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Founded and led by Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, a Professor at Georgetown University Medical Center in the Departments of Pharmacology/Physiology and Family Medicine, Urban Herbs began in 2009.
Because of its south-facing location, blacktop and concrete borders, the 3x140 ft strip behind Georgetown Medical Center's New Research Building was barren. This "hellstrip" had a hot, dry microclimate that killed everything previously planted there.
By planting heat-tolerant species suited to South Carolina, Texas, and Arizona, Urban Herbs has created a stunning xeriscape garden showcasing Southern figs, pomegranates, Mexican Bird of Paradise, and many flowers.
Pomegranate and Southern fig tree in April 2012
Mexican Bird of Paradise in May 2017
Urban Herbs continues to demonstrate edible landscaping, ecological gardening, and permaculture techniques, while featuring medicinal herbs, unusual perennials, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Building on the goodwill provided by this success, Urban Herbs has grown to include:
An irrigated, rooftop garden between Dahlgren Memorial Library and the Lombardi Center
A small shade garden on the podium near the Research Building
A Biology Teaching Garden outside the third floor of Regents Hall on Georgetown’s main campus
Before:
Before:
After:
After:
Urban Herbs is designated as a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) People's Garden.
Urban Herbs was featured in:
Urban Herbs was featured in:
"Plants, Pollinators and People: Unified Research-and-Teaching Gardens at Georgetown University" in 2022
Voice of America video in October 2022
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia article in August 2018
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