Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Explore Ornamental and Native Plant Gardens
Meadowlark At a Glance
Visitor Center Hours: 10AM-6:30PM & Gardens close at 7:00PM
Fees: $3 for ages 6-17 & ages 55+, $6 for ages 18-54, and free for ages 5 & under
Address: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna VA 22182
Portrait Photography Reservations: Two-hour photography sessions are available for $50 + the cost of admission for each guest. Admission fees paid upon arrival to the Gardens. Photography reservations are necessary when the primary purpose of the visit is to take pictures of people at the Gardens. Book Here
*Wedding and bridal photography are not able to be booked as Portrait Photography Reservations and incurs separate fees; please contact the Atrium at atrium@nvrpa.org for wedding and bridal photography information and fees.
Opening Hours
The Gardens are operating on normal business hours (see chart below). Follow us on social media to receive updates regarding special early opening and late closings.
Visitor Center Hours
| January-March | 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM Gardens close at 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| April-October | 10:00 AM- 6:30 PM Gardens close at 7:00 PM |
| November-December *Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day *(Does not apply to Winter Walk of Lights) |
10:00 AM- 3:30 PM Gardens close at 4:00 PM |
*Gardens may close during the day when ice or snow covers the trails
Fees
| Fee | |
|---|---|
|
Effective March - November only Under Age 6 Age 6 - 17 Age 18 - 54 Age 55 and over |
Free $3.00 $6.00 $3.00 |
|
Portrait Photography Session Fee 2 Hour Photography Session Late Return Fee Reservations must be made in advance for all photography that uses the Gardens as a backdrop. (All wedding and bridal photography is not included and is handled exclusively through the Atrium. Please review all portrait photography rules and booking information.) |
$50 $50 |
|
Group Rate (available Monday-Friday only) Please complete the Group Inquiry Form to schedule your visit. Ages 18-54 Ages 6-17 and Ages 55+ |
$4.00 $1.50
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
Annual Individual Membership |
$35.00 |
|
Annual Family Membership |
$50.00 |
|
Conservation Membership |
$100.00 |
|
White Oak Supporter |
$500.00 |
*Meadowlark Botanical Gardens does not offer reciprocal admission with other gardens. National Park or State Park passes are not honored at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens as we are not affiliated with these organizations.
GARDEN INFORMATION
Garden Etiquette
Bikes scooters, skates, skateboards, outdoor toys, or balls are not permitted inside the fenced Garden property. Fishing, swimming, or disturbance of garden beds is not permitted at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Please do not disturb or feed the wildlife found throughout the Gardens.
Pets are not permitted within the fenced portion of the Garden. Dogs are welcome on the Perimeter trail that can be found outside of the Garden’s fence (marker number 15 on the map below).
Outside food or drink is not permitted within the gated Garden grounds.
Meadowlark’s picnic area is located outside of the fenced Garden property adjacent to the Lilac Pavilion. The picnic area is available on a first come first served basis, where group gatherings of more than 10 people are not permitted. Open flames, grills, or pop-up tents are not permitted on Garden property. Gatherings of more than 10 people must make a pre-arranged reservation with the Atrium for one of the available rental spaces. Please contact the Atrium at 703-255-3631 or email the atrium@nvrpa.org for all rental inquiries.
Visitor Center
All guests must enter and exit the Gardens through the Visitor Center where the gift shop and primary restrooms are located. The gift shop features local artisan goods, surplus plants from the garden, and much more! Additional restrooms are located next to the log cabin near marker number 25. Two wheelchairs are available for Garden guests to use for free on a first come, first served basis.
The Visitor Center no longer has paper maps available onsite. Please download the map below prior to your visit or scan our convenient QR code of the Garden map upon your arrival. Our digital map depicts paved walking trails marked by solid black lines while mulched trails are dotted lines. There are 3.5 miles of paved walking trails and 1.25 miles of mulched trails. An ADA accessible trail is designated on the map with a thick white line leading from the Visitor Center to the Lake Caroline Gazebo.
Horticulture Team
Our expert Horticulturists have a keen eye for what should be done seasonally from pruning, planting, to seeding, they work throughout the Gardens to keep them beautiful. Horticulturists offer workshops and talks throughout the year. Please check the Events tab located at the top of the page for all upcoming events.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens uses an integrated approach to deal with pests of all sorts; relying heavily on manual weeding and wiping away insects. We focus on cultural controls such as making sure the right plant is in the right place and when we must spray, we save it as a last resort.
We are working towards labeling all our plant collections at the Gardens. Since our collections are constantly changing with additions, divisions, and subtractions, plant labeling is always a work in progress. For assistance identifying a plant, take several pictures and email them and your inquiry to horticulture@nvrpa.org . What’s in bloom changes frequently throughout the seasons. Check our Facebook and Instagram for more information or ask the Front Desk staff upon your arrival.
The Volgenau Conservatory holds our Mediterranean collection and will be open for limited educational opportunities. In the wintertime, tropical plants not housed in the Volgenau Conservatory are dug up and overwintered in our greenhouse facilities.
Donations
Guests’ generous support is always appreciated and welcomed. To donate directly to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens please click here. The donation of benches and/or trees in memory of loved ones is currently on hold and we are not accepting these donations at this time. Physical donations may be accepted and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is unable to accept wildlife.
For all donation questions or questions regarding location of a memorial bench, please contact meadowlark@nvrpa.org.
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY RULES
Contact
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
9750 Meadowlark Gardens CourtVienna VA 22182
United States
Garden Manager
Chelsea Mahaffey
Connect With Us
Volunteers
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens of Vienna, Virginia has a variety of indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities available. Weekly commitment is not required to volunteer in the Gardens, but when a volunteer has completed 10 hours of volunteer service they will receive an Annual Garden Membership, 10% off gift shop purchases, Meadowlark Volunteer Bumper Sticker & Lapel Pin, and a wonderful opportunity to be part of a great community.
Garden Volunteer
Do you have experience gardening? Do you wish you could get more experience gardening? Meadowlark Botanical Gardens would love to have you on board to assist with our 95-acre garden oasis. Learn more about planting cycles, proper pruning habits, garden management and much more from our experienced horticulture team. The garden volunteers season begins in March and runs through December (Weather Permitting).
Visitor Relations Aide
Do you love helping people and having the answer to questions? Our Visitor Relations Aide are where the public turn to when they have something to ask, or a comment they would like to share with us. Assist staff with answering questions or following up with guests about annual memberships, portrait photography scheduling, tour scheduling and more. Visitor Relations Aide commit to 2 Weekend shifts and 1 Weekday shift per month.
Garden Collections Aide
Do you have a passion for organization and ease of access? Enjoy being behind the scenes making sure everything is double checked? Our Garden Collection Aide position might be just for you! This volunteer will work with garden staff to ensure collections are accurate and orderly. Tasks may range from walking garden beds to ensure proper label placement to data entry in the Visitor Center. Garden Collection Aides commit to 2 Weekend shifts and 1 Weekday shift per month.
Trails Volunteer
Do you enjoy spending time in the woods? Meadowlark Botanical Gardens would love to have you on board to assist with our trail systems throughout the gardens. Our diverse terrain needs regular pruning, clearing, and assessing to maintain access for all guests. Current shifts include mornings.
Special Event Volunteer
Do you enjoy doing a bit of everything? Meadowlark Botanical Gardens has special events throughout the year celebrating the different seasons. Some days you may be helping in the visitor’s center greeting guests, other days you might be compiling goody bags for a scavenger hunt, other days you may be assisting with a group tour. The responsibility of this role is varied and is a great fit for a generalist.
Reviews
Beautiful park. There are a large number of birds and other local animals all over the park.
They have a huge koi pond and many beautiful trails. The variety of plants and the beauty of this place is surprising. This place is also an excellent venue for special events such as weddings.
by L. Rubinstein
One of my favorite places to visit when in Northern Virginia. There is always something in bloom.
by D. Myers
