Atlanta Botanical Garden, Revisited

Why return to a garden that you've already visited?  There are so many reasons.  Gardens change with the seasons and over time.  Public gardens offer new features and programs to encourage folks to repeat their visits.  I had the opportunity to explore the Atlanta Botanical Gardens twice in 2013, and I wrote all about it at the time. While some things have remained the same, there have been some changes that I believe warrant a new blog post.

"Chalices" was one of the featured pieces for the
Curious Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden

The exhibit of the season is artist Adam Schwerner's "The Curious Garden".  To me, the most eye-catching feature of the exhibit is called "The Spirited Bosk".  Hundreds of maple saplings were cut at the base of the trunk, all the foliage was removed, and the trees were painted bright shades colors and placed throughout the property.  In addition to the two areas with painted trees inside the property, a line of pink painted trees greets visitors from the entrance to the garden's parking area.


All-in-all, Schwerner created twelve art features that were scattered throughout the grounds, including green chains in the Fuqua Conservatory that were designed to mimic the aerial roots suspended from Cissus, purple totems along the flower walk, large red accents suspended above the Kendeda Canopy Walk designed to attract visitors' attention to the tree canopy overhead, and a mixture of glass and orchid chandeliers in the orchid center.

"Revenge of the Black Widow" is part of the
Scarecrows in the Garden autumn display

If incredible garden displays and art exhibits weren't enough to bring a visitor in for a repeat trip, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is also hosting their "Scarecrows in the Garden" fall feature.  Businesses, individuals, non-profit organizations, and clubs created more than 100 very creative scarecrows that have been placed throughout the gardens.  Scarecrow themes range the gamete from incredibly quite to pretty downright creepy.  Visitors of all ages really enjoyed the display, and I saw dozens of folks taking selfies with their favorite scarecrows.  If this idea sounds familiar to you, it's possible that your local public garden has a scarecrow fall feature as well.  The next season will bring "Garden Lights, Holiday Nights", which should be a lot of fun for visitors as well.

For those of you who read my previous post about the "Imaginary Worlds" exhibit, you will probably remember the really stunning Earth Goddess mosaiculture feature.  I had really been looking forward to returning to see the stunning goddess in all her verdant green, and I had been especially hoping to impress my travel companion with this really cool garden art.  My initial disappointment after discovering that the feature was in the midst of repairs was quickly replaced by excitement.  Right now is a great time to see the "bones" of a mosaiculture art piece.  The wire mesh was totally exposed and unplanted.  Very cool!

Musa velutina in fruit next to the Cascades Garden

In addition to the seasonal exhibits, visitors should keep their eyes peeled for the Chihuly glass pieces in the gardens and visitor center. Other features include a children's garden, edible garden, conservation native bog garden, Japanese garden, and all of the amazing plants growing across the property.  I was able to catch a cooking class in the edible garden's outdoor kitchen, and I think the experience was worth a standalone blog post.

If you work up an appetite during your trip, be sure to check out the new Longleaf Restaurant for a delicious meal.  If you prefer a quicker meal without the fuss of being served at a table, you can pick up a sandwich or snack at Longleaf's Quick Cafe or out in the garden at the Snack Bar.  The gift shop was also worth a visit, whether you're shopping or window shopping.

Other important considerations when planning your trip:

"Totems" is another feature of the Curious Garden

• Hours of operation:
• April - October, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
• November - March, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
• Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day
• *Admission:
• Adults: $21.95
• Youth (3-12): $15.95
• Members and children under 3: Free
• Parking:
• 0 - 30 minutes: Free
• 31 - 60 minutes: $2
• Additional 30 minutes: $1
• Daily Maximum: $15
• Accessibility:
• Virtually the entire garden is accessible.  I did not note any areas that could not be reached by one way or another.
• Wheelchairs available at the Visitors Center on a first come first serve basis.
• Electric mobility scooters may be rented.
• Pets:
• Restricted to service animals only.
• Dogs are allowed for the annual "Reindog Parade" event.
• Atlanta Botanic's guide to Garden Etiquette is available for review.

*Are you a member of your local public garden?  Ask if membership includes participation in the American Horticulture Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program.  By supporting your local garden, you and one guest could visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden for free.

To see more photos of any of my visits to the Atlanta Botanic Garden, check out my flickr stream.

If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

When is the last time that you visited a botanical garden exhibit?  What was your favorite feature?  

When is the last time that you visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden?  How was your experience?

The Skyline Garden at the Knoxville Botanical Garden

 

The usually verdant mosaiculture "Earth Goddess" is in the midst of repairs

The North Carolina Arboretum -- "Some Assembly Required"

Fall is in full swing at the NC Arboretum

The autumn winds are blowing, drawing us out to see deciduous trees in all their gaudy splendor.  There are few places in the Southeast U.S. that compare to Asheville, North Carolina for viewing fall foliage.  The North Carolina Arboretum is one of Asheville's treasures, and a great place to explore the colors of autumn.

The 434 acre property boasts several trails of varying difficulty, diverse and well-maintained garden areas, and two very nice buildings for visitors -- the Baker Exhibit Center and the Education Center.  I visited the NC Arboretum for the first time earlier in October.  Although the whole property was dazzling, my favorite areas were in the main garden area.

Bonsai displays may use traditional or unique plant
material, like this grove of bonsai bald cypress.

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden was especially impressive.  Although the specimens were younger than bonsai exhibits that may be found at other gardens, I thought the variety of plants and styles were much better than other displays I've seen.  In addition to the traditional Japanese maples, junipers and pines, the exhibit included specimens native to the continent and the southeast region, like bald cypress and hornbeam.  Although the bonsai specimens are the main attraction, the exhibition garden is a really lovely setting for the display.  Also, the signage was attractive and informative.

The Gardener's Green Shed showcases
water-saving methods for the landscape

The Quilt Garden is usually a "must see" area.  I visited during a kind of weird in-between period where their summer annuals had been removed but it was too early to add their winter interest plants.  Plants in the quilt garden are arranged in really interesting patterns.  Visitors can walk between squares to see the pattern up close or view from an overlook to see the whole picture.

A couple other areas include the Heritage Garden that showcases ornamental plants that have a history as utility plants in the appalachian region, the Dickinson Holly Garden that showcases a variety of hollies and their uses in the landscape.

Although I was originally drawn to the NC Arboretum to view fall foliage and explore new gardens, I was in for a special treat.  Right now the arboretum has LEGO nature-inspired art pieces on display throughout the garden as a part of their "Some Assembly Required" exhibit.  Of the 27 sculptures that are part of the exhibit, 15 are places outdoors throughout the gardens.  Created by certified LEGO artist Sean Kenney, pieces range in size and style, from a intricate phalaenopsis orchid to a life-size lawnmower.

Young folks were really interested in
"Some Assembly Required" LEGO statutes

The morning of my visit, it seemed like most folks were there to see the LEGO art.  Finding each piece was like an exciting scavenger hunt for young visitors.  Children cried with joy when they discovered the next sculpture, then fell into silent, wide-eyed awe as they took in the intricacy of the display.  If you know a LEGO lover of any age, definitely check out "Some Assembly Required" at the NC Arboretum this fall and winter.  The LEGOs will be on display until January 5, 2014.

The arboretum offers several features intended to enhance the visitor experience, including cell phone tours, geocaching, clean bathrooms, water fountains, and other amenities available for use in their buildings.  The Savory Thyme Cafe is housed within the Education Building, and offers local, natural, and organic selections.  The Connections Gallery gift shop in the Baker Exhibit Center had a nice selection of horticultural, local, and touristy items for sale.

Other important considerations when planning your visit:

• Hours of operation:
• April 1 to October 31, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• November 1 to March 31, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Baker Exhibit Center, Education Center, Bonsai Exhibition Garden, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Admission: FREE
• Parking: 
• FREE the first Tuesday of each month
• $8 personal vehicles
• $30 commercial vehicles
• $50 buses
• Free for members of the NC Arboretum
• Accessibility:
• The garden areas, production greenhouse, Baker Exhibit Center and the Education Center are wheelchair accessible.  The trails have varying levels of accessibility.
• Wheelchairs are available to use free of charge, and may be borrowed from the Baker Exhibit Center and the Education Center.
• Pets:
• Dogs may visit the gardens and arboretum areas as long as they are kept on a leash.  Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
• Service animals are allowed inside buildings.

The arboretum is very easy to find from I-40, with plenty of signage guiding you there from the interstate.  However, when you plan your trip to the NC Arboretum, consider taking the road less traveled.  In addition to hopping on I-40, some folks could also travel on the Blue Ridge Parkway or 19 to Cherokee then up 411 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Special thanks to my co-hort Nathan and his friend Tiffany for keeping me company in the Arboretum. Also thank-you Jared in Raleigh and Nathan in Johnson City for helping me triangulate the peak time to visit Asheville.

To see more photos of my visit to the North Carolina Arboretum, check out my flickr set.

If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please feel welcome to leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email.

Tell me about your last visit to a garden or arboretum.  What was your favorite part?

What's the most unusual display or exhibit you've seen at a garden or arboretum?

Young folks were really interested in "Some Assembly Required" LEGO statutes

My time (so far) with "Every Child Outdoors" Knoxville

Youngsters learn where their fruits and veggies come from
at the ECO Garden.  Photo by Wendy Prothro-Howard.

Since September of 2011, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with the wonderful organization "Every Child Outdoors" (Knoxville).  This particular project is funded through the Tennessee Department of Health "Project Diabetes".  The idea is that youth edible gardening will increase kids' knowledge of and affinity for fruits and veggies and encourage physical activity that will offset diabetes and obesity.

About the Project

The grant was awarded to the University of Tennessee's Human Dimensions Research Lab that specializes in survey research.  The HD Lab hired on a crew for the gardening project to write lessons that meet state standards, connect with schools, teach lessons and workshops, construct and maintain a garden, and administer questionnaires.

To fit with the mission of the grant, the project targeted the particularly high risk area of East Knoxville.    Local and national data suggests the residents are predominantly low socioeconomic status, and a great deal of the area's residents are overweight.  When I first joined on, I did a little digital exploration of the area.  A google map search for grocery stores in the area yielded only four results -- two of which I later discovered had closed, and one that doesn't carry produce.  (And yet, as of this year the area pictured will have two dialysis clinics!!)  Perhaps part of the reason East Knoxville is at such a high risk for diabetes is that residents live in something called a "food desert" where they don't have easy access to real foods.

Students learn through gardening at the Knoxville
Botanical Garden's ECO Youth Vegetable Garden.

As it would happen, the Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum is located in the heart of East Knoxville.  KBGA graciously took us in and made their grounds a home for the ECO gardening crew.  Over the past two years, we've worked together to install a youth vegetable garden and fix up an adjacent abandoned building for programs.  Like-minded organizations in the area (especially Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Project Learning Tree) and literally dozens of volunteer groups got involved.  Together our groups were really able to move the needle on development of KBGA's new "Outdoor Explorer Classroom" area.  Today, what had been a somewhat desolate area of the property is a hotbed of activity for field trips, workshops, and visitors.

The gardens are located the epicenter for four of the area's schools.  Over the past two years, three of the schools have welcomed us in for school visits, field trips, "Gardening in the Classroom" teacher training sessions, and assistance in starting their very own school gardens.  In order to meet grant objectives, Austin-East High School signed on for 10 gardening labs specially designed for ecology and AP environmental science classes, and pretest/posttest surveys of garden lab participants and a control group.  

Students plant sunflower seeds in their school courtyard.
Photo by Wendy-Prothro Howard.

Out of all of the schools that we've worked with, Austin-East High School has a particularly special place in my heart.  It was the vision of one ecology teacher that got our entire program rolling in Knoxville.  Her heart and vision for her students led her to contact groups that could help her get started teaching gardening in her classroom.  The end result was the "Project Diabetes" grant being awarded to  UT's Human Dimensions lab to start the entire "Every Child Outdoors" program in Knoxville.  Wow, right?

What I've Learned

It would be pretty sad if I made it through two years of youth gardening without learning anything worth sharing.  Because my position was hort coordinator, I had more experience on the gardening side of the project.

1. The whole "If you build it, they will come" mentality is wrong wrong wrong!  I'll reference this more in the next few points.
2. Gardening in the Classroom: Simply building a garden on a school's property isn't going to

   

   Interest meetings, planning, and training are all important
   considerations when starting a school garden.

   immediately attract classes.  Posting a flier or making an announcement isn't going to do it either.  Having an interest meeting for teachers, students, parents, and the community is a step in the right direction, but still miles away from the destination.  Education and outreach is leaps and bounds more important to a successful gardening program than installation of the garden itself.  It's important to find or write lessons that meet state and common core standards for the grades and subjects taught in the school.  And you can't just give the teachers the lesson or teach the class yourself and expect that to open the magical doorway to gardening in the classroom.  You have to walk the teachers through how the lessons work, maybe teach a class yourself, and assist the teachers the first time they teach the lesson.  Necessity for this stems from the other various pressing demands on teacher time and resources.  Level of involvement will vary based on a teacher's existing gardening knowledge and time availability.
3. Keep it Growing: Instead of looking at a school garden as a blessing, many administrators view it as a curse.  If a parent or member of the community, a teacher (in specific situations -- more on this soon), or an outside organization wants to put in a garden, any seasoned administrator worth their salt is probably going to shoot the idea down the first time.  Why?  Students grow up, move schools, and their parents go with them.  Members of the community move.  Older teachers retire, and new teachers tend to leave after a couple years.  Outside organizations get new projects that take precedence or lose funding.  With nobody left to maintain it, the site becomes what I like to call a Ghost Garden (scary, right?) .  Ghost gardens are empty, overgrown, abandoned eyesores, and should be avoided at all costs.
4. Administrator Advice:  If any administrators happen to be reading this, I would recommend requiring these five things prior to approving the installation of a garden on your school's soil: 10 garden lessons that meet state and common core standards for multiple grades and subjects taught in your school, a list of teachers that are interested in using the garden for classes, a detailed monthly maintenance plan, a list of parties that are interested in maintenance, and a rough garden design that includes the size of the garden (smaller is better the first year) and plans for water access.  If any parents, members of the community, teachers, or outside organizations who want to start a school garden are reading this, don't fret.  If you want your garden to be successful after you're gone, you need to put together these five things anyway.
5. When is a Garden a Community Garden?  My criticism of the "if you build it..." mentality also applies to community gardening, but that's a topic for a different day.  There are gardens that service communities (like school gardens), and there are bona fide true blue community gardens that are built by and for members of the community.  I've never worked with community garden project, so I can't really claim to have any experience in this area.  I have noticed a handful of "community gardens" that have failed in my area, and developed an opinion on the matter.  Eleanor Scott wrote an interesting piece that touches on this in the Metro Pulse last year - "Gardens with a Mission" - that would be worth a read if you have some time.
6. You Can't Be Everything to Everyone:  Although my primary role was in the garden, I was also involved with teaching kids about gardening, leading field trips, teaching workshops, evaluation, and even writing the occasional lesson plan.  When you work with a small group on a broad project, it is easy to spread yourself too thin.  Don't be afraid to delegate.  It helps to keep your project mission, objectives, and job description in mind when you've got a lot going on.  
7. Many Hands Make Light Work: The project's school liaison is fond of this saying, and it's grown on me over the years.  A chore can be easier and completed faster if you get help from coworkers and volunteers.  There is no way that we could have built our gardens without help.  You can make something big and beautiful if you're not too proud to ask for a little help.  There are sure to be lots of people and organizations that would love to be involved, even in a small way, with your garden.
8. The Wind does not Break a Tree that Bends:  Life happens and circumstances may change.  A teacher or parent that's supposed to maintain your garden may move.  Less than half of the teachers that said they were interested in helping the garden may actually get involved.  Plants may die (multiple times).  A lot of the time what seems like calamity at first is actually the opportunity to make positive changes to the project.  Stick with your mission, but don't be afraid of change.

   

   Girl scouts get their hands dirty with some garden-themed
   volunteer work.  Photo from Wendy-Prothro Howard.

9. Kids Come First:  This is the last point to make an impact, but it belongs at the top of the list.  Don't get so bogged down in the knitty gritty of the project that you lose sight of the mission.  Remember the kids when you're making the design or writing the lessons.  Leave room for whimsy.  I absolutely hate when a garden lesson is rigid.  You're not in the classroom -- you're outside!  So what if you're supposed to be learning about floral anatomy, and the kids are completely distracted by butterflies?  Butterflies are a part of floral anatomy too!  A healthy garden is about more than just the plants -- it's an entire ecosystem that's full of weird and interesting life-forms.  What's more is that most of the distractions can be tied to state and common core standards (if not the same exact standards) that you were trying to meet in the first place.   For some of the students, this may be their only chance to be outdoors for a while.  So let the kids enjoy being outside!

Next on the Horizon

Thank you to my lovely coworkers for helping me grow
professionally and personally.  I've had a blast so far!

At the end of this month, the project draws to a close.  The new grant will pick up in August, which leaves the garden crew with a month hiatus.  Although I will be checking on the garden through July (what kind of a monster would abandon a vegetable garden in the heat of summer?), I hope to have more time to read, write, plant, explore, and construct.  Be sure to check in to "Plante on Plants" for posts about some fantastic new plants and old favorites, "Thrifty Gardener" for step-by-step instructions on how to create some fun projects to spice up the home and garden, and "Garden Guide" for reviews of the fabulous gardens that I plan to visit this summer.  

Thanks for reading and keep growing!

To see more photos of the "Every Child Outdoors" youth gardening project, check out our Facebook photo albums.

If you have any questions comments, ideas, or suggestions, feel free to post a comment or shoot me an email.

What are your experiences with youth gardening?  School gardening?  What have you learned from the experience?

To learn more about the ECO program and to see some kids in action, skip ahead to 9 minutes and 30 seconds in this "Live Green Tennessee" video.  (They accidentally switched my and my coworker's name and title in this video.)

With some thoughtful planning and a whole lot of help from coworkers, like-minded organizations, and volunteers our site was transformed from an abandoned area to a verdant vegetable garden in less than one year.

Explore "Imaginary Worlds" at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

This surly ogre was a favorite in the
Atlanta Botanical Garden "Imaginary
Worlds" mosaiculture exhibit

I absolutely love exploring gardens.  Public gardens, botanical gardens, personal gardens, you name it.  What I love even more than visiting a garden one time, is when there's a reason to return.  It's for this reason that I have been so pleased with the Atlanta Botanical Garden this year.

In February, my cohort Morgan and I headed to Atlanta for the "annual" Southeastern Flower Show.  While planning our trip, we heard that a former classmate, Julie, had landed a job at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  Julie's tour of the botanical garden turned into the highlight of our visit.  As we were leaving the garden, Julie encouraged us to return in May to check out their upcoming "Imaginary Worlds" mosaiculture sculpture exhibit.  We just got back this afternoon, and I can not wait to tell you all about this wonderful summer feature!

Mosaiculture involves using live plants to create patterns.  Imaginary Worlds takes this a step further by implementing mosaiculture on the face of larger than life statutes.  A steel skeleton provides shape and support for the statute.  The frame is covered with a planting medium, and herbaceous planted as plugs into the medium.  Some of the larger pieces, including (my favorite) "Earth Goddess", are actually supported with heavy duty beams and footers.

Water is crucial to the success of these living statutes.  Without the drip irrigation system that runs in the body of the statute near the plants' root zones, the plants would languish in Atlanta's summer heat.

Massive cobras needed extra support in the Atlanta
Botanical Garden "Imaginary Worlds" exhibit

The exhibit seemed to draw visitors of all ages, but the statutes seemed to be especially enchanting with the youngest visitors.  Little girls felt like princesses next to the grazing unicorn and boys leaped over garden beds to get a closer look at the grumpy ogre.  A visit to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is a must for anyone driving through the city with youngsters this summer.

Of course, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens have more captivating features other than "Imaginary Worlds" that can be experienced throughout the year.  If it's been several years since your last visit, you'll want to experience the Kendeda Canopy Walk.  Since 2010, this is a very sturdy suspension bridge has allowed visitors to walk through the tree tops of Storza Woods.  It's fun to see the garden beds below from a birds eye view.

If the weather is a little cold or drizzly, the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory has many mature tropical specimens.  Grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia) creeps along the conservatory ceiling, and the roots stretch all the way down to the floor.  Live quail help control insect populations in the conservatory (watch your step for little chicks!).  Sounds of the birds and bugs come together to create a relaxing melody.

Other features include a children's garden, edible garden, conservation native bog garden, Japanese garden, and the list goes on.  Keep your eyes peeled for the Chihuly glass pieces in the gardens and visitor center.  Be sure to visit the MetroFresh cafe to relax, enjoy refreshments, and reflect on your visit.  The gift shop was also worth a visit, whether you're shopping or window shopping.

Other important considerations when planning your trip:

• Hours of operation:
• April - October, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
• November - March, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
• Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day
• Admission:
  

  

  Lady slipper orchids sit in ladies' slippers
  on stockinged trees in the "Orchid Daze"
  exhibit in the Fuqua Orchid Center
• Adults: $18.95
• Youth (3-12): $12.95
• Members and children under 3: Free
• Parking:
• 0 - 30 minutes: Free
• 31 - 60 minutes: $2
• Additional 30 minutes: $1
• Daily Maximum: $15
• Accessibility:
• Virtually the entire garden is accessible.  I did not note any areas that could not be reached by one way or another.
• Wheelchairs available at the Visitors Center on a first come first serve basis.
• Electric mobility scooters may be rented.
• Pets:
• Restricted to service animals only.
• Dogs are allowed for the annual "Reindog Parade" event.
• Atlanta Botanic's guide to Garden Etiquette is available for review.

Atlanta Botanic staff member Julie has a wonderful photo blog - Petal, Thought, Leaf - that catalogues her experiences in the garden.  I follow her, and you should too.  Special thanks to Julie for her brand of Southern hospitality and Morgan for her company!

To see more photos of my visit to the Atlanta Botanic Garden, check out my flickr stream.

If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

When is the last time that you visited a botanical garden exhibit?  What was your favorite feature?  

When is the last time that you visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden?  How was your experience?

"Earth Goddess" was my absolute fav mosaiculture piece in the Atlanta Botanical Garden "Imaginary Worlds" exhibit

There's plenty to see and do at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in any season

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, truly a horticultural treasure trove

Visitors explore Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

If you're anything like me, winter is the time of year you plan trips and garden excursions for the new year.  If your travels take you anywhere near Boylson, Massachusetts, be sure to stop by Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

Located just an hour outside of Boston, Tower Hill is the 132 acre home of the Westchester County Horticultural Society.  The botanic garden was founded by the Westchester County Horticultural Society in 1986 in order to meet the society's goal of serving as an "educational organization for the purpose of advancing the science and encouraging and improving the practice of horticulture."

Last summer I had the opportunity to visit Tower Hill as a part of the Perennial Plant Association's annual symposium.  Although we were a large group, walking the grounds was anything but claustrophobic.  It was refreshing to be able to take a leisurely stroll without bumping shoulders or feeling in the way of other visitors.

View of the Systematic Garden
from the Orangerie.

A few displays that I especially enjoyed were the Systematic Garden, the Secret Garden, and the Orangerie.  The Systematic Garden had a very formal, symmetrical design.  The plants are grouped not by size, color, or genus, but rather by evolutionary relationships.  There was an excellent vista near the center of the Systemic Garden.

The Secret Garden was actually located very close to the parking lot.  The tall trees and closely planted shrubs around the border made the area seem very secluded.  Although one would expect cool tones like grays, blues, and silvers to be prominent in a secretive area, the Secret Garden was splashed with chartreuse, magenta, and the bold foliage of red leaf bananas.  This seemed like the perfect spot to relax on one of the benches with a good book.

I've always felt something magical about conservatories, and the Orangerie was no different.  Large, lovely specimens of tropical plants crowded together, harmoniously soaking sunlight through glass walls.  A latin inscription was chiseled in the lintel above the Orangerie's doorway: "Si caelvm in terra sit haec id est laetittia aeterna."  My latin isn't what it used to be, so I used Google to find the translation.  According to another Tower Hill review, it means "If there be heaven on earth, this would be it.  Joy everlasting."

Turtle fountains grace the entrance to
the Orangerie at Tower Hill.

Other areas you shouldn't miss include the Inner Park, Wildlife Garden, Cottage and Vegetable Gardens.  There is a Farm School Youth Garden area, but the area didn't have much self-guided value at the time of my visit.  After romping around the garden, stop by Twig's Cafe (open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) to relax and reflect on your trip.

Other important considerations when planning your trip:

• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
• Admission:
• Adults $12
• Seniors $9
• Youth (6-18): $7
• Members and children under 6: Free
• Click HERE for $2 off regular admission.
• Accessibility:
• Limited to Stoddard Education and Visitor's Center, Lawn and Secret Gardens.
• Wheelchairs available at the Information Center.
• Special parking available on Allee Drive.
• Pets:
• Restricted to service animals only.
• Tower Hill's guide to Garden Etiquette is available for review.

To see more photos of my visit to Tower Hill Botanic Garden, check out my photobucket story.

If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

What was your experience when visiting Tower Hill Botanic Garden?  What features are important to you when planning horticultural excursions?

Fountain in the courtyard by the Stoddard Education and Visitor's Center and the Orangerie.

I strike a pose in the Systematic Garden at Tower Hill.