This video is closed-captioned in English and Spanish. Este video tiene subtítulos en inglés y español.
In 1810, over a century before the Blisses bought the property, Robert Beverley added a detached Orangery on the eastern side of the main house. At that time, Beverley's brother-in-law, Edward Lloyd, owned the Wye House on the eastern shore of Maryland, where an older Orangery with similar Palladian windows, built sometime between 1750 and 1770, still stands. It is believed that a later owner, Edward Linthicum, attached the Orangery to the Main House in the 1860s, and also replaced its roof and planted the Ficus pumila in the northwest corner of the room. This Ficus now covers the inside walls and is festooned across each of the windows. During the winter, the Orangery is used as a greenhouse and holds a collection of gardenias, oleander, and citrus.
More Exhibit Items
This small greenhouse is one of the oldest structures still standing on the grounds of Dumbarton Oaks.
This grassy terrace, shaded by a tall oak tree, provides a panoramic view of the entire estate.
The wide, shady branches of an enormous beech tree stretch over this quiet enclosed space.
The Urn Terrace serves as an ivied transition between the Beech Terrace, Box Walk, and Rose Garden.
A riotous variety of roses fills this sunny space between the Urn and Fountain Terraces.
A traditional flower garden in a blend of English Cottage and Arts and Crafts style.
The story of a terrier given to a Neapolitan girl by a French admiral inspired this column.
A shallow pool sits at the bottom of a small brick amphitheater, bordered by a stand of bamboo.
This narrow brick walk wends through a dreamlike woodland spotted with daffodils and hyacinths.
Hidden near the edge of the gardens, Lilac Circle offers a secluded spot for rest and contemplation.
When the trees blossom in springtime, this hillside becomes one of the gardens’ most magical spaces.
Blooming forsythia turns this corner of the gardens bright yellow at the beginning of spring.
Elaborate stonework and low flowerbeds play off trellises of wisteria in this stately courtyard.
This small room features custom stonework, wrought-iron furniture, and a fountain ornamented with various constellations.
The swimming pool and beautifully decorated loggia attest to Dumbarton Oaks’ history as a private residence.