Garden-Lou visits The Gardens at SIUE

Nestled in the Edwardsville campus of Southern Illinois University are 36 serene acres of gardens, water features, and trails. Formally the Donal Myer Arboretum, in 2004, the Arboretum became The Gardens at SIUE and, in the early stages, was one of 3 Missouri Botanical Garden’ Signature Gardens’.

The Delyte Morris Bike Trail cuts through the middle of The Gardens, offering bikers and walkers a glimpse of the native plants and current fall color. To get a better garden fix, take the half-mile paved walking path which winds through the individual gardens, including a butterfly garden, an English cottage garden, prairie garden, and wind sculpture garden. This season’s annual plantings repeated along the walk were outstanding, with red and lime-colored coleus mixed with lantana and fountain grasses.

The most familiar feature is the Japanese theme garden area with its sturdy pergola and wooden bridge over Turtle Pond. Weddings and other events are a familiar sight on weekends. Most weekdays, The Gardens are frequented by joggers, dog walkers, and young families-a local resource enjoyed by students and locals alike.

Parking for The SIUE gardens is available off Cougar Lake Drive just north of North University Drive. One of the best features of The SIUE Gardens is they are entirely FREE.

The SIUE Gardens survive with generous donations from private funds and faithful volunteers contributing approximately 3000 hours per year to keep things sharp.

Check out their facebook page at;

https://www.facebook.com/TheGardensatSIUEofficialpage

Or the website for more information at; siue.edu/gardens

https://www.siue.edu/gardens/?fbclid=IwAR2aLrghE5k7dIda0kTjuE0kye1dkxBB7jNpKn-P0uk0YbIJCU_5lCH4gGg