View of the U.S. Capitol and Summerhouse from the West Front.

What can visitors see and do in spring?

Blooms Abound

Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms herald spring, peaking around late March and early April. More than one million visitors arrive in the District every year, drawn primarily to the cherry blossom trees lining the Tidal Basin. The U.S. Capitol Grounds also offer more than 100 cherry blossom trees — both the Yoshino and Japanese Flowering varieties — for public enjoyment.

Most of the trees are found in the Upper and Lower Senate Parks. Some of the oldest and most impressive are located on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol and on the Second Street, SE, side of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.

Tulips bloom near an Olmsted hardscape on the U.S. Capitol West Front.
Spring flowers on the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
Spring flowers in USBG's Bartholdi Park.

Magnolia, shadbush, dogwood and apple trees also adorn the U.S. Capitol Grounds with impressive and fragrant blooms. In addition, thousands of spring bulbs planted in flower beds throughout the Capitol campus sprout a riot of color, including tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils.

Duck Ramps at the Capitol Reflecting Pool

Springtime in Washington, DC, wouldn't be complete without the sight of a brood of ducklings waddling behind their mother. On the U.S. Capitol Grounds, you can also watch them swim in the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which multiple mallard duck families call home.

Ducklings swim in the Capitol Reflecting Pool with the Grant Memorial seen in the background.
Duck ramps installed at the Capitol Reflecting Pool (Union Square) in Washington, D.C.
A duck brood at the edge of the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

The large limestone coping ringing the reflecting pool has the unintended side-effect of making it difficult for ducklings to climb in and out of the pool. The AOC collaborated with City Wildlife, a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit organization, to solve the problem. Skilled AOC staff members designed and built two duck ramps that are installed next to the coping each spring to safely and effectively assist ducks in and out of the water.

Spring Concert

Every year, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) performs a free Memorial Day starlight concert on the West Front lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

What does the AOC work on in spring?

Prepping and Turf

A member of the AOC Capitol Grounds team does some gardening in Senate Park.

In spring, grounds crews are busy digging bulbs and prepping beds for the planting of approximately 35,000 assorted annuals. Extensive mowing, seeding and fertilizing of turf areas also takes place as well as plenty of mulching.

Tree Care

Trees are a major feature of the U.S. Capitol Grounds and continue to reflect Frederick Law Olmsted's original landscape design, a vision which drives all landscaping decisions on the grounds today.

An Architect of the Capitol Arborist among the trees of Capitol Grounds.
An Architect of the Capitol Arborist caring for a tree on the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
An AOC Capitol Grounds Arborist prunes a tree on Capitol Square.

The AOC's arborists prune trees throughout the year for their health as well as for the safety of people and property below. Spring is one of the busiest seasons for the arborists because the trees are leafed out, so our certified arborists can more accurately and effectively evaluate tree health and structure.

Tree planting on the grounds occurs during spring and fall seasons. Trees are selected based on treatment recommendations from Cultural Landscape Reports that take into account the historical period of significance for landscape preservation efforts.

Water Feature Maintenance

The smaller of the U.S. Capitol campus water features found throughout the grounds are cleaned twice a week in spring, summer and fall to remove particulate matter, maintain water flows and clean stains.

About the U.S. Capitol Grounds

The U.S. Capitol Grounds are comprised of approximately 286 acres, including the U.S. Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, the Capitol Power Plant and Union Square. The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum jurisdiction of the AOC is responsible for both the day-to-day maintenance of the U.S. Capitol Grounds and the preservation of a significant historic landscape and accredited arboretum originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. In addition, every aspect of caring for the Capitol campus follows rigorous environmentally sustainable practices.

Visit the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app today!

For an easy and on-the-go reference to all that the U.S. Capitol Grounds have to offer, download the Capitol Grounds app to your phone. Explore the interactive map, photos, audio clips, historic details and more. Visit the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app today!