Earlier this year, a group of Lake Houston Gardeners took a stroll through the new Houston Botanic Gardens during it’s opening week. The 120-acre Hobby area site, built on the old Glennbrook golf course on a bend in the Sims Bayou, is a pleasant experience if you love plants and trees.
The Botanic garden is described as a “plant zoo”. It’s purpose is to showcase plants that can thrive in Houston’s semi-tropical region from around the globe, including Africa, Asia, South America and of course, plants that are native to our Gulf Coast.
Much of the garden is restored native Gulf Coast Prairie, and with careful tending and the removal of invasive, the golf greens are gradually returning to a more natural state.
The rest of the gardens are divided into a family picnic section, a culinary garden, and a global collection. The family discovery section features a pond surrounded by wetland vegetation. A board walk winds around and through the pond, so visitors can admire the butterflies and dragonflies that hover above the water, and the turtles that sun on the lilypads. A shady play area includes a splash pad and giant water features (fun for grownups, too). The section is surrounded by small gardens planted with different kinds of flowers in each of the colors of the rainbow.
A smorgasbord of edible plants ranging from Asian vegetables to tomatoes, herbs, grapefruits, and olives are on display in the Culinary gardens to provide a link between nature and what humans make from it.
The global garden collection is divided into three sections – the tropical, subtropical, and arid regions. Each section includes plants from around the globe including the Mediteranean region, Africa, South America and East Asia. One can wander from a bamboo glade to a saguaro cactus desert by walking along a few winding paths.
The HBG is a private company funded by donations from Houston and many others that reads like a “Who’s Who” of Houston’s monied families and corporations, and many small donors. The organization raised $35 million to complete Phase 1 which is now open. The entire master plan is expected to roll out over the next 30 years.
Our little group of Lake Houston Gardeners agreed that HBG is a wonderful addition to Houston’s expanding list of attractions. The main building includes a nice little gift shop and will have a cafe some day with shaded outdoor tables under cooling fans near the entrance fountain. A long covered walkway made of limestone has hundreds of little mini gardens growing from the wall. The gates are constructed of heavy elaborate ironworks that must take a hefty motor to open and close.
Only time, however, will really make the gardens a truly spectacular experience, as the plantings fill in, the trees grow and the prairie/golf course returns to it’s natural state.
6 Responses
You ladies had a great day. You also took beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, you all had a beautiful day!
Anne,
Thanks so much for this super presentation. The photos turned out well! The text really tells what an amazing place this is. It was a great trip and I’m glad we got to go. I look forward to more of these.
Sorry we didn’t get a picture of you
Enjoyed the photos. Glad you had such a great time.
Thanks for the memories, Anne. It was a lovely Fay indeed!