New Brunswick Botanical Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Brunswick Botanical GardenJardin botanique du Nouveau-Brunswick |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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The New Brunswick Botanical Garden
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| Location | Madawaska County, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Nearest city | Edmundston |
| Area | 7 hectares (17 acres) |
| Established | 1993 |
| Visitors | n/a (in 2009) |
| Governing body | New Brunswick Botanical Garden Society |
The New Brunswick Botanical Garden is a special park located in Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. It's in the Saint-Jacques area of the city. This amazing garden covers about 7 hectares (that's like 17 acres!) and sits right next to the Madawaska River.
It's home to more than 80,000 plants, making it the biggest arboretum (a place with many different kinds of trees) east of Montreal. The Botanical Garden usually opens in early May and stays open every day during the summer. Besides the garden, you can also find an old car museum on the same property. The Trans Canada Trail, a long path for walking and biking, also runs right by the park.
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History of the Garden
The New Brunswick Botanical Garden first opened its doors in June 1993. A few years later, it almost had to close because there wasn't enough money to keep it running. Luckily, leaders from the University of Moncton Campus in Edmundston (UMCE) stepped in to help. They took over managing the garden from 1997 to 2007, saving it from closing.
In 2006, the university decided not to continue managing the garden. So, in 2007, the City of Edmundston signed a deal to manage it for a year. However, the city later decided not to get directly involved. Instead, a group called the New Brunswick Botanical Garden Society took on the job. In 2008, these three groups signed a five-year agreement. This agreement helped make sure the garden would keep running and grow for a long time.
Why Botanical Gardens Are Important
The New Brunswick Botanical Garden, like many big botanical gardens, has an important purpose. This purpose is often called its "mission." The International Agenda for Botanical Gardens in Conservation helps define this mission. Here's what it means in simple terms:
- Protecting Plants: They work to stop the loss of different plant types and their unique features.
- Helping Nature: They focus on preventing damage to natural places around the world.
- Teaching People: They help people understand how valuable plants are and what dangers they face.
- Taking Action: They do practical things to help improve our natural environment.
- Using Resources Wisely: They encourage smart ways to use natural resources, so there's enough for us now and for future generations.
To achieve these goals, botanical gardens do many different activities. They also need to work with other groups, like schools, communities, and individuals. They can't do it all alone!
Exciting Garden Displays
The Botanical Garden has many cool areas to explore. Some of these displays change each year, offering something new to see. Here are some of the popular ones:
Butterflies of the World
This is a display you can always find in the main building. It features beautiful blue morpho butterflies. These amazing insects come from the warm, wet forests of South and Central America.
Tulips and Spring Flowers
In mid-May, the garden bursts with color! About 10,000 bulbs are planted, showing off forty different kinds of tulips and crocus flowers. They usually bloom from mid-May to mid-June, making the garden a vibrant place to visit in spring.
Mosaiculture Art
Mosaiculture is a special type of art that uses plants to create amazing pictures and sculptures. It's like painting with plants! This art form started a long time ago, in the 16th and 17th centuries. The word "mosaiculture" was first used in Lyon, France, in the 1860s.
At first, gardeners made simple shapes with plants. But over time, mosaiculture became much more detailed. Now, artists can create three-dimensional shapes like butterflies, vases, and birds using plants. The New Brunswick Botanical Garden has several fantastic examples of this art on display. Many cities around the world use mosaiculture to show off beautiful flowers and gardening skills.
Special Themed Gardens
The garden has several themed areas, each with its own unique plants and design.
Annuals Garden
This garden features plants that grow and bloom for just one season. They are grown right there in the garden's own plant nursery. You'll see many flower beds arranged in neat, balanced shapes, filled with hundreds of different plant types.
Rose Garden
The garden has a wonderful collection of rosebushes. These beautiful flowers bloom all summer long, filling the air with their sweet scent.
Alpine Garden
This area is designed to look like a mountain environment. It's home to many plants that grow in high, cold places around the world. The alpine garden is also where you'll find the starting point for one of the garden's main attractions: a lovely waterfall.
Perennial Garden
The perennial garden is full of plants that come back year after year. The arrangements here change throughout the seasons, always offering something new to see.
Shade Garden
Tall trees in this garden create a natural roof, letting just the right amount of light through. This helps plants that prefer shade or partial shade to grow well. Water flows through this garden before returning to the Madawaska River. In summer, aquatic plants and other perennials show off their best colors. In the fall, ornamental grasses add a fresh look. You might even spot many birds and ducks enjoying this peaceful spot.
Cold Climate Plants
This garden highlights plants that are special to the Maritime Region of Canada. They can survive in cold weather and acidic soil. These plants are especially interesting in the first few weeks of summer, but their shapes and textures keep them interesting all season.
Edible and Medicinal Garden
This garden features a variety of vegetables, fruit trees, and vines. You'll also find plants that are edible (meaning you can eat them) or have medicinal uses. Some experimental plants are grown here too!
Visiting the Garden
It's easy to get to the Botanical Gardens! Just take Exit 8 from New Brunswick Route 2, which is just east of the New Brunswick-Quebec border. The park is mostly friendly for wheelchairs, but some areas might be a bit tricky. If you need a wheelchair, you can reserve one on site.
Please remember that pets are not allowed inside the gardens. There are picnic tables near the front building if you want to eat, but eating is not allowed inside the garden displays. During busy times, there's a coffee shop in the admissions building. The gift shop also has some unique items you might like.
If you want to take formal photos, like wedding pictures, you can! Just make sure to arrange it with the staff beforehand. Guided tours are also available, but you need to book them in advance.
Right next to the Botanical Gardens, you'll find the Province of New Brunswick's antique automobile museum. It has a cool Bricklin SV-1 car and about two dozen other examples of early cars. The Trans Canada Trail also runs right by the park, perfect for a walk or bike ride!
