The North Carolina Botanical Garden

The abundance of public garden and garden walks in North Carolina clearly pictures out how the State treasures its world of flora. Here are some of the most recommended places for people who possess green thumb.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden has been referred as the leader in native plant conservation and education in the southeastern United States for a thirty year period. It is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been garnering tumultuous awards from different organizations and societies for their mission to conserve and preserve the environment. Among these awards include the Preservation Award (2008 - 2009) for the restoration of the Battle Park Forest, North Carolina Sustainability Award (2004) for the Conservation Garden and Visitor Education Center, Pearson Stewart Appearance Award (1996), Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition Award (2002-2003) and a lot more.

The Garden has acquired the following major units. First is the Coker Arboretum, located in the heart of the University of North Carolina campus and is one of the oldest tracts in the Garden and has often referred as an asset to the intellectual climate of the campus. This section owns the first scientific collection of plants south of the Potomac River. It is home to a number of native vines including wisteria, Carolina jessamine, coral honeysuckle and cross vine. This section has been part of the garden since 1982.

Second is the Mason Farm Biological Reserve can be accessed only for those who have permits since research projects are always being performed in the area. Visitors can still obtain permits for free at the Totten Center. The area has been an avid supporter for nature conservation and protection, academic research and public education. Visitors will also find the place a perfect area for relaxation and contemplation.   Housed inside the 900-acre area are more than 800 species of plants and a number of species of animals which range from birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and a lot more. The MFBR has been part of the garden since 1984. The Battle Park comprises the third major area in the garden. It became part of the garden in 2004 via the request of Chancellor James Moeser of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This wooded tract located in the east side of the campus is also home to the Forest Theatre, a stone amphitheater which was constructed in 1916 to celebrate the tercentenary of Shakespeare's death and has been a site for performances by the UNC-based Playmakers Repertory Company. The Battle Park consists of forest that served as the European settlement in 1700s and was named after the former UNC president Kemp Plummer Battle who spent much of his time within the forest for contemplation.

last in major gardens list is the University of North Carolina Herbarium which has been part of the garden in 2000. The herbarium consists of 750,000 specimens which has been used by students, botanists and taxonomists. For starters, herbarium is a museum collection of planet speciments for research purposes. Some of the research being conducted in the herbarium includes studies on weed, poisonous plants, hay fever plants, wildflowers and trees and the distribution of endangered plants.

Other notable botanical gardens in North Carolina are Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, Botanical Gardens at Asheville, Campus Arboretum of Haywood Community College in Clyde, Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville, Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park in Salisbury, Sandhills Horticultural Gardens in Pinehurst and Tryon Palace Gardens in New Bern.