Children's Gardens


This page is offered as a public service without charge to any Children's Garden open to the public.

If you know of a garden I should include,
please send me an e-mail

or write Sharon Lovejoy 495 Buena Vista Avenue San Luis Obispo, CA 93405-2115

Gardens are listed alphabetically by state


Life Lab Garden Classroom

Santa Cruz, California

A two-acre model school garden learning center located at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)

University of California at Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, California95064
(831) 459-2001
www.lifelab.com
lifelab@lifelab.org

Atlanta Botanical Garden Children's Garden

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Botanical Garden

(404) 876-5859


Lloyd C. Erickson Park

Elwood, Illinois


The Children's Garden
Lloyd C. Erickson Park
Elwood, Illinois 60421
(815) 423-6112


Developed by Donna Banas, a local area, early childhood education professional in cooperation with the Village of Elwood, Elwood School District #203, Jackson Township


The Coyne Center Elementary School Milan, Illinois

The web site is quite extensive, with lots of pictures and information about how the teacher works the garden into the regular school curriculum.

http://cc.sherrard.us/tg/intro.html
Coyne Center Elementary
11310 16th Street
Milan, IL 61264
ph. (309) 787-1512
fax (309) 787-1538


The Morton Arboretum

Lisle, Illinois

 

The Morton Arboretum is opening a new, permanent Children's Garden, opening September 10, 2005, packed with adventures and activities that will
excite kids about nature. It's one of the largest of its kind in the country, with four acres of trees, shrubs, aquatic plants and exhibits.

For more information, visit our online media kit: http://mortonarb.org


The Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, Illinois 60532-1293
630-968-0074 phone
http://www.mortonarb.org



Weezie's Garden

Wellesley, Massachusetts

This whimsical children's garden opened with a gala celebration on Sunday, June 8, 2003. Designed by Julie Moir Messervy, the garden is designed as a series of small spiraling gardens, each with its own theme and different ways of engaging the senses. Located off the main path, each smaller spiral gives visitors the opportunity to plant, water or interact in some way with the garden's elements. Children's classes are held throughout the spring, summer and fall in this special garden. Weezie's Garden was recently named 2005's 'Favorite Outdoor Playspace' by The Boston Parents' Paper.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank
900 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
617-933-4900
http://www.masshort.org/


Leila Arboretum Children's Garden

Battle Creek, Michigan

The Children's Garden is  a one-acre site that through delightful, engaging guided programs or self-discovery, makes this connection real. Plant-related activities in this  safe, easily-accessible environment encourage kids to use all their senses to connect plants to the sciences, history, literature,  and the arts. The Garden's many Battle Creek and Michigan-themed  features are kid magnets!

Leila Arboretum Society
928 W. Michigan Ave.
Battle Creek, MI 49017
269)-969-0270 ext. 119
http://www.leilaarboretumsociety.org/

 


 

Michigan 4-H Children's Garden

East Lansing, Michigan


Michigan 4-H Children's Garden
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

A garden where plants, children and imaginations grow. Be sure to visit, in person and on-line, "the most creative half acre in America". Don't miss this special place for the young and the young at heart.


East Side Garden Corps Program
Community Design Center of Minnesota

St. Paul, Minnesota


Tamara Downs Schwei
Director
Community Design Center of Minnesota
731 E 7th St, Suite 100
St. Paul MN 55106
www.comdesignctrmn.org

info@comdesignctrmn.org
(651) 228-7073

Program information:
Since 1996, the Community Design Center has engaged youth from St. Paul's East Side in sustainable urban agriculture. We operate seven organic vegetable, herb, and flower gardens with a variety of partners hosting our gardens. Our gardens are located on state and city property, at a local nursing home, at a local restaurant, at two local churches, and at a private residence.

We use our gardens to teach young people basic job skills, help them make connections to career opportunities, teach them sustainable growing methods,
promote active involvement within their community, and explore healthy lifestyle and food choices.

 



Camden Children's Garden

Camden, New Jersey

(across the river from Philadelphia)


Camden City Garden Club
3 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103


Children's Fantasy Garden

Albuquerque, New Mexico


Albuquerque Biological Park's Rio Grande Botanic Garden
903 Tenth Street SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 764-6200 ph
(505) 764-6281 fax

Construction starts April 1998, and should take 18 months to complete. The garden is part of the Albuquerque Biological Park which includes the Albuquerque Aquarium and the Rio Grande Zoo.

The Friends of the Rio Grande Botanic Garden sell sponsor walkway bricks and tiles leading to the garden.


The Everett Children's Adventure Garden

Bronx, New York


The New York Botanical Garden
200th Street and Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 817-8700

This is a wonderful addition to the New York Botanical Garden. Full of hands-on activities, it is an internationally significant model in science education. Young people will learn about plant diversity, pollution, plant generated oxygen, solar energy, and medicinal plants. They will discover that science is fun and exciting and enjoy nature in a garden filled with adventure at every turn.


Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
http://bbg.org/
Read the history of the oldest children's garden in the U.S. http://www.bbg.org/edu/children/cg_history.html

Ithaca Children's Garden

Ithaca, New York

 

Ithaca Children's Garden
Tompkins County Cooperative Extension Education Center
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 044850
(607) 272-2292 phone
(607) 272-7088 fax
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/tompkins/ithacachildrensgarden/
ww.ithacachildrensgarden.org

Hershey Children's Garden

Cleveland, Ohio


Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 721-1600
info@cbgarden.org

June 1, 1998

Cleveland Botanical Garden broke ground today for Hershey Children's Garden, a $1.2 million project to be completed next spring. The 25,000 square foot addition to Cleveland Botanical Garden will give urban children the chance to experience the natural world first-hand. It will also enhance learning opportunities for all children and their families.

The garden is being funded primarily through grants from the Hershey Foundation and members of the Hershey family of Cleveland. It will serve as a model for educators who come to Cleveland Botanical Garden to learn about the installation and maintenance of gardens and green spaces on school grounds.

"The garden will be an interactive, playful outdoor world where kids can learn about the value of plants, gardening and the interconnectedness of nature, and we are proud and excited to be part of this worthwhile project," remarked Debbie Guren, Hershey family representative. The garden will include a treehouse, a cave, a bog, a pond, an orchard, a root viewing and activity garden, a scrounger garden, worm bins, playhouses, vegetable and flower gardens, and other attractions -- all designed to appeal to a child's sense of curiosity, imagination and fun.

The garden was designed by Herbert R. Schall and Joe McGrane of EDAW, Inc., Jeff Knopp of William Behnke Associates, Inc., and noted children's author and lecturer Sharon Lovejoy, with significant input from Botanical Garden staff and board members, local educators and Cleveland area children. "As a public institution and catalyst for community and educational initiatives, Cleveland Botanical Garden is striving to reach broad and diverse audiences and involve people of all ages in plant-related activities that can enhance their quality of life," said CGB Executive Director Brian E. Holley. Located in University Circle in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Botanical Garden is a non-profit public garden and center of horticulture education for the community.


Pinebrook Children's Garden Pinebrook Bible Conference and Retreat Center

Stroudburg, Pennsylvania

In close proximity to Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Pinebrook Children's Garden has been developed as a tribute to Laura Ziegler Cassel, a warm and full-of-life woman who loved nature, children, her family and God. The goal for the garden is to provide a place where children (and those young in heart) will visit frequently to enjoy the themes of the garden, have fun while learning  and be able to interact with garden displays.  One strength of the garden is the labelled identification of most of the plants and flowers.

On the property of Pinebrook Bible Conference (on Route 191, four miles north of Stroudsburg, PA), the Garden is at its optimum in the heart of the summer.  But visitors are welcome at other times of year as well.  There is no fee for visiting. 

Laura's sister Nell (Eleanor Z. Ruch) is the garden's caregiver.  She may be reached via cell phone 215-237-6877 or by emailing russandnell@juno.com.  She will provide a cost-free personalized tour for individuals or groups.  To see photos of the garden, go to www.fbfawana.org, then link to Pinebrook Children's Garden in the middle of the Home Page.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

Pinebrook Bible Conference and Retreat Center
PO Box 1
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 424-1212. 

Pinebrook is a year round ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church.


Bee-aMazed Children's Garden
Longwood Gardens

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Longwood Garden
Route 1, PO Box 501
Kennett Square PA 19348-0501
(610) 388-1000
http://longwoodgardens.com/

Visit the Bee-aMazed Children's Garden: http://longwoodgardens.com/WhatsNew/Renovations/BeeaMazedChildrensGarden.htm



Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
One Schenley Park (Frank Curto Drive)
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Pamela Reddy
Communications Coordinator
(412) 622-6915, ext. 6802
www.phipps.conservatory.org
phipps@phipps.pgh.pa.us

The Carolina Children's Garden

Columbia, South Carolina


Sand Hill Research Center and Education Center
Clemson University Extension Service
P.O. Box 23205
Columbia, South Carolina 29224
www.carolinachildrensgarden.org

The American Horticultural Society

George Washinton's River Farm

Alexandria, Virginia


American Horticultural Society
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308-1300
(703) 768-5700
(703) 768-8700 fax
E-mail: info@ahs.org

Designed to stimulate children's interest in gardens, these 10 examples include 3 designs: Beau Beau's garden, the Boat garden and the Zig-Zag garden. Beau Beau's garden was designed specifically to a child's scale, intentionally made to host children more comfortably than adults. The Boat garden design recalls the simple flat iron skiffs common on fishing grounds in the early 1800's. At one time these skiffs could be seen from River Farm sailing on the Potomac River.


Norfolk Botanical Garden

Norfolk, Virginia



(March 29, 2006)
After months of construction at the site of World of Wonders, tomorrow the Children's Garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden will really start to take root.  At 9:30 Thursday morning, the first trees will go into the ground, helping to grow the groundwork for what will become the largest children's garden on the East Coast.
 
Tomorrow's plantings will be in Plant Safari.  The first to go in the ground in the Children's Garden will be the Quercus bicolor, or Swamp White Oak.  Curators and gardeners will also plant Querius falcate, or Southern Red Oak, and Betalus nigra, or Riverbirch.  All of the trees to be planted tomorrow were generously donated by the City of Norfolk.  
 
To watch the landmark plantings at World of Wonders, to schedule a private tour, or for more information, contact Mariesa Woodring at (757) 441-5830 ext. 346 or mariesa.woodring@nbgs.org.
 
The mission of Norfolk Botanical Garden is to enrich life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and the environment through beautiful gardens and educational programs.  The garden is open to the public 365 days a year.  Visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org for photos, hours, special events and other information.
 
 


Waisman Center

University of Wisconsin Madison, WI

Discovery Garden: An Outdoor Learning Play Space at the Waisman Center University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/dg/


Discovery Garden is an outdoor learning environment for children that is affiliated with the Waisman Early Childhood Program (http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/ecfr.html).

Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53705-2280 
Telephone: (608) 263-5776 or (608) 263-5910 
TDD: (608) 263-0802 
FAX: (608) 263-0529

Gertrude B. Nielsen Children's Garden

Green Bay Botanical Garden, Inc.
P.O. Box 12644
Green Bay, WI 54307-2644

The Gertrude B. Nielsen Children's Garden is an interactive formal gardenat Green Bay Botanical Garden. Children are able to weave their way through a maze, slide down the slide from a treehouse, and look for tadpoles in our frog pond. They can also see what's growing in the Peter Rabbitt Garden, tell time by the sundial, or enjoy a story with a topiary rabbitt.

Green Bay Botanical Garden also offers a nationally recognized children's summer gardening program. In the summer-long program, children ages 5 through 14 plant and care for their own garden plot and participate in a variety of activities to engage their energy as they learn more about plants and nature.

For more information on either of these children's gardens, please feel free to contact the Director of Education, Matthew Cole, at mcole@gbbg.org, or visit their website at www.gbbg.org.


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