When visitors come to the historical city of New Orleans, one of the most exquisite and breathtaking places for them to see is the New Orleans Botanical Garden of Louisiana, noted for several things. One aspect is the global collection of plant varieties, with over 2,000 different types nestled in the largest stand of live oak trees in the nation. Second, it was originally called the
City Park Rose Garden in 1936, and was built as a WPA project during the great Depression before opening as the first public classical garden in New Orleans, designed from the Art Deco Period.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Botanical Garden, the
City Park, and the entire region of New Orleans in 2005, the majority of the plant and tree collection of the city were taken out. Additionally, the automatic watering systems and greenhouses of the Botanical Garden were hindered to the point they were not able to be used.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the only division of the New Orleans Botanical Garden that is not yet open for visitors are the trains, which run only on weekends and during special events. Located at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters, the entrance to the Garden is on Victory Avenue in
City Park, directly behind the
New Orleans Museum of Art. Free parking is available on Victory Avenue and at the Tennis Center.
