Region II Regional Meeting
Sustainable SITES and Washington Highlights
Four stops, three tours, 200 years in the
making, and one outstanding GWA meeting
to experience it all! From American
University and its William McDonough
“Cradle to Cradle” sustainability initiative
past Frederick Law Olmsted’s iconic design
of the Capitol grounds to Beatrix Farrand’s
historic design for Dumbarton Oaks, registrants
to this day’s meeting will get a view
to gardening in the nation’s capital that few
have experienced. Photographic vistas will
unfold for untold numbers of story starters.
Education includes speakers from the U.S.
Botanic Garden Sustainable Sites and the
American University Arboretum’s director.
Tours of the Capitol grounds and the landscape
at Dumbarton will be led by senior
staff members from those institutions. Networking
opportunities will abound. And at
the close of the day, there is the inevitable
“trunk show” of plants and stuff that only a
Region II meeting can provide. Bring your
significant other, spouse, gardening friend
or children and plan to expand the meeting
into a full patriotic celebration of an unforgettable
Memorial Day.
PROGRAM AGENDA
7:30 to 8:30am: Registration and Gathering
Coffee: SIS Building
8:30 to 10:30am: 
American University
Join us for a tour of the new SIS building, a LEEDS
Gold design from the office of William McDonough,
author of “Cradle to Cradle.” The project is in final
review for what might become the first international,
three-star Sustainable SITES landscape. Learn
about the bench marking studies, application process
and hear about the student-initiated Sustainability
Program that is attempting to reduce their
carbon footprint to zero. We will also tour their 84
acre arboretum that began its 120 year life from a
design envisioned by Frederick Law Olmstead, Sr.
11:30am to 2:30 pm: The United States Capitol
Grounds
We will gather at the U.S. Botanic Garden and tour
of the historic grounds of the United States Capitol.
The 270 acres were planned by Frederick Law Olmsted
for what is recognized now as America’s Front
Lawn. In contradiction to the initial city plan by
Pierre L’Enfant, Andrew Ellicott redefined the eastern
exposure as the front of the building. After the
implementation of the Olmsted plan, the focus was
inverted to a grand set of terraces, fountains, trees
and staircases on the north, south and west of the
building. In keeping with the day’s theme, we will
review the sustainability-enhanced maintenance
program that has the grand lawn treated with only
organic fertilizers and the beds top-dressed with
compost and leaf mold. We will include a passing visit to the bright colors and formal plantings of the
historic Bartholdi Park between the USBG and the
Capitol Grounds.
3:00 to 6:00pm: Dumbarton Oaks
A founding member of the American Society of
Landscape Architects, Beatrix Farrand designed 50
acres of naturalistic pleasure garden in the heart of
Georgetown for Robert and Mildred Bliss. Today,
these acres are split between a woodland maintained
by the National Park Service and those more
formal garden rooms surrounding the house and
museum managed by Harvard University. The gardens
will remain open after our docent-led tour for
those wishing to experience the spaces at their own
pace. The museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian
masterpieces as well as the associated gift shop
will close at 5:00 p.m.
*Cancellations must be received in writing on or before the due date.
Download Event Flyer
webtech@gardenwriters.org