Editor's note: This is Part II of a two-part series on the planned Gardens and Greenway project at Texas A&M University. It follows an introduction to the project published previously in last week's column.
A 45-acre tract on the west side of the College Station campus of Texas A&M University will be the home of a planned gardens and greenway project. It will extend from the Horticulture and Forest Sciences building to John Kimbrough Boulevard and eventually to the Bush Library. The project will be completed in four phases.
Phase One - Seven components
Phase One will include seven components of the core projects and buildings needed to fulfill and sustain the mission of the gardens. It will cost approximately $15 million - with a dollar-for-dollar $7.5 million for construction and $7.5 million for the endowment.
- Teaching gardens (3 acres) will be used for outdoor teaching and demonstrations. They will include thematic gardens that focus on gardening heritage and the impact of other cultures. There will also be a children's garden, a Texas Superstar plant area, rotating student-designed and constructed gardens and a garden featuring human-use plants and herbs.
- Pavilion (3,200 square feet) will be used for educational programs and social events. The open-air structure will have a 200-person capacity and be equipped with electronic equipment for teaching.
- Schoolhouse (3,200 square feet) will accommodate 150 people and will be fully equipped for training. This climate-controlled training center will also have a demonstration kitchen, office, conference room and restrooms.
- Greenhouse (3,000 square feet) will be used for growing, maintaining, propagating and handling plant material in a climate-controlled setting and will include teaching/training equipment for laboratory instruction and educational programming.
- Rose garden (34,492 square feet) will be one of the major features of the Gardens and Greenway project. Plantings will focus on Texas-tough roses and varieties tested and developed at Texas A&M in the Earth-Kind program and the Bayse-Moore Rose Breeding program. The rose garden and the arbor and terrace that will be built at its center will be available to rent for weddings and special events.
- Barn (2,500 square feet) will provide an area to store equipment and supplies. Additionally, it can be used for teaching and workshop activities and will have a second floor loft for training and storage.
- Cabin with offices (1,500 square feet) will provide space for garden staff and volunteers.
Phase Two - New Grove Amphitheater
Aggie grads, prior to the class of 2003, will remember The Grove. According to the website giving.tamu.edu., the original small, open-aired theater was used for yell practices, movies, concerts and performances. It was dismantled in 2003.
The new Grove Amphitheater (33,106 square feet) will serve as a major feature of this project and will be used for the same functions. The capacity will range from 500 to 1,000 people, and the architecture will be based on the original grove, including the green benches and a perimeter of trees.
Phase Three - Welcoming facilities
- AgriLife center main entrance and boulevard garden (2.25 acres) - The entrance will serve both the AgriLife Center and the Texas A&M Gardens and Greenways. The Boulevard landscaping will provide additional space for outdoor gatherings.
- Courtyard (1 acre) - This area will include an outside dining area, a student study area and a vista point overlooking the greenway area. It will be landscaped with perennial flowers, which will flank a lawn area.
- Endowed directorship - The director's position is critical to the long-term success of the gardens and greenway. An endowed position will serve as an incentive for high-quality candidates with backgrounds in professional public garden management.
Phase Four - Completing the project
- The Howdy Station (1 acre) will be a railroad-themed bus stop and restroom area for students and visitors. There will be three open air pavilions that will serve as rentable space for farmers markets, tailgate parties and other social events. Rainwater harvesting and solar power will make the area self-sustainable.
- The Post Oak Savannah Ecosystem (15 acres) along White Creek will feature native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers as a wildscaping zone. There will be pathways and scenic areas for visitors to enjoy.
- The Feed the World Plaza (1.5 acres) will celebrate the contributions of Norman Bortaug and other Texas A&M plant and animal breeders. Plaza gardens will showcase plants that help feed the world including specific crops improved at the university.
- A toxic plant display will allow students and visitors to learn about toxic plant species in this area. Annual propagations and planting will be required to maintain an extensive toxic plant collection.
The scope of the Texas A&M Gardens and Greenway project is vast and amazing. It is evident much thought and time has gone into the planning process, and the results are sure to be another major asset on the Texas A&M University campus.
And while the scope of the existing Master Gardener Victoria Educational Gardens is limited in comparison, the educational goal of Texas A&M is very much aligned and evident in our own garden and educational mission.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria County Master Gardener Association
