To discover, observe and enjoy the wonders of our environment…For more than 25 years, the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden has grown to serve Owensboro, Daviess County, the tri-state region and Western Kentucky. Today we stand as the only dedicated botanical garden in the tri-state region. With an outstanding collection of plants, educational programming for youth and adults, entertaining events and meeting locations for all occasions, The Garden has become a center for horticultural excellence in our region. Not only does The Garden provide essential “quality of life” benefits to our community, it serves as an important tourism driver for the economy. This campaign reflects the opportunity for our community to create a center of excellence right here in our own backyard. Success means leaving a mark for future generations to enjoy and learn from our great teacher, Mother Nature. Expanding the facilities and gardens themselves mean sustainability for The Garden - both financially and through its programs.
Thank you for taking the time to help us explore this unique opportunity.
-Paul Puckett, Board Chair
-Laurna Strehl, Executive Director
The projected cost of the Pathway to Growth is $2.5 million. This will allow the project to be completed in three phases over a five year time period. The funds needed for this plan will be secured through private and business donations from the community and from foundations through grant support.
WeatherBerry Welcome Center.
$800,000
Purchase, modify, and maintain WeatherBerry for ADA compliance and to use as a new, innovative, Welcome Center. This includes a new parking lot and improved drive pathways.
- Restore and maintain the building
- Renovate (with ADA compliance) to serve as Welcome Center
- Construct a new parking lot
- Expand and improve existing road structures to meet the requirements of Planning
and Zoning. - Build new and integrate existing pathways
Garden Expansion.
$900,000
Hire a landscape designer to plan and implement the expansion and integration of new gardens, utilizing a design focused on the way people use The Garden. Create green spaces that promote interaction. including visitor features across the new eight acres of land, in addition to reserves for ongoing maintenance.
- Landscape designer
- New plants, propagules, & cultivars
- New land and hardscaping
- Reserves for maintenance & upkeep
The Pavilion.
$800,000
Build a pavilion, which, along with WeatherBerry, will provide more educational and event space. The added garden space will provide more features to encourage more visitors and tourists.
- Add educational spaces
- Build new event space
- Ensure ongoing maintenance and operation
Progress on our Pathway to Growth.To include summary of campaign thus far...
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We have multiple avenues for naming included in our Pathway to Growth. These include The Pavilion and several opportunities in the Weaterberry Welcome Center and The Garden's grounds. Click below to see all the details.
You can also download and share the form below.
You can also download and share the form below.
Pavilion
$500,000.00
weatherberry
Opportunity |
Donation |
Great Room |
$200,000.00 |
Front Porch |
$100,000.00 |
Grand Hallway |
$75,000.00 |
Back Porch |
$50,000.00 |
Conference Room |
$25,000.00 |
Front Porch Rocking Chair |
$5,000.00 |
Gardens
Opportunity |
Donation |
Landscaped Area |
$ 50,000 |
Bench placed in The Garden |
$5,000.00 |
Dr. Tyler with his daylilies.
In 1993 a Master Gardener’s class in Daviess County, Kentucky dreamed of creating a botanical garden. Pursing this dream Dr. and Mrs. William Tyler donated approximately 8.5 acres to the City of Owensboro for the start of the garden and the 501(c)(3) organization was born and named the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. A few years later another acre was purchased to create a separate entrance to the Garden.
Under the guidance of the Board of Directors and many local horticultural professionals and enthusiasts, The Garden has become a center for the growth and display of hundreds of outstanding plant selections as well as a beautiful location for social gatherings, weddings, receptions and meetings. Special events, educational tours, and classes are provided for all ages and a library reference center serves the community with information on plant life. The Garden demonstrates practical solutions to the gardening problems of our region.
Educational programs have been developed for seniors, area schools and groups such as the Girl Scouts, homeschool kids, preschool kids, etc. Botanical, horticultural, and environmental information is offered through our newsletter, library, special events and classes.
An 1890s Country Doctor’s Office was moved to The Garden in 2006 and is located in the Fruit and Berry Garden. This building is being preserved for displays to show the use of herbal medicines at the time the building was in use during the late 1890s and early 1900s. In late 2020, The Garden purchased WeatherBerry, a historic home built in 1840, and the adjoining 4 acres.
Starting in March 2022, WeatherBerry will be home to The Garden's Welcome Center and will include a small gift shop.
The Garden has thirteen themed gardens including the Moonlite Children’s Garden sponsored by the Bosley family. The Bill and Marilyn Young Educational Classroom provides a space for educational opportunities. The Playhouse In The Garden in honor of Morton Holbrook is providing great fun for children at The Garden. Not only does The Garden provide essential "quality of life" benefits to our community, it serves as an important tourism driver for the economy.
Come visit and watch The Garden continue to grow.
Under the guidance of the Board of Directors and many local horticultural professionals and enthusiasts, The Garden has become a center for the growth and display of hundreds of outstanding plant selections as well as a beautiful location for social gatherings, weddings, receptions and meetings. Special events, educational tours, and classes are provided for all ages and a library reference center serves the community with information on plant life. The Garden demonstrates practical solutions to the gardening problems of our region.
Educational programs have been developed for seniors, area schools and groups such as the Girl Scouts, homeschool kids, preschool kids, etc. Botanical, horticultural, and environmental information is offered through our newsletter, library, special events and classes.
An 1890s Country Doctor’s Office was moved to The Garden in 2006 and is located in the Fruit and Berry Garden. This building is being preserved for displays to show the use of herbal medicines at the time the building was in use during the late 1890s and early 1900s. In late 2020, The Garden purchased WeatherBerry, a historic home built in 1840, and the adjoining 4 acres.
Starting in March 2022, WeatherBerry will be home to The Garden's Welcome Center and will include a small gift shop.
The Garden has thirteen themed gardens including the Moonlite Children’s Garden sponsored by the Bosley family. The Bill and Marilyn Young Educational Classroom provides a space for educational opportunities. The Playhouse In The Garden in honor of Morton Holbrook is providing great fun for children at The Garden. Not only does The Garden provide essential "quality of life" benefits to our community, it serves as an important tourism driver for the economy.
Come visit and watch The Garden continue to grow.