Holidays at the Botanic Garden

A visit to Season's Greenings is always part of our holiday repertoire

As if I haven’t recommended Season’s Greenings enough as a great weekday, weekend, or holiday outing both here and on Facebook, I’m now dedicating a whole blog post to the annual holiday display at the U.S. Botanic Garden. I’ve already been three times this season — twice with the kids and once on my own. (Yeah, I kind of dig the USBG.)

But since you can read about all that is at Season’s Greenings in the KFDC Holiday Guide, this additional endorsement will give you a glimpse of what’s there. It’s also a reminder that hours are extended until 8pm on many Tuesdays and Thursdays in December for music in the garden. The concerts, featuring a different act each night, begin at 6pm. Here’s a preview of it all.

This guy will greet you on the way to the trains

The first adorable scene in the Enchanted Forest train display

Waiting for the train to emerge from a tunnel

This creature lurks among the forest

It's the details, like this tiny scene inside a tree trunk, that make the display so amazing

Sasha eyes a little room, all whittled from plant materials, behind glass

A mermaid watches over the trains

The Supreme Court constructed from plant materials is in the conservatory

Visited early on a weekday and nearly had the place to myself

What a treat to tour the jungle at night

Music during extended hours

Season’s Greenings will be on view at the U.S. Botanic Garden through January 1. Hours are 10am – 5pm every day, including all holidays. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December (except for Christmas day), the Conservatory is open until 8pm for extended hours and live music. Admission is free.