Winkler Botanical Preserve

Set aside in 1979 by Catherine Winkler Herman, her daughter Tori Thomas, and the Winkler Foundation, the preserve was created to protect the land during the development of Mark Center. Tucked into Alexandria's west end, the grounds feature Catherine's Lodge, a private lodge named after Herman, alongside an ongoing focus on growing native plants that attract pollinators. The setting offers a peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty shaped by deliberate conservation.