Rotary Botanical Gardens

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
TypeBotanical Garden
LocationJanesville, Wisconsin, United States
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Opened1989
FounderDr. Robert Yahr
Owned bynon-profit organization
CollectionsHosta, Daylily
Websitehttp://rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
2020 Holiday Light Show view of the Japanese Garden from the Observation Pier
Perennials flower in front of the Visitor Center in May 2021.
Rainbow themed Adirondack chairs overlook Kiwanis Pond.

Overview

The 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.

Pond and Japanese garden area, April 2011

History
French, Italian, and herb gardens

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

See also

References
  1. 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.
  2. Rotary Botanical Gardens. Gardens
  3. Shelly Birkelo, "Rotary Botanical Gardens announces events to celebrate 25th year". Janesville Gazette, April 16, 2014. Accessed April 24,2014.
  4. Rotary Botanical Gardens. Our History.
  5. Kathleen Ostrander, "Fund-raising drive launched for gardens", Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, June 10, 2001. p. C3, cols. 5-6.
  6. WIFR.com. "Rotary Botanical Gardens Wins Second Year of Landscape Design Contest".

42°41′02″N 89°00′59″W

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