Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens Design Director wins RIASLA Award

All Aboard! The Holiday Express makes a stop at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens

First Annual Butterfly Pavilion scheduled for Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens

Parks Department Selects Gilbane/NBBJ Design-Build Team for New Botanical Gardens at Roger Williams Park

Botanical Gardens Design Director wins RIASLA Award

Providence, RI - Mary Ellen Flanagan, Design Director at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens, was recently honored with the American Society of Landscape Architect's (Rhode Island Chapter) 2002 Past Presidents' Award for the newly designed Asian Garden that adorns the exterior of the Botanical Gardens Greenhouse complex. The award, labeled Category 1 - Infrastructure, recognizes constructed and unconstructed, site-specific works of design and planning.

"The Asian Garden, completed this past October, is not only a space for respite, but also engages the visitor's senses, and serves as an educational tool," said Flanagan. "The plants within the garden are mostly of Asian origin, including Kempheri Azaleas, Japanese Maples, Japanese White Pine, Japanese Cherry Laurel, and many mature conifer specimens. A large naturalized pool with a divided waterfall serves as the terminus to the garden and wind engages the bamboo wind chimes," she added.

The Asian Garden is one of many design projects to come during what the Botanical Gardens staff refers to as the "meantime phase" of the $15 million conservatory and formal gardens project.

Ms. Flanagan was presented with the prestigious award at the ASLA's Holiday Party on December 12th at the Botanical Gardens Greenhouses. "We are very proud of Mary Ellen and all that she has accomplished since becoming Design Director this past summer," said Charles E. Carberry, Botanical Gardens Executive Director. "She, along with the greenhouse crew, designed and planted a first-class garden, one that will be cherished for years to come. We encourage all Rhode Islander's to visit the Botanical Gardens this spring and see the exciting changes we are making in preparation for our glass conservatories and welcome pavilion ground breakings."

Flanagan added that the Asian Garden will serve as the anchor to Roger Williams Park's history and future. "It is that proverbial "stake in the ground" that has propelled the Botanical Gardens on a course to create and expand the world of plants not only within the boundaries of Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens but within visitors hearts and minds," said Flanagan.

For more information on the Botanical Gardens project call now Monday through Friday (8:30am - 4:30pm).

All Aboard! The Holiday Express makes a stop at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens

Providence, RI - All Aboard! This holiday season, the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens Greenhouses are chugging full steam ahead with an all-new magical, miniature train exhibit and joyful poinsettia display. Extended Hours 10:00am - 8:00pm, December 14th through December 22nd only! Situated in a warm and inviting space, the beauty of the festive colors and the sounds of jingle bells will delight even the smallest of Santa's elves. Botanical Gardens staff and train hobbyist, Ralph Williams, have designed this unique garden and railroad setting. The Greenhouse holiday display will run from Saturday, November 30th through Sunday, January 5th. Exhibit hours are 10:00am - 3:00pm daily. (Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day).

While visiting the Botanical Gardens Holiday Express, Rhode Island School teachers are invited to treat students to an exciting visit with "Frosty the Snowman", a larger than life replica of the holiday season's number one fan. He'll sing a carol or two and inform students about the importance of protecting the environment. "Frosty" School Group reservations are required. To schedule a "Frosty" School Group tour, please call Shareen Zaki, Director of Education, at now ext. 291. Reservations are not required for the Holiday Express exhibit.

Admission to the Holiday Express is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children (ages 3-12) and under 3 free. All proceeds will help support the construction of the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens conservatories scheduled to break ground in spring 2003. Hot chocolate and other goodies will be available for purchase.

For more information or directions to the Holiday Express at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens Greenhouses, please call now (Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:30pm). There is no live operator on weekends. We encourage you to visit us online . This holiday season, enjoy the enchanting beauty at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens.

First Annual Butterfly Pavilion scheduled for Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens

Providence, RI - Have you seen "flowers" fly before? So butterflies are not actual flowers, but they certainly share the same beauty and will now share a new home at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens. This summer, you will be simply amazed at Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens' first annual Butterfly Pavilion: Flowers in Flight, August 31 - September 22. Take one last summer day trip to the Park to view hundreds of free flying native and exotic butterflies as they dance in the sunlight of a magnificent and tranquil garden paradise. The Butterfly Pavilion, to be held 9:00am - 4:00pm daily, will be housed in the Botanical Gardens Education Greenhouses.

While at the Butterfly Pavilion, learn about the lifecycle of a butterfly, species residing in New England (specifically in Rhode Island), how to design and install your very own butterfly garden, and much more! The Butterfly Society of Rhode Island docents will be on hand to offer tips and demonstrations. Also visit our newly renovated courtyard gardens and redesigned greenhouse displays (viewing included in the admission price). The beauty is endless!

The Butterfly Pavilion will also offer fun and interesting events for the entire family. Listed below are some of the many exciting activities planned:

August 31 - September 1: Kid's Weekend - Bring the kids to see this colorful exhibit and catch a free performance of the Roger Williams Park Zoobadours insect play. Face painting, games and other educational activities will take place all weekend!

September 21-22: Butterfly Lecture Series - With the expertise of the Butterfly Society of Rhode Island, take part in one of our many planned butterfly and butterfly garden lectures and workshops including "Butterflies Galore: Photo Tips and Drawing".

Senior Days: During the three-week event, designated special senior citizens weekends will offer area seniors a double park attraction treat. Visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo on the following weekends (Friday through Sunday): September 6-8, September 13-15, and September 20-22 and take a free roundtrip trolley ride to the Butterfly Pavilion. A special "Free Trolley Ride" coupon will be included in the Wild about Seniors Brochure available at the Zoo admission gate.

Admission to the Butterfly Pavilion is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children (3-12), Under 3 free. Cash and checks will be accepted only. All proceeds will benefit the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens (conservatories/visitor pavilion scheduled to open in 2004). Botanical Gardens Charter Membership applications will also be available.

Sponsored in part by Warwick Nurseries, include the Roger Williams Park Butterfly Pavilion in your late summer plans! Please note that regularly scheduled FREE Greenhouse Tours will not be offered during exhibit hours. For more information or directions to the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens Butterfly Pavilion: Flowers in Flight, please call now.

Parks Department Selects Gilbane/NBBJ Design-Build Team for New Botanical Gardens at Roger Williams Park

PROVIDENCE, RI. - The Providence Parks Department has selected the team of Gilbane Building Company of Providence and NBBJ Architects of Columbus, Ohio to design and build a Botanical Gardens complex at Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens will be the first of its kind here in Rhode Island and one of only a few in the Northeast. "The Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens will join an elite group of Botanical Gardens that are enjoying amazing growth as tourist attractions. The facility will help protect the horticultural integrity of historic Roger Williams Park and will provide visitors with an experience unlike any other in the Northeast," said Charles E. Carberry, Executive Director for the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens.

"We are excited about this project", states Bill Gilbane, Jr., executive vice president for Gilbane. "Our company's history with the park spans two centuries. Gilbane constructed the Museum of Natural History in 1895, the Casino building in 1897 and the Polar Bear exhibit in 1980." Gilbane and NBBJ are award-winning firms and have worked together on several projects nationwide.

The complex will be designed, built, and operated with water and energy conservation as essential ingredients. NBBJ plans a prestigious design that will feature botanical attractions and maximize revenue potential from gift and food sales. Its focal point will be a multi-level glass and steel conservatory comprised of 6 exhibits to include a Tropical Rain Forest, a Pacific Water Island Garden, the Palm House, a Bonsai Collection, an Orchid Collection and a Desert. State-of-the-art systems will be incorporated to maximize energy efficiency as well as reduce the operating and life cycle costs associated with the facility.

Nearly half of the funds required to build the $12 million complex have been raised. "This is an indication of the broad support and enthusiasm for this project from people throughout the community," said Nancy L. Derrig, Superintendent of Providence Parks.

Cited as a 2000 National Preservation Award recipient by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for an exemplary 15-year effort to restore beauty and vitality of one of America's premier historic urban parks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 435-acre Roger Williams Park attracts an estimated 3.5 million visitors per year and was recently awarded the 2001 "Centennial Medallion Award", presented by the American Society of Landscape Architects as a national landmark of outstanding landscape architecture. Often called the largest living classroom in Rhode Island, the park plays a key role in environmental and natural history education for the state's school children. The Jewel of Providence offers a broad range of experiences including an award-winning zoo, the Museum of Natural History and the Maribel Cormack Planetarium, the Temple of Music, the Casino, the Charles H. Smith Greenhouses, and the Carousel Village.