The New Orleans Botanical Garden is located within City Park and was the first classical garden open to the public. It opened in 1936 with the help of redevelopment funds alloted by the national WPA program to help boost the nation’s economy during the Great Depression. The botanical gardens were revamped in the 1980′s, and it now contains over 2,000 species of plants from around the world.
The entire botanical gardens are composed of many miniture gardens, each with their own identity, including a Butterfly Walk, Lord & Taylor Rose Garden, Demonstration Garden, and Exotic Foliage. Maps are available to guide you through the gardens, and “Dial to Discover” stations allow one to use a cell phone to dial in and learn about different areas. They also offer a Spring and Fall lecture series for those interested.
