The Local Girl 
Tucked amidst a residential neighborhood is a 95-acre pastoral sanctuary. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, located at 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, is a Fairfax County Park Authority-managed property with multiple gardens, ponds, outdoor sculptures, a special events facility, and more. Each season gets its turn in the spotlight, with cherry blossoms in the spring, water lotus in the late summer, and an iconic light show each winter. Read on for more about Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, a year-round destination in Vienna, VA.
About Meadowlark
Meadowlark Gardens is a 95-acre park with a variety of gardens, walking paths, water features, outdoor sculptures and more. Visitors can enjoy the ever-changing gardens thanks to the dedicated horticulture team that keeps things looking fresh. There are three gazebos, including one overlooking one of the three lakes. Different gardens highlight different flora, such as the Butterfly Garden, the Lilac Pavilion, and the Potomac Valley Collection.
The park was formed in the early 1980s, following a gift of 74 acres of land to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA). The gift was made in 1980 by private donors who wanted the space to be used for conservation. The NVRPA bought 21 contiguous acres, and the park officially opened in 1987. In 1999, the Garden initiated a regional native plant conservation program, with the goal of conserving and displaying native plants while educating the public about them.
Through displays in the Visitor’s Center, a variety of programming, and various signage around the property, visitors can learn more about local horticulture. Meadowlark Gardens also does educational outreach with different partners such as local schools and community centers as well as The Smithsonian Institute.
The paved trails take visitors throughout the property. The paved trails make a 2.2 mile loop, great for checking out the different wildlife that inhabits the property. Some of the birds spotted here include bluebirds, robins, and herons. A portion of the trails are ADA accessible and there are a limited amount of wheelchairs that guests can check out from the visitors center. Twice a month the grounds are open to leashed dogs, and it’s fun to see the pups exploring.
The ponds are populated by koi fish, turtles, and other creatures. Park staff frequently host fishing outings for children to learn the basics of fishing. The Children’s Garden has a child-size outdoor tea party setup.
Meadowlark is also home to the largest public Korean Bell Gardens on the East Coast. The garden is a joint effort by NOVA Parks and the Korean American Cultural Committee (KACC) that began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. At the center of the Garden is the Korean Bell Pavilion, which is where an oversized bell named the Bell of Peace and Harmony sits.
The bell is inside a traditional Korean pagoda and was designed with images that represent both Korea and Virginia, and inscribed with the words ‘peace’ and ‘harmony’. The bell was cast in Korea using centuries-old traditions. The garden is populated with other traditional Korean symbols including totem poles and statues of guardians called Dol Hareubangs, which are carved out of volcanic rock.
A Year-Round Destination
Emma Werthmann, Visitor Services Specialist at Meadowlark, showed us around. “I love watching the seasons change here,” she said. Emma said that the volunteers and staff keep the gardens looking neat and tidy, and there’s always something new to see. “They’ll change it up, put in something new when the seasons change,” she said. The gardens are open year-round, and the Winter Walk of Lights is a yearly destination for many families.
The Atrium at Meadowlark is a popular venue for weddings and other special events. The on-site parking and beautiful facilities make it an easy choice for hosts, and the gardens as the background for photos don’t hurt, either.
The gardens are a popular choice for portraits and other photography outings. Reservations are required for photos, and more information about permitted equipment can be found online. Meadowlark offers programming year-round geared toward different audiences. Concerts, preschool educational sessions, summer camps, forest bathing, plant sales, and more make up the calendar.
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