CED Alumni Blossom at Smithsonian Gardens

Existing among the nation’s most recognized museums is Smithsonian Gardens. In 2010, the Horticulture Services Division was renamed Smithsonian Gardens in recognition of the meaningful role the gardens play in the Smithsonian visitor experience.  

The gardens extend the Smithsonian’s museum experience in a public garden setting with over 180 acres of outdoor gardens, including 13 public exhibition gardens, often called the Smithsonian institution’s “museum without walls.”  

Marisa Scalera (MLA ’02) and Lauren Brandes (MLA ’03) met in graduate school in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Today they collaborate for the benefit of 25 million visitors who walk among the gardens and museums. They also produce interior exhibits and horticultural displays around the Smithsonian, develop educational programming, and manage artifact, archival, and living collections. 

Since joining the Smithsonian Institution team eight years ago, Marisa’s work supports Smithsonian Gardens’ broader mission to engage people with plants and gardens, inform them about the roles both play in our cultural and natural worlds, and inspire appreciation and stewardship.   

Lauren collaborates with Marisa on planning, design, and construction projects and managing landscape architectural and garden exhibit design projects within the gardens. Lauren says, “It's a joy to be able to work alongside Marisa. She and I take an active role in the development of exhibits for our gardens which is a fun departure from a landscape architect's traditional role. Marisa brings her enthusiasm and artistic eye that I remember from our days together back at the CED to all of the projects that we collaborate on at Smithsonian Gardens, and I'm lucky that we get to work so closely together.”  

Marisa says the enjoyment of working with a fellow MLA alumna is mutual, “I love working with Lauren.  Ever since we were in grad school together, I have admired Lauren’s organization, endless positive energy, and passion for the environment and ecology.  It is a joy to see her bring those same strengths, now honed through twenty years of experience, to public practice.” 

Some of the projects they are wrapping up and/or starting include the outdoor gardens surrounding the National Air and Space Museum and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. They are also presenting several walking tours at the upcoming ASLA national conference in October.