Celebrate the last week of summer with PRS at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens!
Sunday September 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Registration for this event will remain open through Thursday September 12.
Join the Potomac Rose Society on Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm for a special guided tour of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. The tour will feature the historic rose garden established by Marjorie Merriweather Post. During the presentation, Director of Horticulture, Jessica Bonilla, will give an overview of Hillwood’s gardens, followed by a discussion of the rose garden’s evolution by Garden Section Manager, Sarah Bass. These presentations will elaborate on some of the ways Hillwood’s caretaker horticulturalists are incorporating evolving knowledge about plant science and climate change with stewardship practices that remain true to Marjorie Merriweather Post’s historic garden design.
Attendees will have an opportunity to visit the cafe and explore the gardens, greenhouse, mansion, and art exhibit, both before and after the formal program. Hillwood will be open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. The current art exhibitions are Fragile Beauty: Art of the Ocean and Portrait of Lloyd Patterson: https://hillwoodmuseum.org/exhibitions .
You may also participate in a docent-led mansion tour.
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- Mansion tours are offered daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with an additional tour at 3:30 p.m. Fri-Sun. Tours last approximately one hour and are offered on a first come, first served basis. Please inquire about availability when checking in on the day of your visit.
The Hillwood Estate is also well known for its Merriweather Café, which offers covered outdoor seating, to-go service, and a full fine dining menu. The last seating at the Café will be at 3:15pm, so there will be time for a meal or something to drink both before and after the formal program. For more information, see https://hillwoodmuseum.org/cafe . To make a reservation, visit Resy at: https://resy.com/cities/washington-dc/venues/merriweather-cafe-at-hillwood-estates?date=2024-09-15&seats=2 .
Specific instructions for assembling at this event will be sent to registrants prior to September 15.
Jessica Bonilla (she/her) became Hillwood’s director of horticulture in 2020 after more than a decade working in the horticulture department. She leads her staff in maintaining all aspects of garden and greenhouse upkeep. With over twenty-five years of experience, her career began in commercial landscaping followed by private estate gardening and running her own business. She has a bachelor’s degree in landscape contracting from Penn State University and is a former Potomac Rose Society board member.
Sarah Bass (she/her), garden section manager, came to Hillwood in 2022. Her area encompasses the motor court, French parterre, and the rose garden. Before joining Hillwood, Sarah maintained gardens at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She also ran her own home gardening and landscape design business. Previously, she was a first-grade program assistant and taught gardening to primary school students. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations with a concentration in environmental politics and minors in art and environmental studies from at Connecticut College.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
ARS Consulting Rosarians will earn one credit toward recertification for attending this program.
