Mercer Botanic Gardens

Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (over 250 acres) are county arboretums with an arboretum and natural locations located at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States. They are open day-to-day with free admission.

The gardens are named after Thelma and Charles Mercer, who purchased 14.5 acres (59,000 m2) in the late 1940s for their home and garden. They maintained native trees such as dogwoods, palmettos, rusty blackhaw viburnum, and hawthorns, and introduced camellias and exotic tree species such as ginkgo, bauhinia, philadelphus, camphor, and tung oil. The property was purchased by Harris County in 1974, and has grown to 325 acres (1.32 km2).

The gardens consist of an Azalea trail, hills, a Bald Cypress Pond, a Bamboo Garden, an Endangered Species Garden, an Herb Garden, a Hickory Bog, the Jake Roberts Maple Collection, the Post Oak Uplands, a Prehistoric Garden, a Rock Garden, the William D. Lee Iris Collection, Perennial Gardens, a Tropical Garden, a playground, picnic tables, strolling courses, and a present shop. Kingwood Texas Information.

History

When it came time for the Mercers to retire, they could not bear the idea of a designer bulldozing their “paradise.” In 1974, they encouraged Harris County to purchase their original 14.5 acre system with the specification that it would grow and be kept as an educational and horticultural center for the public’s enjoyment.

After Harris County bought the land, a group of community garden enthusiasts thinking about advancing the advancement of Mercer as a botanical facility formed the nonprofit group Mercer Arboretum Advisory Committee (MAAC). In 2000, the organization changed its name to The Mercer Society and members assist Mercer Botanic Gardens in its objective by organizing and carrying out activities that encourage membership support, broaden neighborhood awareness, and raise funds in support of Mercer’s strategic plan.

Since 1984, through contributions and land purchases made by Precinct 4, Mercer has grown to more than 400 acres.

The arboretum and botanic gardens are divided by Aldine Westfield Road. On the east side is the botanic gardens where over 60 acres of wonderfully maintained gardens feature bamboo, color screens, daylilies, endangered types, ferns, gingers, herbs, tropicals, among others. The east side also has a substantial walking path system, a Remembrance Walk for memorials and honorariums, ponds, a visitors’ center, courtyard plaza, plus far more.

The arboretum on the west side of Aldine Westfield features 2 playgrounds, a picnic area nestled in a forest setting with two barbecue structures, a lot of picnic tables, a hickory bog and boardwalk, cypress overload, maple collection and several miles of strolling routes that wind through magnificently preserved woodlands.

Mercer uses a team of experienced botanists, gardeners, and garden enthusiasts who provide a wealth of understanding and info, and will happily assist you in anyway they can during your see.