The Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) recently announced that its new Youth Education and Tropical Plant House will be dedicated and opened to the public on Fri., May 3, 2024, in honor of Jim Strickland, former Memphis mayor and long-time MBG board member.
Courtesy of Memphis Botanic Garden
Youth Education and Tropical Plant House
Since April 2023, the new 3,400 square foot, $2.6 million Youth Education and Tropical Plant House has been under construction, and will be the centerpiece of a new series of educational programming at MBG. It will also serve as an opportunity to show students firsthand the tropical plants they use in their daily lives including cacao and rubber trees. The ability for Mid-South students to experience tropical plants and environmental concepts including biodiversity, ethnobotany, and biocultural conservation can introduce new worlds and broaden horizons beyond the typical classroom environment.
Some of the features include a carefully curated selection of tropical plants from around the world, an indoor water feature, and an outdoor patio and classroom.
The opening of this glasshouse is the capstone project to our current 5-year strategic plan and our Rooted at Park and Cherry capital campaign,” says Michael D. Allen, executive director at Memphis Botanic Garden. “It was envisioned as a way to make our Garden more accessible all 12 months of the year to both students and guests, and it will be open during our regular operating hours. It was intentionally built parallel to Cherry Road so that as vehicles pass by — day or night — it is a highly visible expression of our mission.”
Dedication ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., Fri., May 3, as the Garden recognizes Jim Strickland, its long-time past board member and president, and former mayor of Memphis. "Jim has been a guiding force in the growth of the Garden for more than two decades,” says Allen. “First, while in private life as a member and later, president of our board of directors, continuing through his time in public service both as a City Council Member and as Mayor. This seems like a perfect way to acknowledge his contributions.”
The glasshouse will open immediately to the public at the completion of the dedication ceremonies and visitors are encouraged to explore the new facility at that time.
In conjunction with the opening weekend of the Youth Education and Tropical Plant House, MBG will host World of Plants Family Day on May 4, where families can take a trip around the world without leaving Memphis. Attendees will journey through the Garden to discover how different cultures use plants through a variety of hands-on activities, crafts, and learning stations.
Memphis Botanic Garden is dedicated to being an exemplary center for horticulture and environmental enrichment and strives to enhance lives by connecting people with nature, increasing awareness and appreciation of our environment.
To learn more about Memphis Botanic Garden and the upcoming dedication ceremony, visit membg.org/events/youth-education-and-tropical-plant-house-opening-day/.