The Myriad Botanical Gardens is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm. The history of the Myriad Botanical Gardens dates to 1964 when the Oklahoma City council hired I.M. Pei, a well-known architect, to revitalize the city’s downtown. Pei felt inspired by the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, so he drafted a plan for a magnificent garden. Six years later, a small portion of the gardens opened.
Later that year, the Oklahoma City council created the Myriad Development Task Force, which was a group of 19 people who oversaw planning, creating, and maintaining the gardens. Then, in 1975 the Oklahoma City purchased $900,000 worth of land for the Myriad Gardens. Six years later, the Myriad Development Task Force planned to create a conservatory, but didn’t have enough funds to do so.
So, the Myriad Gardens Foundation was created. Finally, by the late 1980s, the conservatory and Myriad Botanical Gardens was completed. Today, the current executive director of the gardens, Maureen Heffernan, and other employees of the garden continue to plan, create, and maintain the growing Myriad Botanical Gardens.
There are around ten main attractions at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. These attractions include; Sheridan Lawn and Wave Fountain, Meinders Gardens, Dog Release Area, Water Stage and Plaza Area, Thunder Fountain, The Children’s Garden, and Lake Pathways. There is not a lot of information available about the specifics of the attractions of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Thus, there is an added element of surprise and education when you visit the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory is one of the main attractions at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. This 13,000 square foot conservatory features various plants that live in the Tropical Wet Zone or the Tropical Dry Zone. The Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory has been praised and awarded for its extensive horticulture collection, as well as its unique and revolutionary architecture. It’s important to note that there is a separate admission fee for this attraction, and the hours of operation are different to those of the rest of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. The Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. So, if you want to explore the conservatory, it is ideal to plan the rest of your day at the Myriad Botanical Gardens around it.
Devon Ice Rink is another highlighted attraction at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. The Devon Ice Rink is located in the center of the Myriad Botanical Gardens and is open from the middle of November until the end of January. Every year, residents and tourists of Oklahoma City patiently wait until they can ice skate at the Devon Ice Rink. It’s important to note that like the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, the Devon Ice Rink has a separate admission fee as well as hours of operation.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens offers a variety of educational opportunities for people of any age. The Myriad Botanical Gardens offers a variety of tours such as, Group Visit, Adult Guided, and School Group. Each tour option gives visitors a different experience, and tour groups even have the option of including a lunch special for a discounted price. Aside from specialized tours, the Myriad Botanical Gardens offers visitors with various classes that bring horticulture to everyday lives.
While most of the children educational programs change with the change of the season, there are a few permanent programs such as Reading Wednesdays, and Pizza Pie Party. Reading Wednesdays occurs every Wednesday from 10 am to 11 am and is free for everyone. During Reading Wednesdays, a guest reads a story that is nature-themed, or relevant to the specific season, then helps the children create a craft. As for the Pizza Pie Party, children get to make their own pizza with natural and organic ingredients. Thus, they have the chance to make one of their favorite foods while learning the health and environmental benefit of using organic ingredients. The Myriad Botanical Gardens also offers an array of classes for adults that change throughout the year.
301 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-5030, Phone: 405-445-7080
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