Nine Themed Garden Installations Will Open Across the National Mall Throughout 2026
Beginning in May 2026, Smithsonian Gardens will explore how gardens bring people and plants together to shape the future through “Growing Tomorrow,” a series of nine themed garden installations across the National Mall. Installed in gardens and outdoor spaces, themed panels and displays will highlight scientific and cultural stories about humanity’s evolving relationship with plants, from seed-saving traditions to emerging technologies in gardening.
The exhibits will open in phases throughout 2026, with related public programs announced throughout the year. A full map is available on the Smithsonian Gardens’ website.
Open Friday, May 8
Amazing Oaks, National Air and Space Museum
Visitors can admire the Mighty Oak, preserved during the museum’s multi-year renovation project, and learn about the importance of urban trees, including oak trees, which are one of the most biodiverse species in America with vast ecological benefits.
Nature as Mentor, Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, Arts and Industries Building
Nature has long inspired technological and design innovations, a practice known as biomimicry. In the rose garden near the recently reopened Smithsonian Carousel, visitors can explore how roses and other plants are influencing biomimicry research today.
Food for the Future, National Museum of American History
Examining home food production over the past 250 years, visitors can explore what it means to grow what they eat. This exhibit also shares ways people can provide their own food by adopting practices such as container gardening or foraging.
The Healing Power of Gardens, Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
Tucked between the Hirshhorn Museum and the Arts and Industries Building, this serene space offers visitors a place for rest and reflection. Interpretive elements invite reflection on the mental and physical restorative benefits of gardens.
Seeding the Future, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Seed-saving is a traditional practice of passing down seeds from generation to generation—one that has enabled many groups, including African American communities, to honor ancestors and preserve cultural heritage. Visitors will learn more about heirloom seeds and current participation in this longstanding practice.
The Tree Connection, National Museum of Natural History
Trees are a critical part of urban landscapes. Visitors can be inspired by the newly restored streetscape designed to protect American elm street trees and learn more about the importance of creating networks of greenspaces in cities.
Opening Summer 2026
Garden Time Machine, Enid A. Haupt Garden
In collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a symbolic time machine will come to the Enid A. Haupt Garden, located between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue. Visitors walking through it will be transported to past moments in American gardening and can reflect on their personal memories of gardens.
Rooted in ‘Āina, National Museum of the American Indian
Meaning “land” in the Hawaiian language, ‘āina signifies a deep connection between the Native Hawaiian people and the land—a living and spiritual being to honor and protect. The exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian shares generational Hawaiian land practices and chronicles applications to land use today.
Opening Fall 2026
Reimagining Houseplants, Ripley Center
How are science, technology and culture shaping the future of houseplants and indoor gardening? This indoor display will invite visitors to look at their plants in a new way and imagine a world where plants in their homes serve as more than mere decoration.
About Smithsonian Gardens
In 1972, former Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley established Smithsonian Gardens to extend the Institution’s exhibition, research and education efforts through horticulture. Today, Smithsonian Gardens continues that founding legacy as an accredited museum and center for horticulture, education and research. Our exterior and interior gardens, exhibitions, collections and programs engage, inform and inspire 26 million visitors annually. The Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection, which was started in 1976, contains more than 5,000 species and hybrids. Visit gardens.si.edu to learn more.