Heavenly Hillwood

Spring adds an extra splash of grandeur to this secluded Washington, D.C., house museum and gardens.

With its Fabergé eggs and extensive art collection, Hillwood Museum & Gardens ranks as one of the most impressive house museums in the country. But in the springtime, the gardens steal the show.

Blooms Galore

The gardens are indeed at their finest in spring and fall, when Marjorie Merriweather Post, renowned art collector and sole heir to the Postum Cereal Company fortune, would have been in residence. She entertained frequently and saw the gardens as an extension of her home.

There's no mistaking that you're in D.C. when you stroll along the pathways. The Lunar Lawn offers a lovely view of Rock Creek Park and the Washington Monument. Other notable features include the formal French Parterre, the Japanese-style garden, and the orchid greenhouse.

Treasure Hunt

As lovely as the gardens are, it would be a mistake not to tour the Georgian-inspired mansion. Among the highlights are some 80 pieces by the Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé, including two imperial Easter eggs.

Hillwood Museum & Gardens: 4155 Linnean Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20008; toll-free 1-877-445-5966 or www.hillwoodmuseum.org. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission: $12 adults, $5 ages 6-18. Tip: Call ahead or go online to make a reservation.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2006
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved