Road Trips Gardeners can take a self-guided Tree Walk at the Tudor Place Historic Home and Garden, 1644 31st Street NW, Washington D.C. (map).

There are more than 400 trees in the gardens, and the walk highlights “those that merit special attention”. Admission for the walk is $3.

The large Tulip Poplar (pictured) located at the southeast corner of the lawn is 20 feet in circumference and more than 100 feet tall. In 2002, it was designated the “Millenium Landmark Tree” for the District of Columbia by the America the Beautiful Fund.

Thomas Peter, a landowner and tobacco merchant, and his wife, Martha Custis Peter, granddaughter of Martha Washington, purchased 8 1/2 acres on the outskirts of Georgetown in 1805. Today, the remaining 5 1/2 acres of this unique garden maintain much of the original Federal period design. In the early-19th century the family had many different requirements for the land including orchards, vegetable gardens, a stable, and grazing land for cows and horses.

Six successive generations of the Peter family cared for and embellished the landscape as Georgetown and the Federal City grew around them. The last owner, Armistead Peter 3rd, completed major projects during the mid-20th century that shaped the gardens we see today.

In 2011, Tudor Place completed an intensive archeological survey to guide future research, interpretation, and educational programming on the history and uses of the site; in 2012, the survey received the District of Columbia prize for Excellence in Historic Preservation (Archaeology).

(Photo courtesy of Tudor Place Historic Home and Garden)