JC Raulston Arboretum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JC Raulston Arboretum |
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| Type | Botanical garden |
| Location | 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Founder | James Chester Raulston |
| Operated by | North Carolina State University |
| Status | Open year round |
The JC Raulston Arboretum is a fantastic place to explore plants! It's a special kind of garden called an arboretum and botanical garden. It covers about 10 acres (that's like 7 football fields!) and is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. This amazing garden is managed by North Carolina State University. The best part? It's open every day, and you can visit for free!
Contents
Discovering the JC Raulston Arboretum
The JC Raulston Arboretum is a living museum of plants. It's a place where you can learn about plants from all over the world. Scientists and students also use it to study plants and find new ones that grow well in North Carolina.
How the Arboretum Started
The Arboretum was created in 1976. It was started by a very talented plant expert named James Chester Raulston. The garden is named after him to honor his hard work and vision. He wanted to create a place where people could see and learn about many different kinds of plants.
What Kinds of Plants Can You See?
This garden is home to an incredible collection of plants. There are over 6,000 different types of plants here! These plants come from more than 50 countries around the world. You can find everything from small flowers to tall trees.
Some of the main plant groups you'll see include:
- Maples (Acer)
- Buckeyes (Aesculus)
- Barberries (Berberis)
- Boxwoods (Buxus)
- Redbuds (Cercis)
- Conifers (trees like pines and spruces)
- Hollies (Ilex)
- Magnolias (Magnolia)
- Grapehollies (Mahonia)
- Heavenly Bamboos (Nandina)
- Oaks (Quercus)
- Silverbell family (Styracaceae)
- Viburnums (Viburnum)
- Wisterias (Wisteria)
Exploring the Main Gardens
The Arboretum has many different garden areas, each with its own special theme. Let's take a look at some of the most popular ones:
Annual Color Trials
This garden is like a testing ground for new flowers. Each year, over 700 different types of annuals (plants that live for one season) and tender perennials are grown here. Experts watch them to see how well they grow and bloom. It's an official testing site for All-America Selections (AAS).
Japanese Garden
Step into a peaceful Japanese Garden. This area features plants from Japan and has a calm, raked-stone Zen garden. You'll see beautiful plants like Japanese maples and special pine trees. It's a great place to relax and enjoy the quiet.
Klein-Pringle White Garden
This garden is inspired by a famous garden in England. It features only white-flowered plants and plants with gray, white, or silver leaves. It's amazing to see how many different shades and textures of white there can be!
Lath House
If you love shade-loving plants, the Lath House is for you. It's a special structure that provides shade, perfect for plants that don't like too much sun. You can find over 700 kinds of plants here, including unique varieties of hydrangeas and ferns.
Mixed Border
Imagine a very long and wide planting bed filled with all sorts of plants! The Mixed Border is over 300 feet long. It's packed with trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowers. It's designed to look beautiful throughout the year.
Model Gardens
These gardens are designed to give you ideas for your own yard. They show different ways to arrange plants and create beautiful spaces at home. It's like a living example book for gardening!
Paradise Garden
This garden is designed to delight all your senses. You can see colorful flowers, hear the sounds of nature, touch interesting leaves, smell fragrant blooms, and even taste some edible plants. It's a truly immersive experience.
Perennial Border
Even bigger than the Mixed Border, the Perennial Border is nearly 450 feet long! It has almost 1,000 plants. The colors in this garden are carefully planned, much like a painting, to create a stunning display.
Xeric Garden
The Xeric Garden is home to plants that don't need much water. These plants come from dry places like Mexico and the Southwestern United States. You'll see cool plants like Agave and different types of cacti. They are experts at saving water!
Winter Garden
Even in winter, the Arboretum has beauty to offer. The Winter Garden is designed to look its best during the colder months. You'll find plants with interesting bark, colorful berries, and flowers that bloom even when it's chilly.
