Sometimes it’s amazing how many places I’ve never been to in 52 years of living in Washington. It’s a combination of so many things to see, laziness and not knowing about the sites.
I’ve heard of Dumbarton Oaks and its gardens, but lack of parking and general laziness kept me from visiting until Mother’s Day when my wife wanted to try something different. I’m glad we listened to her because the weather was perfect and the grounds were spectacular.
The Garden entrance is located by 31st and R Sts. N.W. with admission $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids. It doesn’t matter which way you walk because it all circles back to the house, which was built in 1801 and redesigned as a Georgian mansion in 1921-23. There are public tours on Saturdays and a museum open daily.
We spent a leisurely 90 minutes touring the gardens. I liked Lilac Circle, Eclipse and Pebble gardens, the latter constructed of rocks. The pool looked awesome. Several steps leading to a five-foot depth — bet it was grand for summer parties.
For more information — visit Dumbarton Oaks.org.
