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Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden

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Coordinates: 47°34′15″N 52°45′25″W / 47.57083°N 52.75694°W / 47.57083; -52.75694
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The Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden is operated by Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located on Mount Scio Road in the suburbs of St. John's, and was founded in 1971 under the supervision of Bernard Jackson. It became a not-for-profit organization in 1994. The current director is Dr. K. Wilf Nicholls, host of NTV's Homegrown. The garden and nature trails were developed to provide a place where people of all ages and depths of interest can learn about the plants and natural environment of Newfoundland. The park's emblem is the Twinflower (Linnaea borealis).

Site

The headquarters building is located on a 3-acre (12,000 m2) site on Mount Scio Road. The main garden area includes a greenhouse, an alpine house, which features all high latitude plants, rock gardens, peat gardens, a heritage garden and a coy pond full of fish. This is the main cultivated part of the Botanical Garden. However, along with being a botanical garden, The Garden is also a nature reserve. There are 3.5 km of trails surrounding the area which feature a Boreal Forest ecosystem with many natural wildflowers, including wild orchids. The trails are home to many different creatures, including a loyal group of ducks which come back every spring. It is also home to a variety of other birds including the belted kingfisher, black capped chickadees and even the occasional loon or osprey. Moose are also frequent in the trails along with great numbers of snowshoe hare and the ruffed grouse. In total, there 110 acres (0.45 km2) of the MUN Botanical Garden with many wonderful sites to see.

Butterflies

Plants producing nectar have been developed to maintain the two species of Swallowtail butterflies, three species of Whites and Sulphur butterflies, five species of Woodnymphs, ten species of Brush-footed butterflies, four Gossamer, and two Skipper species that are found within the park. Three known overwintering butterflies stay as adults during the winter in the Garden's man-made butterfly houses. The concept of the buttefly house was designed by The Garden's original director, Bernard Jackson, who currently resides in England. The three species are known as the Green Comma, the Mourning Cloak, and Milbert's Tortoiseshell. These butterflies are three of the very few butterflies that hibernate as adults during the winter.

The Friends of MUN Botanical Garden

Members of the Friends of the Garden (FOG) are individuals and families who support the botanical, horticultural and environmental objectives of the Memorial University Botanical Garden Inc.

With a membership of almost 500, some Friends volunteer their time and expertise in such activities as trail patrol, carpentry, maintaining the Wildlife Garden, growing plants for the popular plant sales, as well as a sponsoring special events.

Volunteers have assisted the Botanical Garden since its inception in 1971. The Friends officially formed in 1976 and became a charitable organization in 1977.

The Many Benefits of Membership:

When you become a member of FOG, you also receive the following benefits:

•Free entrance to MUN Botanical Garden and admission to lectures, demonstrations, Sunday Family Fun Day and the Parent and Tot Program •Reduced rates for Junior Naturalist Camps and some gardening, natural history and art workshops •Opportunity to purchase plants prior to FOG's public plant sales •10% discount on Garden Gift Shop items (some exceptions apply) •Quarterly subscription to the FOG newsletter, The Twinflower •Calendar of Events mail-outs •Access to "Members Only" events, programs, tours, lectures, etc.

To join the members of the Friends, please visit the Garden's website: www.mun.ca/botgarden

Staff

MUN Botanical Garden is run and held together by a small, yet strong staff along with the help from the Friends of the Garden. The Garden has a wonderful Visitor Services desk with friendly help and constant smiles. There is also a beautiful gift shop perfect for any occasion. Complete with children's toys, clothing, jewellery, and many ornamental objects. Along with grounds maintenace to maintain the many beautiful gardens, MUN Botanical Garden is well known for not only for its beauty but its education. The education staff is constantly preparing children's programs (along with adult programs) to educate children and adult's alike about the beautiful flora of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The beautiful flora and scenery of MUN Botanical Garden would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the gardeners that put all their time and effort into making the garden as beautiful as possible.

See also

List of botanical gardens in Canada

47°34′15″N 52°45′25″W / 47.57083°N 52.75694°W / 47.57083; -52.75694

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