Botanical Garden Guide

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY

Visitor Information

Botanical Gardens

Tours and Programming

Join and Get Involved

Guided tours and hands-on

Gardens at a Glance

2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14218 716.827.1584 www.buffalogardens.com

programming for individuals, schools, social and special needs groups are available by reservation

Membership

Designed by Lord & Burnham, premier designers of Victorian

Join today and become a part of our growing future! Annual

glass houses, this Victorian conservatory opened in 1900. The

memberships start at $30 and each level includes:

unique tri-domed glass, wood and steel design was based

• Guest passes

upon the famous Crystal Palace in Kew Gardens Palm House in

• Free admission to the Gardens

England. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a

Gift Shop

• Discounts on events, classes, trips and exhibits

national historic site, education center and tourist destination

Unique gifts, gardening items, jewelry, books, plants and more!

• 10% discount in the gift shop and the Great Plant Sale

full of exotic horticulture

Special Needs Visitors

treasures from around the

The indoor and outdoor gardens are fully handicap

world. Today, the Gardens is

accessible. Wheelchairs are available for visitor use on a

one of only two remaining Lord

first-come, first-served basis.

• Seasonal mailings and invitations to events • Reciprocal benefits to over 250 gardens and arboretums Check our website for current membership rates

Donate

& Burnham conservatories

Help make a difference with a donation that supports the

incorporated into a Fredrick Law

Gardens! Your generosity will help ensure that our historic

Olmsted-designed park.

conservatory and the thousands of botanical treasures that

FREE along the South Park Ring Road and in our parking lot.

Owner

and

General Admission

Management

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation, manages

Seasonal Flower Shows

help us grow, no matter what the season! Please call

(dates vary – check our website for current details)

all operations and maintains the

716.827.1584 ext. 203 for more information.

Amaryllis & Cymbidium Show – January / February

horticulture collection in this Erie

Spring Flower Show – Early Spring

County owned facility.

Coleus Show – May

Directions

Volunteering can be very rewarding and fun! Volunteers help the Gardens in the following areas; Horticulture, Tour Guide, Hands-on Docent, Gift Shop and Special Events. We will train you! Please call 716.827.1584 ext. 207 for more information.

Bonsai Show – Mid May

Open year round Monday – Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm (Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)

Parking

reside in it flourish for years to come. Gifts to the Gardens

Volunteer

Hours

only. Call 716.827.1584 ext. 291

From NYS Thruway (I-90):

Great Plant Sale – Mid May

Take Exit 55 (Rt. 219 and Ridge Road), exit at Ridge Road

Chrysanthemum Show – Late Fall

West “Lackawanna”, after 2 miles, turn right on South Park

Poinsettia Show – December

Avenue, turn left at first traffic light into South Park and the

Orchid Shows – Late February and Mid October

Gardens will be right in front of you.

Adults – $6.00 Seniors (55+) & Students (13+ with ID) – $5.00 Children (3–12) – $3.00 Members and children under 3 are free Show Admission prices vary.

Please check our website for updates www.buffalogardens.com (Admission rates are subject to change) For group rates of 20 or more, call 716.827.1584 ext. 200 Printed in USA

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Indoor Gardens

Outdoor Gardens

Palm Dome (House 1)

parties, showers, meetings and more. Call 716-827-1584 ext. 219

Desert House (House 4)

Front Entrance Garden

Standing at 67' tall, the Palm Dome

for rental information.

This collection of succulents features many varieties found in

(March through October)

Shrub/Perennial Garden

is full of magnificent palms and

Victorian Ivy & Herb House (House 9)

American deserts, including the giant cacti and agave plants.

Seasonal combinations of thousands of spring bulbs, annuals

(March through October)

Euphorbs and sansevierias found in the African deserts can

and tropical plants (depending on the season) greet visitors as

Planned by Olmsted as part of

also be seen. Highlights include varieties of lithops and a

they approach the main entrance.

the arboretum, it is now home

tropical fruit trees. As visitors

The largest public ivy collection in the world is featured in

enter, a globe introduces the

this house. Some of the 400-plus ivy cultivars are displayed

Gardens’ long-term renovation

throughout this exhibit among varieties of herbs and scented

Rose Garden

Fern House & Ancient Rainforest

(June through October)

annuals, shrubs and trees. Vignettes of masterfully selected

(Houses 2 and 3)

This garden contains rich and beautiful

combinations of foliage and flowering plants present ever

The centerpiece in this exhibit is a 30' waterfall surrounded by

colors of extra hardy and disease

changing vistas of color throughout the seasons.

banana trees. The pond is home to aquatic plants and koi fish of

A visitor favorite! This exhibit

resistant rose cultivars. You can take

all sizes. The large dinosaur topiaries forage among ferns and

Children’s Garden (Late May through October)

showcases a unique variety of

notes for a carefree home garden.

cycads, ancient survivors of plant evolution.

project with a theme “The Buffalo Meridian”. This theme will

geraniums. A delight to the senses, this exhibit highlights many

take visitors on a walking tour through the Gardens and around

water features, a vine covered gazebo and grotto.

the world. Guests will visit various locales and plant collections found along the Buffalo Meridian...a line circumnavigating the

Orchid House (House 8)

globe, connecting us to other people, places and plants.

Florida Everglades (House 12)

in bloom. Varieties include

different native habitats, plants and animal species. Learn the

cymbidiums, dendrobiums,

system of the world.

Panama Cloud Forest & Epiphyte Pavilion (House 11) This exhibit engages visitors to experience epiphytes the way they would live 200' above the rainforest floor. Exotic orchids, bromeliads and tillandsia varieties are incorporated into this natural exhibit.

Special Event House (House 10) This house is home to beautifully draped ivy and a collection of tropical plants. It is part of seasonal flower shows throughout the year and is available for weddings, special events, cocktail

herbs, a colorful butterfly garden and a cascading water

family Garden

feature highlight this hands-on garden. Soil exploration areas, Children’s Garden

cattleyas and other unusual species.

Victorian Ivy & Herb House

Begonia House (House 6)

House 9

Begonias are known for their colorful and unusually textured

Special Event House

leaves. No matter the time of year, all begonia varieties are

House 10

simply magnificent.

This garden is designed to stimulate the senses. Fragrant

Future home of the indoor

exotic orchids displayed when

This special immersion exhibit about the Everglades showcases importance of maintaining wetlands, the natural water filtration

to rare and unusual perennials,

unique collection of succulents from South Africa.

shrub / perennial garden

orchid House

Begonia House

House 8

encourage kids to explore gardening.

Tropical House

House 5

House 6 Men

a compost area, digging areas and hand operated water pumps

Desert House

Women

House 4

as botanical families. Most of the trees are from original plantings made

Highlights include Sensitive Plant, Yesterday-Today-andcommon and not so common flowering houseplants in this exhibit. The meticulous tropical Bonsai collection also calls this house home.

South Park was planned to be an arboretum with trees planted together

Changes based on time of year

Tropical House (House 5) Tomorrow Plant, Shrimp Plant and Pepperomia. There are many

South Park Arboretum

Florida Everglades Panama Cloud Forest & Epiphyte Pavilion

House 12

in 1894 – 1910. In 1915, when the nine Palm Dome

House 1

Fern House

hole golf course was added, trees were also added to divide

House 2 ancient Rainforest

House 11

House 3

rose garden

Gift Shop Admissions Front Entrance Garden

the fairways. When you drive, hike or jog the South Park Ring Road, you will enjoy all the Olmsted vistas including a small lake at the center and a surrounding meadow. The Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy continues its efforts to restore and preserve South Park and the Olmsted-designed park system in Buffalo.

Go to www.buffalogardens.com for more information.