gardens is home to 100 different types of witch hazels of native and Asian species. The children’s garden is a great place for children to learn about plants and gardening in general. Green Spring Gardens has many educational programs for adults including gardening workshops at the Edible Garden. There’s also lots of volunteering opportunities throughout the gardens. As you approach the Arbor Garden you will see a walkway to the historic house. The flower beds around the house were done perfectly.
Tree Spotlight
Towering over the left side of the historic house is a massive Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). This tree is huge in width as it is in height. Large overarching branches shade the historic house. The lower canopy droops down over the house’s parking area. A very majestic tree, this willow oak is at least 50 inches in diameter at breast height and at least roughly 100 feet in height. A charm for a tree climber to climb with multiple tie in points and great limb walks. With its broad, spreading crown and lush foliage, this tree commands respect.
Getting Ideas
Gardens are a great place to learn about greenery especially when planning some form of landscape design. Redesigning a new flower bed? Want to plant a tree or shrub? Green Spring Gardens and parks are an ideal place to see that tree, plant or shrub in all forms of growth. You can see a tree for example at a mature height and size then plan for the site you intend to plant the tree. The great thing about Green Spring Gardens is that they have many programs for both young and old to learn about gardening. Especially when planning out some tree screening, forethought is especially important. It’s helpful to view the screening tree in its mature height to plan out the type of screening you need for privacy.
Green Spring Gardens is more beautiful than I can put into words. If you are in the Washington, DC area make a trip out to Green Spring Gardens. Especially if you are interested in gardening and landscape design. The workers at the Gardens do an excellent job at keeping up with the historic property. AAA Tree Service is proud to have done work to the majestic Willow Oak in the past. If you are planning to do some planting yourself, stop by Green Spring Gardens and get some ideas.