new toledo botanical garden highlightsmetroparks.blackswaninteractive.com/media/4891/park... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Please use this as a supplement to information provided on any Metroparks maps.
Messages for InterpretationTimeless layers of formal garden design blend with natural and cultural history to make Toledo Botanical Garden unique.• Eachvisitoffersanewexperienceasbeautyunfoldsthroughseasonallandscapes.
• Nativerestorationinitiativescomplimentthegardenandenhancebiodiversity.
• IdeasforhomeandyardcanbediscoveredatthisMetropark.
• TBG’sshistoryandvolunteerismresonatewith communityinvolvement.
What’s In A Name?Since 1989, this site has been Toledo Botanical Garden, reflectiveofitsgrowingsizeandmission.Itformerlyhadbeen both Crosby Gardens, and George P. Crosby Park, whichhonoredthemanwhodonatedtheoriginalprop-erty.HeisstillrecognizedtodaythroughCrosbyLakeaswellasCrosbyFestivaloftheArts--apopularannualeventwhoseproceedsgotosupportcommunitygardensthroughtheevent’ssponsor,ToledoGROWS.
Natural and Human HistoryTBGisamuseumofplants,offeringvisitorsdisplaygar-dens,plantandtreecollections,andnativeandrestoredareas.SometimesatTBG,nativeandcultivatedspeciesgrowsidebyside,whichmakesanexcellentlearningcomparison.Thegreatvarietyherealsocreatesastore-houseofideasforhomelandscaping.
ThesandandunderlyingclaycharacterizeTBGaspartoftheOakOpeningsRegion.OnepartofthisMetroparkfeaturingnativeplantsandwildlifeistherestoredHillStreamcorridoralongCrosbyLake.Indecadespast,twodamshadbeenbuiltonHillStreamtoformCrosbyLake.Recentrestorationremovedthedamsandaddedriffles,ledges, and rock structures to redirect the stream, reduce erosionandenhancefishhabitat.Nativeplantingsatthewater’sedgesalsoincreasehabitatforbirds,butterfliesand other wildlife.
TBG history begins in 1964, when George Crosby donated 20 acres of his former horse farm and stable totheCityofToledo.Crosbyhadplantedtheareawithover350individualtreesandhundredsofshrubsofmanyvarieties.Openingtothepublicin1968,theearlyyearsbroughtaninitiativeforenvironmentaleducation,andToledoPublicSchoolsbeganpurchasinglandnextdoorforavocationalandagriculturaleducationcenter.ThiswasthebeginningofwhattodayisTBG’sneighborandpartner,TheNaturalScienceandTechnologyCenter.
Toledo Botanical Garden Highlights
AsTBGbecameahubforartisticdesign,sculptureswereaddedtoenhancethebeauty.Oneoftheearliestis“OldWomanandBirds,”purchasedin1973withthehelpofTheArtsCommissionofGreaterToledowhocontinuetomaintainitthroughtheArtinPublicPlacesprogram.Sincethen,overadozenmoresculptureshavebeenincorporated.
Alsointheearly1970’s,asmallhousingsub-divisionwaspurchasedandbecametheoriginoftoday’sArtist’sVil-lage, where working art studios and galleries accommo-datepotters,glassblowers,photographersandpainters.Today one of these houses is also the headquarters for TheOhioStateUniversityCooperativeExtensionService,LucasCounty,whoadministersthepopularMasterGar-denerandOhioCertifiedVolunteerNaturalistprograms.
Old Woman with Birds statue
Virginia opossum (young)
Song sparrow
Daylily Walk
Hill ditch stream site
Baltimore oriole
ThePeterNavarreMemorialCabin,visibleneartheCon-ferenceCenterParkingLot,wasmovedtoTBGin1975.Itis not clear whether this cabin was built by Peter, his son, orevenafterNavarre’sdeath.BeforearrivingatTBG,ithadbeenmovedseveraltimesfromitsoriginallocationeast of Toledo.
TheMetroparkspartnershipwiththeToledoBotani-calGardenBoard,Inc.beganin2006,andin2017,TBGbecameaMetropark.Theincredibleworkofvolunteers,gardeninggroupsandstaffisreflectedininspireddesignsthatofferbeautyandpeacefulnesstothosevisitingthisuniquejewelnowpartofMetroparksToledo.
Pleasestayontrailsandinlawnareas,leaveyourpetsathome and your bicycles at the rack located in the front of theElmerDriveentrance.
Plant Life (* = State-listed as rare)Trees/shrubs include:Larch DouglasfirNorwayspruce DawnredwoodBaldcyprus YellowwoodCatalpa WeepingwillowAmericanhornbeam Paw-PawSumac RedbudAmericanhazelnut WitchhazelElderberry DogwoodAmericanelm SassafrasBlack walnut Green ash
SycamoreandLindenalleesinvitevisitorstostrollthroughtheshadeoftheiroverarchingbranches.
Plants include:Spottedjewelweed TallJoePyeweedDenseblazingstar ButterflymilkweedCommonmilkweed SwampmilkweedBracken fern Cinnamon fernSensitivefern RoyalfernBoneset IrisGoldenrodsp Astersp.Peony PopcorncassiaSedum Coral Bells (Heuchera)False corn hellebore Butterbur
Azalea,Rhododendron,RoseandDahliacollectionsbrighten their seasons with color.
TBG houses a nationally accredited Hosta Collection-- a ‘livingrepository’withmorethan500taxaondisplay,recognizedbythePlantCollectionsNetworkoftheAmericanPublicGardenAssociation.
Theaward-winning‘DaylilyWalk,’isacollectionofmorethan400cultivars,recognizedasaDisplayGardenoftheAmericanHemerocallisSocietyaswellasaHistoricDaylilyDisplayGardenofAHS.
Eastern screech owl Dense blazing star
American elm Tiger swallowtail
Wildlife (* = State-listed as rare)Mammals include:Easterncotton-tail EasternfoxsquirrelRedsquirrel GroundhogWhite-taileddeer MuskratRedfox StripedskunkVirginiaopossum Silver-hairedbat
Birds include:Cooper’shawk Red-tailedhawkEasternscreechowl Great-hornedowlBeltedkingfisher GreenheronGreat blue heron Canada gooseMallardduck SongsparrowAmericangoldfinch OrchardorioleBaltimoreoriole YellowwarblerAmericanrobin GraycatbirdCarolina wren Blue jay
Insectsinclude:Ebonyjewel-wing EasternamberwingWidowskimmer FireflyCommon bumblebee Honeybee Monarch Black swallowtail Tiger swallowtail Pearl crescentSilver-spottedskipper Peck’sskipper
Reptilesandamphibiansinclude:Americantoad AmericanbullfrogGreenfrog Easterngartersnake Northernbrownsnake (andmelanisticform)Easternhognosesnake SnappingturtleMidlandpaintedturtle