(courtesy Shepherd Park Citizen’s Association)

by Cassandra Hetherington

Naima Jefferson, President of the Shepherd Park Citizens Association (SPCA), is a self-identified “Plant Killer,” yet excitedly promoting the 16th SPCA Garden Tour. It is probably her inability to keep greenery alive that propels her appreciation and enthusiasm for all things blossoming and blooming. As part of this year’s Garden Tour, fourteen gardens, most owned by private citizens within the DC neighborhoods of Shepherd Park, Colonial Village and North Portal Estates, will be open for self-guided tours on Sunday, May 16th, 2:00-5:00pm.

Maps will be available the day of the event for ticket holders and can be picked up at the Shepherd Park Christian Church (7900 Eastern Avenue NW). The Department of Parks and Recreation has been invited to talk about their gardening classes at the church and Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary will be collecting gently used children’s books. Jackson Carnes (former Ward 4 director of constituent services under Brandon Todd) is organizing this year’s event. Expect to run into several Councilmembers while savoring the flowers.

A neighborhood with street names such as Fern, Juniper, Holly, Iris and Myrtle, Shepherd Park was destined to have a garden tour. But street names do not make a community; ultimately it is the people who live within houses on those blocks. The average time for home ownership in this part of DC is thirty years, and the diversity of people is what attracted Naima and her husband to move here a decade ago, she said.

The Garden Tour is not just an opportunity to see unique, diverse and inspiring flora and fauna but to meet fellow Washingtonians and possibly experience another community. The garden at each home will be an adventure: some may have food, beverages, sculptures or bees, while others may simply offer a quiet space in nature. People are welcome to picnic on the great lawn at the Parks at Walter Reed while admiring their newest plant inspired murals by DC artists Chelsea Ritter-Soronen and Patrick Owens.

This is the kind of neighborhood where people put down roots and stay, and where children grow up and inherit their parents’ house to raise a family of their own. Shepherd Park gardens are carefully tended and their beauty must be shared.

All proceeds from the SPCA Garden Tour will fund Shepherd Park beautification projects within the neighborhood. Beautification projects include: maintaining the ceramic planters on Eastern Avenue to Fern Street, cleaning up the “Welcome to DC Sign,” and planting native, hardy, drought resistant and sustainable plants throughout the community’s public spaces. People are asked to wear masks when visiting the gardens and the Garden Tour will happen rain, shine or cicadas.

This event is free for SPCA members and $15 for non-members.

Tickets are required and can be purchased online.

You can learn more about the Shepherd Park Citizens Association by visiting their website.