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July 2023 by Bali Adawal
This is a hidden gem on the border of DC and Baltimore. It’s part of the much larger National Arboretum that stretches over several miles.The Bonsai trees were originally donated to the US by the Japanese (along with the Cherry blossoms I guess). It’s the art of pruning the roots of the tress to stunt their growth so that one ends up with miniature trees ? that are actually supposed to be large. It’s almost like the trees have been shrunk in place.Some of the trees are very old. The oldest we saw from 1905. There was supposed to be a 300 year old tree but we were not able to see it.The place has plenty of parking and you can easily spend a leisurely couple of hours. There are a few other exhibits like the one about stones which are also interesting.The directions are not the best. Google maps took us to a place that turned out to be a staff only office. The person there was probably used to hapless motorists ending up there looking for Dwarf trees. So he directed us to the correct parking lot and then you have to again ask around since the entry of the museum is not apparent. However, once inside the persons are helpful and there are plenty of signs to guide you including a self guided tour available on the cell.Very nice place. Highly recommended.
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July 2023 by Konrad Juengling
The Bonsai Museum is a fascinating look into the world of bonsai and has over 300 bonsai to see. You can see many species, varieties, growing styles, and ages. The highlight of the collection is a Japanese White Pine that was planted in 1625 that survived through the bombing of Hiroshima.Another amazing bonsai is a gift from the Japanese Imperial Family that was planted in 1795 and gifted to the United States in 1976.The Museum is located inside the US National Arboretum, but has different hours than it and is open 10am-4pm. It’s free, and so, so worth wandering the grounds to see the care bonsai artists have given these plants for decades - or even centuries.
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April 2023 by Jacob Blandford
An incredible collection of bonsai trees. You could go to the Arboretum and spend all day just in the Bonsai Garden. There is a diverse collections of species and this exhibit does an amazing job of demonstrating that bonsai is a technique, not a type of tree. It’s fun to see the age of the trees and mind boggle that one is from the 1700’s.
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April 2023 by Anahi Diaz
We went on a weekday during spring break and that didn’t crowd the place. So many beautiful flowers outside of the main area and inside there are quite a lot of bee’s but their all male worker bee’s and they don’t have stingers so the worry of getting stung is reduced.Seeing all the different kind on bonsai trees was a great learning experience and quite nice to look at.I recommend going here first before going to the pillars because in the building it’s connected to has pamphlets with a map and restrooms.
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March 2023 by Joel Keralis
This is a really cool, and completely underappreciated spot in DC. A diverse collection of bonsai, some hundreds of years old. The architecture is well matched with the collection. Best times to visit are spring or fall.
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October 2022 by Anthony Stewart
Superb! Some of the trees here have been in training for several centuries, and at least one is older than the nation by at least a century—if not two! Be sure to go before or after winter in order to see the vast selection of bonsais. Short but great stop that is sure to make everyone in your group happy!
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August 2022 by Deanna Chung
A comprehensive collection of bonsai trees, a must see! There is a North American, Japanese, and Chinese section currently. One of the Japanese ones is from 1625 - passed down from 5 generations. There are a large assortment of trees ranging from maple to cypress to juniper, oak, elm, fig redwood, and more. It's incredible, worth a visit, and not too many tourists around.It is outdoors but there is an indoor exhibit about rockscapes. The whole area itself can be done within an hour but there are benches to sit and rest. No dogs specifically in this exhibit.
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August 2022 by Austin Graff
Located within the U.S. National Arboretum is one of D.C.'s most off-the-beaten-path museums- the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It's well worth a visit. Here's why:1) Admission: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, admission is free.2) Exhibits: Paths lead visitors through exhibits that include bonsai from Japan, China, and North America. They also have a stone exhibit as well.3) Space: It's very peaceful. Afterwards, explore the Arboretum.
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August 2022 by rosetta m
Truly one of the coolest places I have ever been to in my entire life. It's FREE which is AMAZING given the current climate. We went when it was getting pretty cold out but you do a bunch of walking so you don't even notice! I'm not sure I had ever seen a bonsai tree in real life prior and getting to see dozens and dozens and dozens of ancient trees was spectacular beyond words. They do have the inside of the building closed off where other bonsais reside, which isn't mentioned on the website, but I assume this is due to covid or possibly the weather. Worth it regardless and would give a 50/10 if I couldOutside of the bonsai displays was something even more magical - an entire garden of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and other plants. They have the garden sectioned off to show you how they are/were used in history, such as how certain plants are used for dyes in clothing, or to help with a severe illness, or even just an everyday cold remedy. It was SO neat and I learned so much. I cannot wait to go back in the spring and summer when everything will be blooming and sprawling.There are also pathways uphill across the main road into the woods that show even more plant life. It's a very easy uphill walk and there is even a pond at one point nestled in a cute little nook with benches. This is truly one of the most magical places I have ever visited.
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May 2022 by Zeyu Hu
An amazing museum with some beautiful Bonsai and Pengjing. The best part is that this is a free museum! It houses some of the most spectacular Bonsai and Pengjing trees you will find anywhere. A few of the trees were over 500 years old!If only these trees could talk…
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February 2022 by Prem Mithilesh Morampudi
As of 02/12/2022:Everything is emptied out and closed for the pandemic/winter or for staff only. We wish we’d have know this before. Trying to make the visitors aware of what’s going on so they’re not disappointed like us.
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January 2022 by Cameron Baker
It is a great place to spend an hour or two.Be cautious about the weather. They have closed the indoor greenhouses due to covid and if its cold they put most of the trees inside.
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January 2022 by Austin Stone
There was almost nothing to see when I went on a Sunday in January 2022. Almost all the trees were taken inside, and the indoors was apparently closed off for Covid reasons. In total I was able to see two evergreen bonsai that they kept outside year round.
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January 2022 by Lucy Ruderman
FYI you can’t see any of the bonsais (well you can see 1-2 of them) during winter months. They put them inside but because of COVID the inside is closed.
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December 2021 by M M
Truly one of the coolest places I have ever been to in my entire life. It's FREE which is AMAZING given the current climate. We went when it was getting pretty cold out but you do a bunch of walking so you don't even notice! I'm not sure I had ever seen a bonsai tree in real life prior and getting to see dozens and dozens and dozens of ancient trees was spectacular beyond words. They do have the inside of the building closed off where other bonsais reside, which isn't mentioned on the website, but I assume this is due to covid or possibly the weather. Worth it regardless and would give a 50/10 if I couldOutside of the bonsai displays was something even more magical - an entire garden of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and other plants. They have the garden sectioned off to show you how they are/were used in history, such as how certain plants are used for dyes in clothing, or to help with a severe illness, or even just an everyday cold remedy. It was SO neat and I learned so much. I cannot wait to go back in the spring and summer when everything will be blooming and sprawling.There are also pathways uphill across the main road into the woods that show even more plant life. It's a very easy uphill walk and there is even a pond at one point nestled in a cute little nook with benches. This is truly one of the most magical places I have ever visited.