Memphis Botanic Garden Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Memphis Botanic Garden

Location	750 Cherry Road Memphis, Tennessee 38117
Area	96 acres (39 ha)
Created	1953 (1953)
Operated by	City of Memphis/ Memphis Botanic Garden Foundation
Open	9am-6pm during Central Daylight Time and 9am-4:30pm during Central Standard Time (Winter)
Status	Open all year

The Memphis Botanic Garden is a large, beautiful botanical garden in Memphis, Tennessee. It covers about 96 acres and is located in Audubon Park.

This garden is open every day for visitors to explore. You can walk through many different types of gardens. There is even a special children's garden called "My Big Backyard." It's a very popular spot for families from Memphis and other places.

The Memphis Botanic Garden also hosts many fun events throughout the year. These include races, holiday egg hunts, and concerts. They also offer classes and workshops for both kids and adults. Plant sales and music shows help support the garden's learning programs.

History of the Garden
Exploring the Gardens
What Makes the Garden Special?
Images for kids
See also

History of the Garden

The Memphis Botanic Garden started growing in Audubon Park in 1953. Over the years, new sections were added. For example, an arboretum (a collection of trees) was created in 1957. A magnolia garden followed in 1958. An existing rose garden was also moved there in 1958.

In 1964, the Goldsmith Civic Garden Center was finished. This building holds the garden's offices, a meeting hall, and the Water Garden Room. The gardens were officially named the Memphis Botanic Garden in 1966.

Exploring the Gardens

Today, the Memphis Botanic Garden has 23 special gardens. Here are a few of them:

Tennessee Bicentennial Iris Garden - This garden has hundreds of different types of irises. You can see bearded irises, plus other kinds from Louisiana, Japan, and Siberia.
Conifer Collection (1981) - This area features many kinds of conifer trees. These are trees that usually stay green all year, like pine trees. Many of them are dwarf varieties, meaning they stay small.
Herb Garden (2011) - Here you'll find over 500 types of herbs. These are plants used for cooking, medicine, or their scent.
Japanese Garden of Tranquility (1965, 1989) - This peaceful garden was designed by experts from Tokyo, Japan. It was later redesigned by another Japanese expert.
Rose Garden - This garden shows off 75 different kinds of roses.
Sensory Garden (1989) - This garden is designed to engage all your senses. You can touch, smell, hear, and see different plants.
Anne Heard Stokes Butterfly Garden (1997) - This is a special place where you can watch beautiful butterflies fly around.
Memphis Garden Club Water Garden - This garden features lovely water elements like ponds and fountains.

What Makes the Garden Special?

The Memphis Botanic Garden has some very special features. It has been certified as a Level 4 Arboretum. This is the highest award for a tree collection. It means the garden has a very important and well-cared-for collection of trees. It's one of only four places in Tennessee with this honor.

In 2006, the garden's Hosta Trail was recognized by the American Hosta Society. It was named one of only fifteen certified trails in the U.S. and one of two in the Southern states.

The Memphis Botanic Garden is also known for being well-managed. Charity Navigator gave it a "Four Star Charity" award. This means it's in the top 14% of all non-profit groups in the U.S. for how well it handles its money.

In 2006, the garden became a Blue Star Memorial Garden. This was done with the help of the National Garden Clubs. These gardens honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.