Lendonwood Gardens volunteer Bob Hunt helps build a gateway for a new Oklahoma Garden now being constructed within the larger botanical garden. The gateway will be part of a new fenced enclosure for the space. The Oklahoma Garden, sponsored by a grant from Grove Rotary, will feature plantings that tend to thrive in the state’s climate zones.
Lendonwood Gardens is taking a “winter break” now through the end of February, in order to make some improvements that will enhance visitors’ enjoyment of the botanical garden.
Jim Reynolds, president of the garden’s Board of Directors, said he believes the public will be impressed by the changes and enhancements. “We decided to temporarily close the garden, something we’ve never done before, in order to concentrate our efforts and ensure public safety around the construction projections.”
Lendonwood normally is open daily year-round from dawn to dusk. The eight-acre garden, located at 1308 Har-Ber Road in Grove, depends on memberships, volunteer labor and donations to continue operation.
“January and February typically are the slower months of the year, in terms of visitors,” Reynolds said. “So we chose this time to close the garden and work on projects.”
Among the projects is the creation of an “Oklahoma Garden,” sponsored by a grant from Grove Rotary, featuring plants that tend to thrive in this state’s climate zones. The plantings will include several designated by Oklahoma State University Extension Services as “Oklahoma Proven.”
Current work on the Oklahoma Garden includes building a new fence enclosure and gateway. Volunteers also will continue efforts to extend hard-surface walkways through Lendonwood.
The botanical garden’s major collections include azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, Japanese maple trees, hostas, daylilies and evergreen trees. The garden draws visitors from throughout the U.S. and around the world.