The Gardens span 14 acres, with 45 ponds that sustain the East Coast's foremost collection of exotic water lilies, ferns and lotuses.

Kenilworth began as the hobby of Civil War veteran W.B. Shaw. In 1882, he purchased 37 acres of land along the Anacostia from his father-in-law. He began his collection by planting a few water lilies from his native Maine in an ice pond near his home then gradually added species from all over the world. Shaw and his daughter, Mrs. L. Helen Fowler, operated Kenilworth for 56 years as a commercial water garden and successfully developed many new varieties of water lilies.

One of Washington, DC's greatest natural wonders, the ponds at Kenilworth contain more than 100,000 water plants. Many of the interesting varieties of aquatic plant life were developed here during Shaw's day, while others were imported. Among the Gardens' more exotic species are the Victoria cruzziana, a tropical water lily from the Amazon Basin whose leaves reach up to six feet in diameter, and the Egyptian lotus, believed to be Cleopatra's favorite flower. Many other species of pond and marginal plants grow in the shadows of towering native trees. The aquatic environment also serves as a habitat for a number of small animals, including various frogs, toads, turtles, birds and insects.

In spring, one million daffodils bloom throughout the park and along the highway leading to the park. At the south end of the park, a 15-acre grove of trees stands in honor of President Johnson. A large block of Texas pink granite serves as the focal point of the memorial.

The National Arboretum was established in 1927 by Congress and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Arboretum conducts research on trees and shrubs to develop superior forms that will thrive in various climates in the United States. By exchanging seeds and plant material with other horticultural research institutions throughout the world, the Arboretum is able to expand its genetic resources. The Arboretum includes several major plant collections, including azaleas, cherries, hollies, rhododendrons, ferns and wildflowers. Hundreds of acres of natural forest complement more than a dozen special gardens.

The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, located on the Arboretum grounds, showcases the delicate Asian art form. Samples from China, Japan and the United States are housed in four pavilions adjacent to the Administration building. The Bonsai Collection was started with a gift of 53 master bonsai specimens and five viewing stones from the people of Japan and was expanded by subsequent gifts from Hong Kong's Penjing Collection and the North American Bonsai Collection. The ornamental trees on display range from 15 to more than 350 years of age.

Across the road from the bonsai collection, the National Herb Garden features an extensive spread of antique roses and ten specialty herb gardens. Sorted by their function, the Arboretum's specialty herbs include fragrance herbs, medicinal herbs, herbs for dyes, herbs with industrial uses, herbs for cooking, herbs used by American Indians, beverage herbs and more.

Rich in history, Rock Creek Park has served as a quiet refuge for many of Washington, DC's leading citizens. After a grueling morning of politics, John Quincy Adams delighted in retreating to "this romantic glen, listening to the singing of a thousand birds…" Nature-loving Teddy Roosevelt would often birdwatch and hike the vast terrain, while Ronald Reagan frequently rode horses at its stables. The park is such a presidential favorite that after the Civil War, a commission formed to find a "healthier situation" for the Executive Mansion seriously considered relocating the presidential residence to Rock Creek Park.

The creek itself tumbles through six miles of wooded forests, rolling hills and quiet wilderness in the heart of the busy capital city before fading into the Maryland suburbs. From late winter to early autumn, wildflowers decorate the grassy parkland, deferring to splashy tree colors in October. The Creek is home to more than 36 species of fish, while squirrels, mice, weasels, foxes, beavers and opossums are frequently spotted in the woodlands. Birdwatchers can readily spot sparrows, woodthrushes, woodpeckers, crows, cardinals and many other species.

Rock Creek Park's history reflects the early settlement and development of Washington, DC and the surrounding area. The parklands were originally inhabited by the Algonquin Indians who hunted, fished and relied on the rocks they found in the banks of the creek to procure and process their food supplies. White settlers relied on Rock Creek's running waters to power their gristmills and sawmills.

Pierce Mill, one of eight original mills built along Rock Creek in the 1820s, used waterpower generated from Rock Creek to grind corn and wheat into flour until it was closed in 1897. More than 100 years after closing, Pierce Mill is once again a functioning flour mill. The antique millstones and hoppers offer a peak into the operations of a 19th century flour and cornmeal mill.

The Art Barn sits next door to the Pierce Mill, originally built by the Pierce family in 1820 as a carriage house. Today the carriage house is home to the Rock Creek Gallery, featuring monthly exhibits by local artists. During the Cold War, the barn's loft concealed American counterintelligence officials who attempted to intercept messages from the nearby Embassies of Hungary and the former Czechoslovakia.

Two miles north of Pierce Mill and the Art Barn, Rock Creek Park Nature Center provides an excellent orientation to the park and its special events and programs. Children will enjoy poking around the hands-on Discovery Room or visiting the Rock Creek Planetarium, the only planetarium operated by the National Park Service.

Next to the Nature Center, the Rock Creek Park Horse Center offers a truly unique opportunity to go horseback riding in an urban park. Guided trail rides depart regularly, Tuesday through Thursday at 3pm and Saturday and Sunday at 12pm, 1:30pm and 3pm.

Given Rock Creek Park's expansive size and varied terrain, it affords visitors and residents a wide variety of outdoors experiences. Golfers can sneak in a quick round at the Rock Creek Park Golf Course, located near the Maryland border. During the summertime, the Carter Barron Amphitheatre presents a pleasing series of outdoors performances. The open-air fitness course, located near Connecticut Avenue, provides an appealing alternative to a stuffy gymnasium and caters to a broad range of fitness levels.

The Botanic Garden also hosts a variety of permanent and visiting exhibitions. Located in the west courtyard, Southern Exposure features plants from the southeastern and southwestern United States. In the east courtyard How Plants Work gives an inside look at all things botanical. New features are also in the works, including a children's garden, more special events and exhibits.

The Cathedral is also home to a rather mysterious treasure, the Glastonbury thorn tree. This English tree, according to legend, blooms only on Christmas Day and when royalty visits. The tree has lived up to the legend so far. It has bloomed only on Christmas Day. The other four times it bloomed were for Queen Elizabeth's two visits in 1951 and 1957 and for Prince Charles' visits in 1981 and 2005. The Cathedral is also the site of the annual Flower Mart held in early May.