Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN INSPIRES PEOPLE TO VALUE PLANTS, GARDEN DESIGN AND THE NATURAL WORLD BY CULTIVATING PLANT COLLECTIONS OF THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU AND TEMPERATE REGIONS, CREATING DISPLAY GARDENS, CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CONSERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

HORTICULTURE: THE GARDEN IS A QUALIFIED CARETAKER FOR ABOUT 460 ACRES OF SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA'S LAND AND WATER. DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CREATE AND MAINTAIN THIS SPACE AS A HABITAT FOR NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA. IN ADDITION TO ONGOING CONSERVATION EFFORTS SUCH AS MITIGATING ACID MINE DRAINAGE AND REFORESTATION PROJECTS, THE GARDEN PROVIDES 65 ACRES OF CULTIVATED GARDENS AND WOODLANDS FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONNECT TO PLANTS. THROUGH THIS INNATE EXPERIENCE: YOUNG MINDS ARE ENGAGED, GARDENERS ARE INSPIRED, AND ALL VISITORS FIND A SENSE OF CALM.CENTRAL TO THE STORY OF THE GARDEN IS THE POOR CONDITION OF THE SITE UPON WHICH IT IS BEING BUILT. LEFT IN A DEPLORABLE STATE FOLLOWING COAL EXTRACTION THROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE LAND WAS UNFIT FOR MOST USES AND EVEN DANGEROUS IN SPOTS. FURTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY FLOODING OF THE MINES BENEATH THE SURFACE IN 2004, WHICH EXPOSED A SEVERE ACID MINE DRAINAGE PROBLEM THAT ALSO HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.GRADUALLY, THE LAND AND WATER ARE BEING RECLAIMED AND REPAIRED. ABANDONED MINE FEATURES, INVASIVE SPECIES AND POOR SITE CONDITIONS ARE BEING REPLACED BY EDUCATIONAL GARDENS, RECONSTRUCTED WOODLANDS WHICH FEATURE THE REGION'S NATIVE TREE SPECIES, AND LOVELY VIEWS.REFORESTATION EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT RE-ESTABLISHING WOODLAND HABITATS THAT WILL ONCE AGAIN SUPPORT DIVERSE BIRD AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND CREATE A SHADED SITE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CONNECT WITH NATURE THROUGH THE BOTANIC GARDEN. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE GARDEN IS PROVIDING LONG-TERM BENEFITS, INCLUDING CARBON CAPTURE, SUPERIOR SOIL CONSERVATION AND LASTING HABITAT IMPROVEMENT. IN 2021, THE GARDEN OPENED FIVE ACRES TO THE PUBLIC AS AN EXHIBIT GARDEN. CARBON CYCLE: AN EARTH ART EXHIBIT BY W. GARY SMITH IS CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AND TELLS THE STORY OF TRANSFORMATION AND REBIRTH, SYMBOLIZING THE HEALING AND EVOLUTION OF PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN FROM A COAL MINE SITE TO A PUBLIC GARDEN.

GUEST EXPERIENCE: THROUGH ITS FACILITIES, GARDENS AND WOODLANDS, AND PROGRAMS, PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN STRIVES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU REGION. THE GARDEN'S MISSION IS GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT CONNECTING WITH PLANTS IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT TO THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE.SINCE OPENING TO THE PUBLIC IN 2015, MORE THAN 200,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE VISITED TO EXPLORE, LEARN, OR CELEBRATE AT THE GARDEN. WITH RECENT EXPANSION OF FEATURES AND FACILITIES, DAILY VISITORS HAVE BEEN INCREASING. THE PANDEMIC CLOSED THE GARDEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING PART OF 2020. WHILE THE GARDEN WAS ABLE TO REOPEN IN JUNE 2020, LARGE GATHERINGS WERE CURTAILED THROUGH MUCH OF 2021, LIMITING PRIVATE RENTAL EVENTS BEING HELD. DESPITE THAT SETBACK, THE GARDEN, THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF REGIONAL GRANTMAKING ORGANIZATIONS AND LOYAL DONORS, WAS ABLE TO OPEN ITS NEW GARDEN OF THE FIVE SENSES. THIS INTERACTIVE AND WHIMSICAL GARDEN PROVIDES FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AN AREA TO EXPLORE AND CONNECT TO PLANTS THROUGH THEIR MAIN SENSES.DURING 2021, THE GARDEN OPENED ITS NEW WELCOME CENTER AND AUTO GARDEN. THIS 7,500-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY GREETS VISITORS ENTERING THE GARDENS AND WOODLANDS AND TRANSPORTS THEM TO A PLACE OF EXPLORATION, WONDER, AND LEARNING. THE WELCOME CENTER IS HOME TO THE WELCOME DESK, FORAGE & FINDS, CANOPY CAFE, PEIRCE EDUCATION ROOMS AND COURTYARD GARDEN, THE ZAPPALA WOODLAND ROOM AND ITS ART GALLERY, FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS YEAR-ROUND.

EDUCATION: WITH EDUCATION A CORNERSTONE OF ITS MISSION, PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN IS ABLE TO USE ITS RESTORATION OF FORMER COAL MINING LAND AS A LIVING LABORATORY FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN TO ENGAGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOP A CONSERVATION MINDSET. EXPOSURE TO NATURE IN A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH GUIDANCE OF MENTORS HELPS FOSTER CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. IN AN ERA OF INCREASED TIME SPENT INDOORS, CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH NATURE FOR THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH AND TO DEVELOP THE STEWARDSHIP BEHAVIORS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE AND JUST FUTURE. THE GARDEN CONDUCTS NATURE-BASED FIELD TRIPS FOR REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND ANTICIPATES STUDENTS RETURNING IN 2022 AS COVID RESTRICTIONS ALLOW. THE FIELD TRIPS INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE/ART AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) CAREER FIELDS INCLUDING THE INCLUDING SELDOM CONSIDERED ROLES IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PLANNING.