








Green Spring celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. The construction of a Moon Gate Garden is a fitting way to celebrate Green Spring’s milestone 50th anniversary and to look ahead to the next 50 years. The project will include a mix of traditional and modern design concepts to draw visitors into this new Asian-inspired garden.
We thank our current donors and supporters who are helping to make this project possible. Please see below to learn about the Fairfax County Park Foundation fundraising effort for this project.
Moon gates originated in ancient Asian gardens. Guests who passed through them were symbolically granted an auspicious welcome and good fortune. In garden design, they provide enticing passageways or window views from one space into another, piquing curiosity about what lies beyond. At Green Spring Gardens, a moon gate feature will be situated at the apex of a site line established by trailblazing garden designer Beatrix Farrand, with views to the ponds below. Farrand created an iconic moon gate feature for Abbie Rockefeller’s garden in Maine. Inspired by her work there, we are creating this feature to honor her and complement her boxwood design at Green Spring.
Green Spring’s Moon Gate Garden project will provide sanctuary and inspiration for 200,000 annual visitors. It will be a stunning backdrop for photography and events and will serve as a symbolic connection between the past and the future.
The project will begin with the construction of the moon gate feature near the boundary of the Edible Garden. The medium will reflect elements of Green Spring’s historic landscape that was designed by Beatrix Farrand in 1942.
Landscape Architects
Project Members
Special thanks to Friends of Green Spring board members Sarah Monroe and Bevan Shimizu for concept consultation.
The following Mid-Atlantic native, cultivated native and non-invasive Asiatic plants are under consideration for this garden.
*Mid-Atlantic natives that blend well with an Asian-inspired garden design
Hover over the images below for plant names and click/tap to see an enlarged image.
To learn more about how you can contribute to Green Spring’s Moon Gate Garden project, please visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation web page. We invite you to follow its progress and check back periodically to see updates.
We thank our donors and the Park Foundation for their continued support in making this commemorative project a reality!