Botanica

lor in the summer along with spectacular prairie wildflowers. In autumn, you’ll find asters, liriope, sedum, and more than 5,500 chrysanthemums amongst the backdrop of fall color from trees and shrubs. In winter, The Gardens feature 12,000 pansies, red-twig dogwood, witch hazel, and berried hollies. As the gardens have grown, so have the educational opportunities. The diversity of the garden display areas provides a rich horticultural and visual learning environment for all visitors. This diversity allows for a consistent growth in the number and variety of youth and continuing education opportunities offered to the community. In keeping with its mission to promote community development and provide cultural experiences in a pleasant garden setting, Botanica has a wide-array of special events throughout the year. Special events are designed to bring visitors to the Gardens for a variety of activities that involve the community in garden-centered events, that provide entertainment for members, and that encourage attendance. Attendance at these special events accounts for approximately one-fourth of the annual attendance at Botanica. Plans for continued cultivation include additional educational programming, enhanced special events, and plans for expansion of The Gardens, including consolidated administrative offices and new facilities with the opening of a new events center that opened in 2014, as well as the Chinese Garden of Friendship opened in Spring 2015. With ever-changing scenery, educational classes for young and old, and special events to entertain and amuse, we invite you to visit Botanica often and take advantage of all that the Gardens have to offer!