A Hidden Gem in DC

 Today's excursion took us to Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, "the only National Park dedicated to cultivating water-loving plants." It is part of the larger Anacostia Water Trail and was once the estate of the Shaw family. When the family saved the water gardens in the 1930s from dredging and fill by the Army Corps of Engineers, they also inadvertently saved a few acres of fresh water marsh. Congress purchased the original eight acres and gave it to the National Park Service.

Restoration work continues on the marsh. As you can see in this picture, the marsh is once again open to the Anacostia. They have created new mud flats and re-introduced native marsh plants including wild rice, cattail, and two varieties of Nuphar, a plant so ancient that it may be a common ancestor to both the waterlily and the lotus. One of the trails in the park winds through the marsh and takes you to the banks of the Anacostia. You an observe both native plants and non-native plants growing along the trail. At some places you can see where marsh restoration is taking place. Today we saw a small group of kayakers come up the river and detour into the marsh.



On the other side of the park is a boardwalk that takes you out to look over the marsh and where you can see the marsh plants close up.

While the I found the marsh really interesting, the water gardens were fascinating. Waterlilies and lotus predominate in the 12 ponds. We also saw frogs, turtles, geese, and dragonflies.  

The plants are just beginning to flower. The big festival takes place next month, but we got to see a variety of waterlily flowers.

It's hard to believe that this garden and marsh exist within the city limits of DC. Although the number of visitors increased while we were there, it never got very crowded. More people will probably come as the blooms increase.

This area has so many of these places, both hidden and well known. Who knows where the next outing will take me...