Smithsonian Pollinator Garden

The Smithsonian Pollinator Garden is tucked behind the National Museum of Natural History on Constitution Avenue — a dense, thriving native plant garden maintained by the Smithsonian specifically to attract and support pollinators: butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds, and other insects that serve critical ecosystem functions.

In summer months, the garden earns its 4. 7-star rating with visible results. Monarch butterflies float between milkweed plants.

Bumblebees work through lavender and salvia. Eastern tiger swallowtails and other native butterfly species land close enough for genuine observation. For children who've learned about pollinators in school but never seen them in concentrated numbers, this garden makes the biology tangible.

The Smithsonian maintains the garden as a demonstration of sustainable urban gardening and native plant landscaping. Educational signage explains which plants attract which pollinators and why, giving family visits an educational frame without requiring a tour.

For DC visitors, the garden is a perfect 20-30 minute addition to a National Mall day — right next to the Natural History Museum, completely free, open at all hours. In summer, it's genuinely worth the detour even if you're heading somewhere else. In winter, the garden is dormant and not particularly interesting.

Strollers navigate easily along the paved path that borders the garden. Cameras with macro modes capture the close-up insect and butterfly details that make this garden particularly photogenic. Early morning visits in summer offer the most active pollinator behavior before heat builds.