Sunday, October 1, 2006 marked the opening of the National Garden, the newest garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Among the over 100 guests were First Lady Laura Bush; members of Congress; Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman; and USBG Executive Director and former APGA Board of Directors member Holly Shimizu. The National Garden at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is located on the three-acre site adjacent to the USBG Conservatory at the foot of Capitol Hill. Authorized by Congress, the National Garden is a public-private venture built with funds raised by private citizens, corporations, and garden clubs from across the nation. Visitors exploring the pathways of the National Garden will find six distinct features:

The Lawn Terrace, a formal space that links the USBG Conservatory to the new outdoor garden.

The Rose Garden, celebrating the national flower by showcasing more than 100 roses selected from the eight classes of roses grown today. The garden's purpose is to feature the breadth of rose diversity as well as high-performing roses that grow well in the heat and humidity of the Mid-Atlantic region and that are not chemically dependent.

The Butterfly Garden, presenting a wealth of colorful nectar plants to lure local and migrating butterflies (and other pollinating insects), underscoring the importance of pollinators in maintaining diversity in North American plant communities.

The First Ladies' Water Garden, an elegant feature designed to honor our nation's First Ladies and the contributions they have made to American society. The fountain is created from five shades of native American granite and bluestone. Paying tribute to America's first First Lady, the intricate patterns of the fountain are inspired by "Martha Washington," a Colonial-era quilt pattern.

The Regional Garden, a large planting of native perennials, shrubs, and trees flanking a naturalistic stream that flows through the center of the National Garden. Care has been taken to accurately represent some of the many habitats and plant associations found in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions of the Mid-Atlantic states. Naturally occurring plant varieties with wildlife value are well represented.

In addition, there's an open-air amphitheater. Located at the western end of the National Garden, the amphitheater affords visitors a breathtaking view of the U.S. Capitol. Concentric rows of seats are capped by white marble that originally formed the steps and terraces on the West Front of the Capitol.

In the Spring of 2007 APGA and the USBG will be collaborating on a exhibit celebrating America's public gardens in the National Garden. The exhibit will tell stories about public gardens and their role in the community, and will be opent through October 2007. As part of the 2007 APGA Annual Conference, USBG will host a reception in the National Garden, which will give members an opportunity to view the exhibit.