Houston Botanic Garden

A first for the bayou city, Houston Botanic Garden features a diverse collection of plants with over 3,000 species, some never before seen in Houston. The collection gardens feature specimens from tropical, subtropical, and arid regions around the world, all interwoven throughout undulating topography and artful pathways. The 132-acre former golf course was transformed from a monoculture of lawn, sand traps, and mature trees to host a distinctly diverse landscape. Over the course of a year, the design and contracting team experimented with sacrificial cover crops and biological amendments to restructure the compacted, degraded soils. The rehabilitated existing soils were then partnered with blended horticultural soils in intricate profile ratios to support the expansive plant and tree palette. Partnering with local craftspeople, the contracting team delivered intricate detailing, utilizing materials in unprecedented ways. Ornate botanic-themed metalwork, custom thin shell vaults for shade, and hand-crafted ceramics, masonry, and woodwork, all fabricated locally, give the Garden a unique spirit of place.

The Houston Botanic Garden includes eight different facets, each of which serves an educational component: Global Collection Garden, Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden, Culinary Garden, Pine Grove, Community Garden, Woodland Glade, Stormwater Wetlands, and Coastal Prairie. The Garden also features two-and-a-half miles of walking and hiking trails, a lagoon, and a nature play area for children.