Flower Garden in Washington, D.C. 

The garden at Tudor Place reflects the story of the Peter family from 1805 to 1983. Today, the garden is made up of two parts: (1) the North Garden, a collection of European-style formal gardens on the north side of the property and  (2) the English-landscape-style South Lawn on the south side of the property. Enjoy beautiful blooms, historic boxwood, specimen trees, open lawns and heirloom shrubs.

Garden Hours

The garden is open February – December for self-guided visits Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from Noon to 4 p.m. Advance registration is not required if you are only visiting the garden (and not touring the historic house). Check in at the Visitor’s Center for an illustrated garden map. Entry to the garden after 3:30 p.m. is not permitted. The site closes at 4 p.m.

History

For over 178 years, the Tudor Place garden has evolved from agricultural uses to recreational and ornamental purposes, reflecting the growth and changes both in Georgetown and the rest of the nation. Each generation of the Peter family owners preserved original design elements as well as many of the earliest plantings, while adapting the landscape to their own needs. Preservation efforts now include restoring native vegetation that would have originally grown on site.

Witness Trees

Witness trees are the flora of historic landscapes that remain in place decades or even centuries after noteworthy events unfolded there. Tudor Place has its own family of witness trees located in various spots on the 5 ½ acre estate. 

One such tree, the Great White Oak fell in 2019. When its rings were counted it was approximately 160 years old. At the time it was planted, Britannia Peter Kennon was in the first decade of her 57-year ownership of Tudor Place. As a sapling, the oak witnessed the unrest of the Civil War and provided shade to Union officers boarding at Tudor Place. A mature tree served as spectator to the East Lawn tennis matches in the 1880s and provided summer shade to President Cleveland as he paused to watch the competition. The mighty oak stood watch with vigilance as the Peter family awaited the return of Armistead Peter 3rd, the last owner of Tudor Place, from service in the Pacific during WWII.

Explore the Garden

Visit the beautiful roses in the Box Knot, discover the lush Bowling Green or relax on the South Lawn. Each area of the garden has its own unique features, histories and charm to uncover.

What’s Blooming

Tudor Place is home to a variety of blooms year-round. Alongside roses, magnolias and azaleas, heirloom species dating back a century or more still thrive here, such as the Florentine tulips, grapes, and forget-me-nots. Enjoy your favorite flowers and plants while discovering some new ones.