Hidden Gem

Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Va., is a hidden oasis amid a suburban landscape. Steeped in history and folklore, the 31-acre park offers space for quiet contemplation as well as opportunities to learn and grow. Green Spring features more than 20 demonstration gardens, encompassing vegetable plots, townhouse landscape designs, wildlife habitat and water-wise gardens, just to name a few. Part of Green Spring’s mission is to convey the landscape’s diversity and show us what we might achieve in even the smallest outdoor space.

Within this free and open environment, horticulturists, historians and educators inspire budding and experienced gardeners alike to stretch their knowledge and creativity. On any given day, one might find school groups wandering the Virginia Native Plant Trail, learning to recycle or exploring symbiotic relationships within the plant and animal