Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

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  Hydrophobic lotus leaves are self-cleaning. Water droplets collect dirt – and run right off the leaf.

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  Helen Shaw Fowler Wrestled the US Government into Creating the Aquatic Gardens National Park

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  The Victoria amazonica water lily was in Shaw gardens catalogs early in the 20th century.

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  This wayside view point is at the same spot where the original photo was taken from.

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  Beauty & Business were blended at the Shaw Gardens Aquatic Plant Business, Prior to becoming a National Park

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  Conservation is a big part of the Park's History including some of the first federal laws to protect birds.

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  Over 32 acres of tidal wetlands have been restored to provide natural habitat for wildlife.

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  Park rangers offer daily classes, guided tours and wildlife information to visitors.

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  The original display ponds are still used for showcasing water lily specimens.

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  Display pools were originally used to give customers ideas for their home water lily gardens.

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  The Lotus Ponds are simply amazing and one of the biggest draws at the park when in bloom.

Working closely with Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the National Park Service, Paris Design revitalized wayside displays throughout the park.

This natural area of Anacostia Park has origins in a 1926 act of Congress to preserve the forests, water quality, and recreation value of the waterways of Washington, DC. Previously, the land was owned by Shaw Gardens one of the largest aquatic plant businesses in the US.

Paris Design was responsible for design, curating content and writing and editing text for these displays.