Five Botanic Gardens of the USA

Whether you’re trying to beat the summer heat beneath the leafy shade or escape the winter cold inside tropical greenhouses, botanical gardens are a popular year-round destination for locals and visitors alike. Here are my picks for 5 botanic gardens you can’t miss in the U.S.

1.United States Botanic Garden,Washington D.C.

Congress established the oldest continually-operating garden in the United States on the National Mall in 1820. This botanic garden in the nation's capital has been wowing visitors without a break since 1850. It moved to its present location in 1933 and today, one of the most popular attractions of the garden is the Conservatory. Don’t miss the stunning orchid collection here — you won't find anything else like it in the country.

2. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ

The essence of the Sonoran Desert has been distilled and transplanted to Arizona’s largest cityin the form of the Desert Botanical Garden. Towering cacti and delicate, drought-tolerant flowers are allowed to shine against the red earth of the Papago Buttes and it's quite a splendor to see. Take a flashlight tour to witness the night-blooming plants in all their glory, or visit around Christmas when luminarias light the pathways.

3.Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden,Papaikou

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The “Garden in a Valley on the Ocean” as it calls itself can be found not far from Hilo on Hawaii’s Big Island. The fertile volcanic soils on this 40-acre valley support over 2,000 species of tropical plants and trees. Wander the garden’s nature trails through a tropical rainforest and over trickling streams to enjoy magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean.

4. New York Botanical Garden, New York

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This 250-acre botanical garden on what was once the Lorillard family estate is free to enter on Wednesdays like its neighbor, the Bronx Zoo. With around a million tropical, temperate, and desert plants, this botanical garden is every amateur gardener’s dream. You’ll find it’s worth paying the additional entrance fee to check out the collections housed in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian-style, wrought iron-framed greenhouse made of glass.

5.Portland Japanese Garden, Portland

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The Portland Japanese Garden during autumn or koyo season dazzles as much as

the fall colors of New England. Japanese maples flame in hues of orange, russet, 

and crimson. The structural elements of the garden — its bridges, tea house, and

 stone pathways — add authenticity and oriental serenity.

About the author: Julia Hammond | Travel Writer

Enthusiastic advocate for independent travel and passionate geographer, Julia considers herself privileged to earn a living doing something she loves. When not roaming the globe, you’ll find her windswept but smiling, chatting away to her two dogs as they wander the Essex marshes.

Meanwhile, 

In 1979, the world learned the incredible story of Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, identical twins separated at birth and reunited at age 39.

Born in Ohio in 1940, the brothers were adopted by different families and, amazingly, both were named James. They grew up just 40 miles apart but never knew the other existed.

When they finally met, the similarities they uncovered were almost unbelievable.

Both men had married a woman named Linda, divorced her, and then remarried a woman named Betty.

Each had a son, and both had named him James Alan. As children, both had a dog named Toy.

Their shared interests were very specific. Both enjoyed woodworking and math, but disliked spelling. They drove the same model of light blue Chevrolet and even smoked the same brand of cigarettes.

Perhaps most strange of all, both families vacationed on the exact same three-block stretch of beach in Florida, but their paths never crossed.

The case of the "Jim Twins" became a cornerstone for studying the effects of genetics on our lives, suggesting that some parts of our path may be written in our DNA long before we take our first step.