Rotary Botanical Gardens is a non-profit botanical garden located at 1455 Palmer Drive in Janesville, Wisconsin, that is open to the public.
Overview The 20-acre site contains a number of themed gardens, including Japanese, Scottish, Rose, Italian, and English cottage gardens. The Japanese garden borders a pond that is spanned by a red Japanese-styled bridge.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. 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. There are also less formal gardens, such as a fern and moss garden, and shade, prairie, and woodland gardens.Rotary Botanical Gardens. Gardens
Rotary Botanical Gardens is a self-sustaining non-profit organization. With over 100,000 visitors annually, it is the most frequented tourist destination in Rock County.Shelly Birkelo, "Rotary Botanical Gardens announces events to celebrate 25th year". Janesville Gazette, April 16, 2014. Accessed April 24,2014. It is also a popular site for weddings and receptions. The popular Holiday Light Show event started in 1996 and features over 1 million lights and has become a regional attraction.
History
Rotary Botanical Gardens was established in 1988 by Janesville Rotary Clubs on the grounds of a defunct sand and gravel quarry.Rotary Botanical Gardens. Our History. 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.Kathleen Ostrander, "Fund-raising drive launched for gardens", Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, June 10, 2001. p. C3, cols. 5-6.
Awards 2012 - First-place winner in category III of the All-America Selections (AAS) Landscape Design ContestWIFR.com. "Rotary Botanical Gardens Wins Second Year of Landscape Design Contest". 2013 - First-place winner in category III of the All-America Selections (AAS) Landscape Design Contest
See also List of botanical gardens and arboretums in Wisconsin
References
External links Rotary Botanical Gardens website Holiday Light Show website