The record-breaking rainfall of 2018 may have lowered water bills and minimized use of irrigation, but all that water took its toll on our landscape nonetheless. Increased runoff has affected the Olmsted Woods and at times overwhelmed the water-control measures we installed some years ago. We are addressing this with engineers and architects. The All …
With holiday decorating in full swing it is tempting to reach for beautiful boxwood clippings to augment fir and hemlock greens inside and outside our homes. The fragrance and vibrant green of boxwood are wonderful additions to swags and garlands, table trees and wreaths. Unfortunately, the current spread of boxwood blight is putting currently healthy …
Holiday Décor: Boxwood Blight and Safe Practices Read More »
Bas-reliefs embedded in Stone Walls The lovely and historic 15-century stone sculptures collected by Mrs. Bratenahl have given the garden a look of antiquity during the century since they were placed in the walls and planting beds. The wall behind the Upper Perennial Border, the Norman Court, and the Hortulus all are graced with this …
The All Hallows Guild Garden Committee is busy during this autumn season identifying areas on the Cathedral’s grounds that require attention, selecting plants for the gardens, and working with the Horticulture staff to plan new projects. Here are a few of the things the Garden Committee is working on: – The Committee has selected plants …
Pilgrim Road Crossing to the All Hallows Amphitheater A long-awaited piece of the Cathedral Close landscape has just been completed. It has been either 100 years or only ten years in the making, but either way we are so very pleased. A stone crossing of Pilgrim Road linking the Bishop’s Garden and its south …
All Hallows Guild sponsors two or three garden interns each summer for a double mission: their young and energetic work helps our staff during the intensive growing (and weeding) season, and they receive both practical experience at our gardens and education through field trips to local public gardens and at horticulture symposia. This summer …
This year, Congress has designated National Pollinator Week as June 18 – 24, 2018. According to the Pollinator Partnership, about 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators. Over 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. Of those, about 1,000 are hummingbirds, bats, and small mammals. The rest are insects such as beetles, bees, …
In the Bishop’s Garden, west of the rose garden and northeast of Shadow House is the Hortulus – or “diminutive garden”. Bordered by boxwood, this little garden features geometric beds planted with monastic kitchen and infirmary and herbs used in the 9th century. Documents from the time of Charlemagne were used as the primary source …
All Hallows Guild sponsors Bird Walks in the Olmsted Woods – usually twice in the spring and twice during the fall migration periods. The spring 2018 walks, led by Sheila Cochran, were held on Thursday, May 10th and 17th. Walkers were treated to some good sightings. Twenty-two different bird species were seen and documented during …
Designed by All Hallows Guild member Florence Bratenahl, The Pool of St. Catherine is located in the Bishop’s Garden and is placed at the west end of the Upper Perennial Border. A Bas Relief of St. Catherine and other figures is located in the wall above St. Catherine’s Pool. It is constructed of Aquia Creek sandstone …
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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