Type Botanical Phone +1 608-752-3885 | Area 8 ha Opened 1989 | |
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Location Janesville, Wisconsin, United States Owned by non-profit organization Address 1455 Palmer Dr, Janesville, WI 53545, USA Similar Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Lincoln‑Tallman House, Janesville Country Club, Hedberg Public Library, Rock County Historical Profiles | ||
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.
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Holiday light show 2010 at rotary botanical gardens in janesville wi
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. 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 is a self-sustaining non-profit organization. With over 100,000 visitors annually, it is the most frequented tourist destination in Rock County. It is also a popular site for weddings and receptions.
History
Rotary Botanical Gardens was established in 1988 by Janesville Rotary Clubs on the grounds of a defunct sand and gravel quarry. 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. A horticultural center was added in 2002 that contains meeting rooms, classrooms, and a gift shop and an addition to the Rath Environmental Center was completed in 2005.