The Botanical Garden in Santa Fe nestles at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It’s part of Museum Hill, the wonderful ensemble of art and history collected in the various museums that reside there.
In the desert, flowers are hardy. They need to withstand searing sun and temperature drops of twenty to thirty degrees overnight. And in Santa Fe, they must like life at 7200 feet.
The combination of plants and animal sculptures is a natural, especially in this setting. “Gardens Gone Wild” by Dan Ostermiller is the 7th exhibition presented by the Botanical Garden on Museum Hill since opening in July 2013.
“Gardens Gone Wild” sculpture by Dan Ostermiller, Botanical Garden in Santa Fe at Museum Hill
There are numerous gardens within the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens. The garden is actually a collection of orchards, meadows, art and a meeting place aptly named The Gathering Place. Here artists and community groups congregate to share this very special outdoor space.
The Gathering Place, Botanical Garden in Santa Fe
Mosaic designed by W. Gary Smith in The Gathering Place at Botanical Garden in Santa Fe
An artist at “work” in The Gathering Place, Santa Fe Botanical Garden
A bright red bridge leads from the Orchard Gardens to The Gathering Place:
The bright red bridge in the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens leads to the Gathering Place
Yoga, Tai Chi, harvest dinners, plant sales and other events make this a natural hub of activity. And picnic concerts fill The Gathering Place with wine and song in the summer. Maybe a few margaritas too!
One exhibit in the garden showcases plants related to the rich tradition of fibers and weaving; herbs for healing; wood for carving; and crops. The combination of education and inspiration, outdoors, creates a wonderful environment for education as well as celebration.
This rare natural Cienega, or “marsh” in Spanish, is also open to the public. It is located on the I-25 frontage road, adjacent to El Rancho de las Golondrinas in La Cienega. Check with the Botanical Garden in Santa Fe for more detail.
If You Visit the Botanical Garden in Santa Fe:
Summer is obviously the most desirable time to visit, but there are events going on all year long. If you decide to join the Botanical Gardens membership offers discounts; borrowing privileges at the 2,000 volume Terence S. Tarr Botanical and Horticultural Library which is part of the Botanical Gardens in Santa Fe; and reciprocal admission at over 300 botanical gardens across the country. If you’re thinking about adding botanical gardens to your touring agenda, this is well worth doing.
The garden is also available for rental.
Contact them directly at www.SantaFeBotanicalGarden.org.
More Reading on Santa Fe and Environs:
Four Museums and a Garden: Visiting Museum Hill in Santa Fe
Winter in a Santa Fe Casita
Santa Fe via Las Vegas, N.M.
Photo Mission: Cold
Photo Mission: Winter at Taos Pueblo
The Art, Culture and Beauty of Santa Fe, N.M.
Ojo Caliente, Wind Chimes and Waters
The Zen of Upaya
Winter Zen in Santa Fe: Upaya and Ojo Caliente
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The Botanical Garden in Santa Fe
Botanical Garden, Santa Fe, NM
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