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Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden

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Coordinates: 42°15′27″N 72°34′21″W / 42.2574°N 72.5724°W / 42.2574; -72.5724
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Talcott Greenhouse

The Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States, encompasses the Mount Holyoke College campus, an arboretum, numerous gardens, and the Talcott Greenhouse. It was first designated a botanical garden in 1878, with guidance from Lydia Shattuck, professor of botany. The construction of the Talcott Greenhouse complex, which houses the Botanic Garden's collection of non-hardy plants, began in 1896, after the original greenhouse was destroyed by fire, and was completed in 1899.[1]

The Botanic Garden serves as an outdoor teaching laboratory as well as a place to arrange and display plants on campus.[2] The Talcott Greenhouse maintains a permanent collection in addition to space for research and teaching purposes.

Talcott Greenhouse interior, close up.
Talcott Greenhouse at Mount Holyoke, winter 2016.

Principal gardens[edit]

  • Class of 1904 Garden - herbaceous perennials[3]
  • Drue Matthews Garden - alpine and rock garden plants[4]
  • Virginia "Timmy" Craig '31 Rhododendron Garden - rhododendrons and other woodland plants native to Eastern North America and Eastern Asia[5]
  • Bullard Garden (Chapel Garden) - trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials
  • Ciruti Center Courtyard - Shade-loving plants such as Ilex (hollies), Hosta, Helleborus and Hydrangea
  • Willits-Hallowell Center Courtyard
  • Heckel Staircase Garden - perennials and dwarf evergreens[6]

Traditions[edit]

The Greenhouse sustains a college tradition by providing students with plants during their first year, which many try to keep alive until they graduate.[7][8]

Since 1971, Mount Holyoke has hosted an annual Flower Show each spring.[9][10]

The original greenhouse at Mount Holyoke was destroyed by a fire in 1896. This is a close up of the current version, in winter 2016.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Talcott Greenhouse". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "About MHC Botanic Gardens". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Class of 1904 Garden". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Drue Matthews Garden". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "Virginia Craig Rhododendron Garden". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "Heckel Staircase Garden". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ^ Savoie, Keely (August 29, 2017). "MHC's Firstie Plants for the 21st century". Mount Holyoke College. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Talcott Greenhouse". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Leuchtman, Pat (March 14, 2017). "Director Clark brings new touch to spring Flower Show". Greenfield Recorder. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Flower Show Gallery". Mount Holyoke College. April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

External links[edit]

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42°15′27″N 72°34′21″W / 42.2574°N 72.5724°W / 42.2574; -72.5724


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