Hillwood Estate Gardens- Washington, DC

The gardens at Hillwood are so fabulous, they deserve their own entry. Beautifully designed and maintained, they are a spectacular verdant escape, worlds away from the surrounding city chaos. A collection of distinct outdoor rooms, it is an absolute dream to wander the grounds.

The original garden at Hillwood was designed by renowned landscape architect Willard Gebhart in 1926. He created vistas with broad sweeping views and formal gardens surrounding the neo-Georgian mansion. In 1955, the property was purchased by Marjorie Merriweather Post, who hired landscape architects Umberto Innocenti and Richard Webel to expand and customize the garden to reflect her interests.

Across the property, several outdoor rooms were added, designed to compliment changes she made to the mansion. Among these, a formal French Paterre, reminiscent of those found at grand 18th century aristocratic estates. Enclosed by English ivy, and divided into four quadrants by water flowing in rills, it features boxwood shrubbery grown in the pattern of decorative ironwork, and a terra-cotta sculpture of Diana, goddess of the hunt.

Adjacent to the Parterre is the Rose Garden, designed by Perry Wheller, known for his work at the White House. He kept the existing pergola, and the basic round shape of the garden, but expanded the brick walkways, and introduced a boxwood hedge to enclose the new outdoor room. A peaceful space, filled with Floribunda roses in crown shaped beds, Post chose this spot as her final resting place; following her death in 1974, her ashes were placed in the base of the central granite monument.

Down a short set of stone stairs from the Rose Garden is a nine hole bentgrass turf Putting Green, reflecting Post’s love of golf. A staple at her many homes, she often invited guests to practice their short game while visiting the estate. On the flagstone patio, wonderfully retro blue and white umbrellas selected by Post offer a shady seat.

Perhaps the most tranquil outdoor area on the estate is the Japanese Garden. At the base of a gentle cascade, a dream world created by landscape architect Shogo Mayaida awaits. Here, serene dappled pools set with stepping stones invite visitors to safely traverse the terrain. Masterfully designed, high arched bridges, statuary and pagodas sit among Japanese pines, maples and azaleas, creating a magnificent layered landscape, full of visual interest.

When Post purchased the estate in 1955, it included a small Greenhouse. As she loved flowers, she expanded the space, and hired a specialist to grow a variety of orchids year round; when she was not in residence at Hillwood, she would have them shipped to her other homes. Although the original Greenhouse was replaced in 1996, the orchids remain, as well as more than 2000 other tropical plants and flowers. Adjacent to the Greenhouse, the Cutting Garden provides flowers for the various floral arrangements found throughout the mansion.

Without a doubt, Hillwood’s carefully curated gardens are among the finest in the country. Although a cohesive collection, each outdoor space also works independently, as well as with the mansion. It truly is an oasis in the city, one that you can return to each season for a new sensory experience.

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