Virginia’s State Arboretum
This weekend we strolled with the dogs around The State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce which is about 60 miles west of Washington, DC.
Sure, it’s still early in the season so there were only a few spring flowers in bloom and many of the perennials we just poking up through the mulch. What struck me the most is how natural the entire property is. Unlike some formal arboretums with rows of English-like gardens, this one flatters the existing landscape and showcases many native species.
The other thing you will notice is the diversity and the depth of the collections. From the most extensive boxwood collection in North America to the ginkgo grove to more than half of the world’s pine species. All of this is nested in the Shenandoah Valley among rolling meadows, towering firs and Lake Georgette.
We literally just meandered around for about an hour – sometimes on a road, sometimes a path, sometimes cutting across the meadow. You could spend as much time here as you like. Be aware that you will be in the sun most of the time (weather permitting, obviously) so bring lots of water for your pooch. Karma was sporting his Kool Coat which I doused with water a few times.
My suggestion? Bring some wine and cheese and enjoy the sunset!
Facts:
- Open 365 days, free of charge.
- Dog and horse friendly – dogs must be on a leash and horses on the defined bridle path.
- There is a picnic grove available for gatherings.
- Memberships and tours available.
- No hunting and fishing should be obvious.
- More information
[...] and walking their dogs. We spent some time letting the dogs cool down and then it was off to our next hike at the State Arboretum. var addthis_language = 'en';var addthis_options = 'email, favorites, digg, delicious, myspace, [...]