INSPIRATION
WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
A Natural Beauty
T
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden got its start in 1987 thanks to the vision of a small
group of local gardeners, botanists and environmentally oriented citizens want-
ing to establish a botanical garden in Santa Fe.
Described as an “outdoor living room,” the Garden has been inspiring visitors for
over 30 years. As the Albuquerque Journal says, “everyone can connect with nature,
marvel at amazing plant varieties and benefit from a place for contemplation.
Visitors can relax under shading ramadas, discover a century-old red bridge and
explore the Art Trail, where changing exhibitions of sculpture encourage return
visits. With its many native and traditional plants, awe-inspiring stone and metal
work, and breathtaking vistas, the botanical garden is the essence of New Mexico.”
And, because one garden is never enough, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden features
two sites on more than 55 acres—the original Botanical Garden at Museum Hill
and the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve in La Cienega. The Botanical Garden at
Museum Hill is near the heart of downtown Santa Fe, while the Leonora Curtin
Wetland Preserve is 14 miles south. Both locations celebrate, cultivate and con-
serve the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of the region.
SPRING 2019
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