Memphis Botanic Garden

Memphis Botanic Garden
Map
Location750 Cherry Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
Coordinates35°06′39″N 89°55′03″W / 35.110830°N 89.917503°W / 35.110830; -89.917503
Area96 acres (39 ha)
Created1953 (1953)
Operated byCity of Memphis/
Memphis Botanic Garden Foundation
Open9am-6pm during Central Daylight Time and 9am-4:30pm during Central Standard Time (Winter)
StatusOpen all year
Public transit accessBus interchange MATA
Websitewww.memphisbotanicgarden.com

The Memphis Botanic Garden is a 96-acre (39 ha) botanical garden located in Audubon Park at 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, Tennessee.[1]

Memphis Botanic Garden is open to the public daily, where guests can take a stroll through various gardens on the grounds. There is also a garden for kids, called my Big Backyard,[2] which is very popular with Memphians and out of towners.

Memphis Botanic Garden hosts many community events each year, such as the Daffodil Dash Race, The Family Egg Hunt, and Mother's Day Jazz Brunch. The garden also offers a range of educational programs for youth and adults. Plant sales and a concert series are held throughout the year to benefit its educational and horticultural programs.

History

The gardens have gradually been established in Audubon Park from 1953 onwards, including the creation of an arboretum (1957) and magnolia garden (1958), as well as the movement of an existing rose garden to the area (1958).

The Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, housing the Garden's administrative offices, an auditorium and the Water Garden Room, was completed and dedicated in 1964.[3] The gardens were formally named the Memphis Botanic Garden in 1966.

Gardens

Today the garden contains 23 specialty gardens, including:

  • Tennessee Bicentennial Iris Garden - hundreds of varieties of bearded irises, plus other iris types from Louisiana, Japan, Siberia and Spuria.
  • Conifer Collection (1981) - including many dwarf conifer varieties.
  • Herb Garden (2011) - over 500 types of herbs.
  • Japanese Garden of Tranquility (1965, 1989) - designed by Dr. P. T. Tono, Tokyo; redesigned by Dr. Koichi Kawana.
  • Rose Garden - 75 rose varieties.
  • Sensory Garden (1989)
  • Anne Heard Stokes Butterfly Garden (1997)
  • Memphis Garden Club Water Garden

Honors

The Garden has several unique features and was recently certified as a Level 4 Arboretum, the highest designation, making it one of four in Tennessee.

In 2006, the Garden's Hosta Trail was recognized by the American Hosta Society as one of fifteen nationally certified trails in the U.S. and one of two certified trails in the South.

Charity

Charity Navigator has awarded the Memphis Botanic Garden as a Four-Star Charity making it in the top 14% of all non-profit organizations in the U.S. for financial management.

In 2006, the Memphis Botanic Garden became a Blue Star Memorial Garden in cooperation with the National Garden Clubs.

See also

  • Japanese-style bridge over Lake Biwa
    Japanese-style bridge over Lake Biwa
  • Fountain by the main entrance building
    Fountain by the main entrance building
  • Main building
    Main building
  • Tree House
    Tree House
  • Sunflower art piece by Elisha Gold
    Sunflower art piece by Elisha Gold
  • The "Guest House"
    The "Guest House"
  • Statue of a child made of vines
    Statue of a child made of vines

References

  1. ^ Gang, Christine Arpe (February 15, 2018). "A Guide to Winter Garden Wonders". Memphis Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Donahue, Michael (December 26, 2016). "No green thumb required for Memphis Botanic Garden job". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Spencer, Thomas S.; Russell, John J. (2005). Gardens Across America: The American Horticultural Society's Guide to American Public Gardens and Arboreta · Volume 1. Taylor Trade Publishing p. 376. ISBN 978-1-5897-9102-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)