The Landscape Architect’s Guide to

Hillwood Estate

Your Guide

Hillwood Estate is a unique mansion and landscape in the Van Ness area of D.C. off of the Red Metro line. The best way to get to Hillwood is via taxi from the Van Ness Metro station, as the nearest bus or Metro stop is about a 20-minute walk, which will take you through established neighborhoods in the area. The actual mansion was built in 1926, but the gardens were established in 1955 when Marjorie Merriweather Post purchased the 25-acre estate. Since her death in 1973, Hillwood has operated as a museum, showcasing Post’s extensive Russian and French art collection and the sprawling estate gardens.

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The Classical Axis

As you ascend the stairs within the visitor center, the main portal to the estate, you exit on to a patio, which frames the main entrance of the Hillwood mansion. The classical axis pushes you toward the estate while displaying carefully manicured plantings. The mansion features much of the art collection and some special exhibits, not to mention air conditioning if you visit on a hot day.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood2

Creating Cohesiveness

Clear signage is placed throughout the estate and nestled within the actual plantings, creating cohesiveness to the design of the gardens.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood3

The Rose Garden

The rose garden is one of the first gardens you experience within Hillwood. Its formal, circular shape features a pergola to shade seating along the periphery of the garden. All the seating faces inward, forcing your eye to see the abundance of roses in the center of the garden.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood4

Classical Statues and Sculptures

Classical statues and sculptures are found throughout the estate to frame gateways and important paths within the garden. I discovered this particular statue as I left the rose garden and headed towards the putting green.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood5

A Japanese-style Garden

The Japanese style garden was one of my favorite spots within Hillwood. It slopes downwards with the topography and features traditional Japanese sculpture, plantings, and stone work.

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Myaida's Garden

Post hired Shogo J. Myaida to design this part of the estate, which features native Japanese plants. The quiet stillness of this area of the garden is calming in contrast to the formal French parterre garden in another part of the estate.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood7

Pet Cemetery

The pet cemetery is a quirky feature of the estate gardens, adjacent to the Dacha House, which contains additional exhibit space. Along with sculptures of dogs, there are gravestones of pets of the Post family, showing a whimsical side of the estate.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood8

The Cutting Garden

The cutting garden is adjacent to the estate greenhouse and mansion, and features a variety of roses, daisies, and more. It made me wish I had a cutting garden of my own to create personalized arrangements. Flowers from this garden are featured within the mansion and visitors center.

Image: Radhika Mohan hillwood9

In Bloom

Flowers were in full bloom when I walked through in mid-July. Seeing the diversity of plantings around the estate made the trek out in the D.C. summer heat and humidity worth it.

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Heading Back

As I was finishing up my walk through the gardens and about to head back to the visitor center, I turned around for a final glimpse of the estate. The view of sunflowers and trees made me understand why the Post’s lived here and even more thrilled that this site is open to the public.

Image: Radhika Mohan