Train GardenThe newest attraction within the Botanical Garden is the New Orleans Historic Train Garden. The Train Garden features buildings made entirely of botanical materials in a layout approximating the layout of the city itself. As visitors walk on a pathway representing the water surrounding New Orleans, they overlook over 1,300 feet of track carrying streetcars and trains like those that traveled the city in the late 1800s to early 1900s, at 1/22 of their actual size. The garden layout and its buildings were designed by nationally renowned designer Paul Busse. The structures are built to represent actual structures typical of our house types and are organized by neighborhood. Additionally, neighborhood stops along the walkway give brief insight into the history of the neighborhoods. The Train Garden is open during normal garden hours, but trains operate only on weekends and during select special events.
Vegetables, Herbs, and TrialsPLANO Demonstration Garden
At the Garden's far western end, the PLANO Demonstration Garden, a gift of the Professional Landmen's Association of New Orleans, consists of seasonal displays of vegetables surrounded by fruit trees, interplanted with beds of annuals, perennials, roses, and vines. The Vegetable Garden is used to showcase not only seasonal vegetable crops, but also fruit trees and other edible crops.
Friendship GardenThe Friendship Garden is maintained by the garden's volunteers and is named to honor the kinship these volunteers feel toward each other. This area is used for seasonal color displays.
The Cold Frames Plant Trials
Although they date from the time of the WPA, the cold frames were not originally intended to be part of the garden. This area was used to grow bedding plants to be planted out in the garden and throughout the park. Each plant was grown in a small terra-cotta pot in the brick cold frames, covered by large glass panes, and eventually transplanted throughout the park.
The Herb Gardens
Aromatic Garden: The aromatic garden contains numerous plants grown for the fragrance imparted by their leaves or flowers. Because the intensity of the fragrance depends heavily on meteorological conditions, the time of day, or season, the experience can vary greatly with each visit.
Medicinal Garden: A representaive sample of plants used to treat various ailments is planted below a impressive Ginko biloba just behind the Lath House.
Kitchen Garden: The Kitchen Herb Garden is located just outside the kitchen at the rear of the Garden Study Center. This garden features both common herbs and some relatively unknown varieties along with a selection of edible ornamentals. |
Surrounding the Friendship garden are two small greenhouses, nicknamed the dungeons, and stovehouse- the park's old propagation greenhouse. These structures, built by the WPA, are now home to the Garden's cactus and succulent collection. A rock garden is planted at the entrance to the stovehouse.Back / Next / End the Tour
