S. Doc. 109-19, a Botanic Garden for the Nation
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A Botanic Garden for theNation: The United States Botanic Garden ABotanic Garden his beautifully illustrated book presents the first comprehensive look at the U.S. T Botanic Garden in Washington,D.C. Conceived by the nation’s founders as a resource for the Nation for collecting and studying plants, the U.S. Botanic Garden is closely linked to the history and The United States Botanic Garden development of the capital city. Through historical documents and colorful photos, A Botanic Garden for the Nation tells an important story about this special place. The story begins in 1796 with the support of George Washington,who believed a Botanic Garden would be a significant addition to the capital. Along with other early leaders, including Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, Washington understood the value of plants for the health and economic well-being of the nation, a message that still resonates today. Though it took time to achieve Washington’s vision, the U.S. Botanic Garden now occupies a prominent location in the heart of the city, where it continues to highlight the critical role of plants in human survival. Located on the Capitol grounds at the east end of the National Mall, the Botanic Garden Conservatory is perfectly situated to reach out to the public. More than 750,000 visitors a year experience its exciting plant displays, innovative exhibits, and special programs. Through sumptuous photographs, A Botanic Garden for the Nation offers a tour of the Conservatory, starting with the formal Garden Court, with its fountains and special flower collections, and continuing through every plant environment, including the lush Jungle, colorful Orchid House, and spare World Deserts. The engaging text explores ecosystems and reveals details about interesting plants and plant collections. “Windows on the Mall,”a chapter written by William C. Allen, architectural historian for the Architect of the Capitol, focuses on the history and design of the Conservatory building, whose ( CONTINUED ON BACK FLAP) ( CONTINUED FROM FRONT FLAP) distinctive glass dome makes it a jewel on the National Mall. Newly discovered period photos show the Conservatory in its various incarnations, from the 1860s greenhouse in the shadow of the new Capitol dome, to the Palm House that drew visitors throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The chapter ends with views of the renovation that resulted in the reopening of the state-of-the-art Conservatory in 2001. From the Garden Primeval to the new National Garden, the U.S. Botanic Garden is a living museum that showcases the beauty and benefits of plants. A Botanic Garden for the Nation celebrates the history and the horti- cultural heritage of this vital institution. Anne-Catherine Fallen is a writer and photographer living in Arlington, Virginia. She has written for books, publications, and museum exhibitions on such diverse topics as Gothic architecture, the Everglades ecosystem, and satellite imagery. Her artist book The Lively Dance is in the collections of museums and art libraries throughout the U.S. and Europe. As a landscape photographer and gardener, Ms. Fallen has been inspired for many years by the plant collections of the U.S. Botanic Garden. William C. Allen has been the architectural historian in the office of the Architect of the Capitol since 1982. His book History of the United States Capitol: A chronicle of design, construction, and politics is the definitive work on this iconic building. In addition to his research and writing, Mr. Allen supports preservation and restoration projects undertaken by the Architect’s office. Karen D. Solit was the botanist for the U.S. Botanic Garden when she undertook research ISBN 0-16-076772-5 that led to the publication of History of the 9 0 0 0 0 Botanic Garden, 1816–1991. Since then she has been a garden writer and the owner of a landscape contracting company. Ms. Solit is currently writing fiction. 9 780160 767722 To collect, cultivate, and distribute. ABotanic Garden for the Nation The United States Botanic Garden By Anne-Catherine Fallen Contributors: William C. Allen Architectural Historian, Architect of the Capitol Karen D. Solit Author, History of the United States Botanic Garden, 1816–1991 The staff and gardeners of the United States Botanic Garden Project Coordinator: Holly H. Shimizu, Executive Director 4 109th Congress, 2nd Session S. Con Res. 108 A Botanic Garden for the Nation Senate Document 109-19 (front cover) United States Botanic Garden The Capitol dome above the 100 Maryland Avenue SW,Washington,D.C. 20001 www.usbg.gov glass roof of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. Book Design by Kevin Osborn, Research & Design, Ltd., Arlington, Virginia (back cover) 2006 Garden Court (inset) Principal photography © Anne-Catherine Fallen. All rights reserved. and leaves in the Jungle. Copyright claimed for photos on the following pages: Cover, p. 1,pp.2–3,p.5,p.6,p.9,p.10,p.12,p.19,p.23,pp.24–25, p. 25 (top), p. 26 (right), p. 27,p.40,p.41,p.42 (left and right), p. 43 (top right), p. 44,p.45 (top right), p. 46 (all), p. 47, (page 1) p. 48 (top and bottom), p. 49 (top right), p. 50,p.74,p.75,p.76,p.77,p.78 (all), p. 79,pp.80–81 (all), p. 82 (all), p. 83,p.84, Orchid p. 85,p.86,p.87,pp.88–89 (all), pp. 90–91 (all), p. 92,p.93 (all), p. 94 (all), p. 95,pp.96–97 (all), p. 98,p.99 (top and bottom), (Vanda Hilo Princess ‘Alice’). p. 100,p.101 (top and bottom), p. 102 (left and right), p. 103,pp.104–105 (all), p. 106,p.107,p.108 (all), p. 109,pp.110–111 (all), p. 112,p.113,pp.114–115 (all), p. 116 (all), p. 117,pp.118–119 (all), p. 120,p.121,pp.122–123 (all), pp. 124–125 (all), p. 126,p.127 (top), (pages 2–3) p. 128 (all), p. 129,pp.130–131 (all), pp. 132–133 (all), p. 134,p.135,p.136 (all), p. 137,pp.138–139 (all), p. 140 (top and bottom), Mt. Lewis King Palm p. 141 (left and right), p. 142 (left and right), p. 143,p.144,p.145 (top and bottom), p. 146,pp.148–149 (all), p. 150 (all), (Archontophoenix purpurea). p. 151,p.152,p.153 (all), p. 154 (all), p. 155,pp.156–157 (all), p. 158,p.161,p.162,p.163,p.166,p.179,p.180, back cover. (page 5) Photographs from all other sources are credited in their captions. Garden Court. Acknowledgments (page 6) The expertise and enthusiasm of the staff and gardeners at the U.S. Botanic Garden helped bring this book into bloom. Banana leaves in the Special thanks to Holly Shimizu, Executive Director, for her guidance and encouragement. Garden Court. A number of other professionals gave advice and assistance, greatly enriching this book: John Blanpied, Blanpied Editorial Services; David Burgevin, Smithsonian Office of Imaging and Photographic (page 9) Services; Susan Fels, Special Order Indexes; Wayne Firth, Photography Branch, Architect of the Capitol; Orchid Richard Hunt, Director, Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives; Mary Ison, Library of Congress ( ). Anguloa virginalis Prints and Photographs; John Kress, Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History; Dan H. Nicolson, Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History; Leslie Overstreet, Smithsonian Institution Libraries; (page 10) Orchid Eric Paff, Office of the Curator, Architect of the Capitol; Tracy Elizabeth Robinson, Smithsonian Institution Archives; Amy Williams, Library of Congress Photoduplication; Barbara Wolanin, Curator, Architect of the Capitol. (Sophrolaeliocattleya Pumpkin Festival ‘Fong Yuen’). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fallen, Anne-Catherine. A botanic garden for the nation : the United States Botanic Garden / by Anne-Catherine Fallen; contributors, William C. Allen, Karen D. Solit [and] the staff and gardeners of the United States Botanic Garden; project coordinator, Holly Shimizu. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-16-076772-5 1. United States Botanic Garden—History. 2. United States Botanic Garden—Pictorial works. i. Allen, William C. (William Charles), 1950- ii. Solit, Karen, 1950- iii. Shimizu, Holly H. iv. Title. QK73.U62U553 2007 580.74753—dc22 2006041273 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington,DC 20402-0001 Printed in the United States of America 7 Contents A Message from the Joint Committee on the Library . 8 A Message from the Architect of the Capitol . .11 The United States Botanic Garden: Establishing a Plant Collection . 13 The U.S. Botanic Garden Today . 41 Plant Collections . 42 Conservation and CITES . 43 Production Facility . 45 The U.S. Botanic Garden and the Smithsonian . .48 The U.S. National Herbarium . 49 Windows on the Mall: An Architectural History of the U.S. Botanic Garden . 51 The Conservatory . 75 Garden Court . 77 Jungle . 85 Rare and Endangered Species . 99 West Courtyard: Southern Exposure . 101 Plant Exploration . 107 Orchid House . 113 Medicinal Plants . 121 World Deserts . 127 Garden Primeval . 135 Southeast Corner House . 140 Plant Adaptations . 141 East Courtyard: Children’s Garden . 142 East and West Galleries . 145 Bartholdi Park . 147 The National Garden . 161 Appendix A: How to Read a Plant Label . 163 Appendix B: Maps of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory and Bartholdi Park . 164 Appendix C: Leadership of the U.S. Botanic Garden . ..