Summer has officially arrived. Despite the pandemic, our gardens have remained open to the public – with a small exception for some much-needed maintenance. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit, here’s a sample of what is blooming now. The Bishop’s Garden The Lower Perennial Border This planting bed (also known as the “blue …
Our intrepid Olmsted Woods volunteers are back at work for the first time since November June 10, 2020 Despite the heat they were glad to be out and safely seeing each other in the midst of the pandemic. The Woods seemed quite different: no sounds of trucks or traffic, no interns, no summer camp, and …
We never want to see these signs closing off the Bishop’s Garden from visitors. Our wish is to share the beauty with all who come to find peace, serenity, and nature’s gifts in the shadow of the cathedral. Extraordinary circumstances make this temporary limited closure necessary. Coronavirus Side Effects For two weeks following March 23, …
AHG as Stewards of this Historic Carousel Who has ever attended Flower Mart and not at least glanced at the antique carousel, lured by the music pouring from the caliola? Who has not seen the streams of children tugging parents along, hoping for a ride on one of the friendly, unique animals or benches? All …
Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resources Manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation of Arlington, Virginia, was the featured speaker at All Hallows Guild’s Annual Meeting in November. Mr. Abugattas helped us understand how important even small native landscapes and gardens can be. Native plants attract and feed and provide shelter for native pollinators, since both …
Interconnected: Why Native Insects Depend on Native Landscapes Read More »
This is a story about a chance meeting, a growing connection to the Bishop’s Garden, a wedding, and a commitment to each other and to working to keep the cathedral grounds as beautiful as they were on their wedding day. Aaron Polacek and Rachel Noteware were married in the Bishop’s Garden four years ago. Asked …
How the Bishop’s Garden Gave us Loyal Volunteers Read More »
Survey work is underway in the Woods Have you noticed orange survey markers in the Olmsted Woods? Lovers of the Woods have been concerned that they indicate a plan to build on this dedicated five-acre urban forest. Quite the contrary! All Hallows Guild’s 1998-2008 project of Woods preservation and erosion control was successful in addressing water …
The Stone and brick walkways and steps of the Bishop’s Garden are irregular and uneven. Stones were retrieved from abandoned plantations in Maryland and Virginia nearly a century ago to place here. When they were first used on those plantations in the early years of this country only hand methods of dressing stone were available. …
Making the Bishop’s Garden’s Ancient Stones Safer Read More »
September 12, 2019 Dedicated Olmsted Woods volunteer Virginia Egan is a part of our Olmsted Woods crew. This group of volunteers meets regularly on Wednesday mornings to maintain the five acre urban forest that exists within the Cathedral’s grounds. An enormous on-going project is the removal of invasive ivy in the Woods. Virginia typically sends …
Summer Dispatches from the Olmsted Woods Volunteers Read More »
August 1, 2019 Guild Provides College Interns To Horticulture Staff Again this year the Guild has the pleasure of sponsoring three college students who work with our horticulture and grounds staff for the summer. Alyssa Steele is a rising sophomore at University of Maryland in the Landscape Architecture program. She has learned that her academic …
All Hallows Guild Summer Intern Program a Two-Way Benefit Read More »
All Hallows Guild was founded in 1916 to provide for the care and beautification of the grounds of Washington National Cathedral. The Guild works closely with the horticultural staff to preserve this historic landscape and raises funds for renovation and renewal of the gardens.
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