Franciscan Monastery
One of the city’s best-kept secrets, this botanical gem on the grounds of a
neo-Byzantine church in northeast DC offers the ultimate meditative escape. Pathways wind through a cloistered, fountain-graced rose garden, with benches promising quiet contemplation. Nearby, a woodsy hillside harbors stations of the cross along with replicas of Holy Land monuments, including the Grotto of Gethsemane, Chapel of the Ascension and Tomb of the Virgin Mary – as well as the Lourdes grotto. Check the website (www.myfranciscan.org) for a blooming calendar.
Floral Library
Most Washingtonians don’t even know that every year, 10,000 tulip bulbs are expressly flown in from Holland and planted by hand in the Floral Library, a plot of land near the Tidal Basin. They explode in a vibrant blaze of primary color, a powerful juxtaposition to the Tidal Basin’s soft pastels. The rest of the year, annuals provide a sweet break from city bustle. Established in 1969, the library was part of Lady Bird Johnson’s efforts to beautify the capital city.
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