Nevin Welcome Center Gardens Preview

1

Container Garden

Each summer dozens of colorful container plantings adorn the patio of the Lewis Education Center and the patio of the Nevin Welcome Center. The bold flowers and foliage evoke a sense of the tropics and mirror Ithaca's warm summers.

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2

Bioswale Garden

Designed to be both functional and attractive, the bioswale garden is an excellent example of a nature-based solution to sustainability. The garden was designed to catch rainwater runoff from the nearby road and parking lot so it can be filtered by microorganisms on dense plant roots and in the soil, which break down pollutants before being absorbed into the groundwater or discharged into nearby Beebe Lake.

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3

Rock Garden

This garden displays plants adapted to conditions found in alpine and coastal environments, such as dry, marginal soils and sunny and windy habitats. Adaptations include low, compact growth, succulent and hairy leaves, and deep or spreading roots.

4

Summer House

This pavillion was designed as an outdoor classroom and as a space to enjoy the surrounding beauty. Listen to this brief audio clip to learn why the "Summer House" was named in honor of horticulturalist Guy Nearing.

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5

Comstock Knoll

Comstock Knoll is the perfect home for plants that thrive in dappled shade, including azaleas, small flowering trees, hostas, ferns, and a stunning rhododendron collection in peak bloom from mid-May to mid-June. Originally purchased in 1910 from Cornell professors Anna and John Comstock, the Knoll was intended to serve as an outdoor classroom, and has continued to serve as a space of learning, inspiration, and relaxation for students and other visitors.

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6

Groundcover Collection

Although it first appears to be a sea of green, the Groundcover Collection is home to a rich variety of plants. These herbaceous perennials and low-growing shrubs offer a sustainable alternative to traditional lawns, as they spread quickly to crowd out weeds, prevent soil erosion, and provide shelter to birds, insects, and other wildlife. The effect is both cooling and calming, offering visitors a respite during the hot summer months.

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7

North Walk

Explore groundcovers and other perennial plants from North, Central and South America suited for full sun along our North Walk Garden.

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8

Herb Garden

The deep and enduring connection between plants and people is on full display in this vibrant collection. Plants are grouped by their common uses within 17 theme beds, including Sacred Herbs, Herbs of the Ancients, and Herbs in Literature—all highlighting countless ways that cultures around the world have interacted with herbs throughout history.

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9

Flower Garden

This lush garden showcases flowers that feature prominently in the art, literature, and myths of cultures around the world. The collection of shrubs, perennials, ephemeral bulbs, and annuals create a colorful display that highlights the symbolic meanings of well-known flowers. Interpretive booklets focus on the lore and cultural uses of 10 common flowers: the rose, carnation, daisy, sunflower, poppy, lily, iris, tulip, peony, and chrysanthemum.

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10

Winter Garden

The Mullestein Winter Garden is beautiful all year round, but the 700+ plants selected for their interesting texture, color, unusual shape, winter fruit, cones, evergreen foliage, and other characteristics create a vibrant landscape in winter. This garden shows a rainbow of colors during the winter months. What colors do you see?

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11

Vegetable Garden

This garden displays a variety of food plants showcases research in plant breeding at Cornell, as well as sustainable practices for your home garden. Look for interpretive signs, which highlight the significance of plants to cultures around the world. This garden is home to the Climate Change Garden, which demonstrates how plants are affected by changes in annual temperatures and precipitation, and how people can adapt their gardens to climate change and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.History Happened Here: Look for the adjacent McClintock Shed, which was used by Nobel Prize-winning geneticist and Cornell University alumna Barbara McClintock. She studied corn in the 1920s in what is now lawn in front of the Nevin Welcome Center.

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12

Buzzline

The Botanic Buzzline is a 980-square-foot flowering pathway created by four Cornell students to support pollinators facing habitat loss. With more than 45 native and naturalized plant varieties, it offers food, shelter, and safe passage between fragmented natural areas. Built using sustainable methods and staggered bloom times, the Buzzline demonstrates how resilient local plants can better support pollinator health in a changing climate. Educational signage along the path shares inspiration and practical tips on how to create pollinator-friendly spaces.

13

Kienzle Overlook and Conifer Slope

Conifer Slope serves as a living museum of a wide variety of conifers, including firs, cedars, yews, ginkgos, junipers, hemlocks, and pines. These cone-bearing trees can be appreciated year round, making the hillside an excellent spot for education, research, and leisurely strolls. This overlook houses part of our conifer collection, featuring dwarf and intermediate-sized conifers selected for their ornamental qualities. The delightful trees and the birds-eye view of the Botanic Gardens create a space ideal for rest and inspiration, and is a perfect stop along the way to the Dairy Bar, just across the road from the overlook.

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