Evening star., 1963-04-03
The
RAM bier
-. Heads Into
The Woods
BY JOHN McKELWAY

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gan building up yesterday,
The Rambler decided to
search elsewhere to officially
observe the arrival of Wash
ington's best season.
He followed a route north
east of the Capitol, out Mary
land avenue. It was hot and
the traffic was heavy. The
asphalt oozed; wash hung
Imply in narrow spaces be-
tween ugly apartment build
ings. Big trucks were trying
to make time, getting in or
out Of Washington.
Then he turned into the
United States National Ar
boretum, one of the most
remarkable places in Wash
ington.
People who have lived a
great many years around
here can lecture on the Tidal
Basin, or the Washington
Monument or Theodore
Roosevelt Island. But only a
few know of the arboretum.
And hardly anybody can tell
you how to get there.
Yet it's been there since
1924 total of AIS acres, set
aside for research and edu-
cation.
There are good, interesting
roads throughout the reser-
walton, winding g up and
around Hickey Hill and
Mount Hamilton. There are
wide, rolling meadows and
cool ponds and striking views
Of Washington off in the dis
tance, framed by lush ever
greens.
AS far as The Rambler
could tell, inching along at
is miles an hour or so, he
was the only visitor. II didn't
seem to make much sense.
1t was too fine a spot to have
all alone. 8 e
OF course you can't picnic,
or lunch IN yoaE car at the
arboretum. Dogs-a sensible
ruling - must be kept on
leash; children under 16
must be accompanied by a
parent or responsible adult
and bicycling is out. There
are no guides.
Maybe the regulations sre
too stiff for most people.
Maybe that's why the woods
and hills might be the most
peaceful spot in Washington
-as of now.
1t won't last long, however.
When the arboretum's 1900
different species Of azaleass
burst in bloom the. place IS
packed. The azalea show
lasts through May, accom-
panied by Towering dog
wood and crabapples, noun
tain laurel and magnolias. 2
A hard winter has left its
mark on some of the ever
greens. The woods are dark
and brown. But up a hill,
against a row of pines, a
solitary cherry tree is out,
magnificent in that setting.
The arboretum is actually
just coming into its own.
1t is under the Department
of Agriculture. The site
once scrubby farm and
marsh lands-was purchased
for about 100000.
But for years it went large
ly neglected, by the depart
ment and Congress.
While there was little
planting in the early years,
the site was rich in natural
oaks and beeches and gums.
The Civilian Conservation
Corps, in the 1930s, cut most
of the trails which remained
dirt roads until the late
1950s.
"A new administration
building is now under con-
struction. replacing one OF
the old CCC barracks.
The Rambler dropped in on
the arboretum's assistant
director, Dr Francis De voss
He estimated there are at
least 1000 varieties Of trees
and bushes in the collection
today.
Interest in the arboretum
is spreading, he said, "be-
cause think we've probably
got more farmers today
than we've ever had"
He meant the city and sub
urban gardeners.
The arboretum, through
its research. attempts 10
develop harder. or more
decorative, trees and shrubs
and then passes this infor-
nation along to garden clubs
or nurserymen throughout
the country.
1t also provides one Of the
easiest ways TO get out Of
town for a few minutes.
Away from automobiles
and too many cherry bios