HOUSTON — Houston Botanic Garden, the city’s new living museum for plants, has opened to the public after transforming the former Glenbrook municipal golf course into a tranquil, ecologically focused destination.
Located near the intersection of Loop 610 and the Gulf Freeway, just a short drive from Hobby Airport, the 132-acre site makes extensive use of the property’s original waterways. Nearly half of the garden sits on an island framed by a bend of Sims Bayou on three sides and by the Sims channel to the south.
The layout and programming emphasize plant conservation, public education, and hands-on discovery. Highlights of the garden include:
- Global Collection Garden: Three acres divided into regionally themed zones that showcase the wide variety of plants that thrive in Houston’s warm, humid climate. These plantings offer inspiration for gardeners and illustrate global plant diversity adapted to local conditions.
- Culinary Garden: An artistic and informative display of edible and medicinal plants that have shaped culinary traditions and cultural exchange through history. Many of the species are practical choices that visitors can cultivate in their own yards.
- Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden: A sensory-rich area designed for families, featuring a boardwalk maze around a lagoon, simple water-powered devices, and nature play structures crafted from trees that once grew on the property. The space encourages children and adults to explore ecological processes through play.
- Woodland Glade: An intimate, open-air setting beneath a mature tree canopy, accented by magnolias and sculpted hedges. The Woodland Glade is available for private rental beginning later in the fall and offers a picturesque backdrop for weddings and celebrations.
Developed in collaboration with West 8, an internationally recognized landscape design firm, the Garden integrates thoughtful design with educational programming to enrich lives through discovery, plant conservation, and a deeper connection to the natural environment.
The Garden’s entrance drive, One Botanic Lane, is at 8210 Park Place Blvd. The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekday admission (Monday–Thursday) is $12.50 for adults and $8 for students and children ages 3 and older. Weekend admission (Friday–Sunday) is $15 for adults and $10 for students and children ages 3 and older.
Sept. 21, 2020 Realty News Report. Copyright 2020.
File: Houston Botanic Garden Opens
Photo credit: Michael Tims
Nearby CRE transaction.
