Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (450 acres) is a new world-class botanical garden at 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, North Carolina. The Garden is situated in a central N-S and E-W location in the Piedmont region of the Eastern United States. It is open daily (9 am to 5 pm) except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; an admission fee is charged for non-members.
Climatically, it is in the Humid Subtropical Zone of the southeastern United States, in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b.
Contents |
[edit] History
The garden dates back to 1989 when Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive, set aside the property and established a foundation to develop the Garden. In 1995 site work began, and the first gardens opened to the public in 1999. A series of gardens have since been added, with Geoffrey Rausch as landscape architect. Mr. Stowe passed away in 2006. The 8,000 square foot Orchid Conservatory opened in 2008 and was the most recent step completed as part of the Garden's 40-year master plan for development. This conservatory was the initial dream of Mr. Stowe to have on his property as part of his vision for a botanical garden.
[edit] Mission Statement
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is established to inspire all who enter to become partners with nature, by preserving and perpetuating a nurturing environment for horticultural excellence, aesthetic enjoyment, educational opportunity, research and appreciation of the botanical and agricultural heritage of this region.
[edit] The Garden Today
At present the Garden contains the following features:
- A Visitor's Pavilion with historic stained-glass dome, Garden Shop, classrooms and Great Hall.
- Ten outdoor gardens (110 acres total): Canal Garden, Cottage Garden, Conifer Garden, Four Seasons Garden, Perennial Gardens (Scroll, Ribbon and Serpentine Gardens), and West Gardens (West Color Walk, Willow Maze and the White Garden).
- Orchid Conservatory (8000 sq.ft) featuring orchids in surroundings of tropical plants from a variety of habitats. Fourteen themed beds are situated in the neoclassical open-air glasshouse, most notable is the Art Colonnade, Cascade Wall, Miniature Orchid Case and the Tropical Canvas.
- Twelve fountains, and an indoor cascading water-wall in the Conservatory.
- Woodland trail that is reminiscent of the path the royal French plant explorer Andre Michaux made when he crossed the property in the late 18th Century.
- Permanent and rotating art in the outdoor gardens and in the Conservatory.
[edit] Specialty Events
Seasonal events that showcase the Garden includes:
- Orchid Spectacular each winter in the Conservatory and Visitor's Pavilion.
- Spring Plant Sale.
- Fourth of July Celebration, with concerts and fireworks.
- Live Butterfly Experience each autumn within the Conservatory.
- Fall Family Festival celebrating the harvest season with plant-based activities in the Garden.
- Holiday Lights, in which nearly 500,000 lights illuminate the gardens at dusk from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve.
