Stillwater botanical garden offers programs to educate green thumb

By Chris Jones

Published: June 12, 2008

Flowers and trees flourish in Oklahoma botanical gardens and arboretums, where changing exhibits and seasonal displays attract visitors year-round.

The Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum west of Stillwater is the location of "Oklahoma Gardening,” a gardening program broadcast weekly on OETA.

The headquarters garden for Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum features more than 1,000 species of herbaceous and woody plants on 95 acres. Display gardens include an abundance of annuals and perennials, water garden, rock garden, wildscape garden and Japanese tea garden.

The area includes several yearly theme gardens. Visitors who are looking for ideas during their tour of the gardens, trees and flowering shrubs will find they are labeled for easy identification.

Classes are offered throughout the year on the site. There is always a need for volunteers.

The gardens, at 3425 W Virginia in Stillwater, are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for drive-through access. Walkthrough access is offered only on weekends and evenings. There is no admission charge. Group tours are by appointment only.

For more information, call (405) 744-5404 or go online to www.hortla.okstate.edu.

The centennial phase of the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden in Tulsa was dedicated April 30. Two walking trails are open.

The $2.2 million development on 240 acres includes a seven-acre lake and will be developed into 15 major theme gardens, 60 specialty gardens, visitor center, interfaith chapel, 3,000-seat amphitheater, education complex, conservatory and three-story observation tower.

The plans include preservation of 180 acres to protect the ecosystem of the Cross Timbers, where the Eastern forest meets the Western prairie.

For more information about the areas that are open during development, call (918) 728-2707.

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