Rotary Botanical Gardens is a non-profit 20-acre (81,000 m2) botanical garden located in Janesville, Wisconsin that is open to the public.
| Rotary Botanical Gardens | |
|---|---|
 Japanese Garden Arch Bridge | |
 | |
| Type | Botanical Garden |
| Location | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States |
| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Founder | Dr. Robert Yahr |
| Owned by | non-profit organization |
| Collections | Hosta, Daylily |
| Website | http://rotarybotanicalgardens.org/ |
Overview
editThe 20-acre site contains a number of themed gardens, including Japanese, Scottish, French formal, Italian, and English cottage gardens. The Japanese garden borders a pond that is spanned by a red Japanese-styled bridge.[1] A sunken garden is surrounded by limestone walls and perennial plantings. Its entrance is a Tudor-style stone arch that was once the entrance to the Parker Pen Company's world headquarters formerly located in Janesville.[1] There are also less formal gardens, such as a fern and moss garden, and shade, prairie, and woodland gardens.[2]
Rotary Botanical Gardens is a self-sustaining non-profit organization.[3] With over 100,000 visitors annually, it is the most frequented tourist destination in Rock County.[3] It is also a popular site for weddings and receptions.[3] The popular Holiday Light Show event started in 1996 and features over 1 million lights and has become a regional attraction.
History
edit
Rotary Botanical Gardens was established in 1988 by Janesville Rotary Clubs on the grounds of a defunct sand and gravel quarry.[4] Owned by the city, the site was filled with debris and equipment. The city leased the site to the Rotarians, who began a multi-year cleanup project. After tons of rubbish were removed, gardens, walkways, benches, and gazebos were added. A ramshackle building on the property was rehabilitated and turned into a visitors' and environmental center. In 2002, meeting rooms, classrooms, and a gift shop were added and an addition to the Rath Environmental Center was completed in 2005.[4][5]
Awards
edit- 2012 - First-place winner in category III of the All-America Selections (AAS) Landscape Design Contest[6]
- 2013 - First-place winner in category III of the All-America Selections (AAS) Landscape Design Contest[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Linda Brazill, "Rotary Gardens: A dialogue among flowers and cultures in Janesville", The Capital Times, Madison, WI, June 30-July 1, 2001, p. B1, cols. 1-3.
- ^ Rotary Botanical Gardens. Gardens
- ^ a b c Shelly Birkelo, "Rotary Botanical Gardens announces events to celebrate 25th year". Janesville Gazette, April 16, 2014. Accessed April 24,2014.
- ^ a b Rotary Botanical Gardens. Our History.
- ^ Kathleen Ostrander, "Fund-raising drive launched for gardens", Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, June 10, 2001. p. C3, cols. 5-6.
- ^ a b WIFR.com. "Rotary Botanical Gardens Wins Second Year of Landscape Design Contest".