My Big Backyard at the Memphis Botanic Garden
A Fabulous New Children's Garden in Memphis for Kids of All Ages
The flower beds literally have bedsteads and footboards, the thunderstorms are unpredictable but reliable, and the critters in the creek can always be found. These and many more attractions had both children and adults exclaiming with amazement, surprise, and delight at the grand opening ceremony for "My Big Backyard" on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
Grand Opening of a Major New Children's Destination
Despite a real thunderstorm to augment the one that occurs at irregular intervals at Raindrop Stop, people remained in the Children's Garden on Saturday. They took shelter from the rain under the giant tree supporting Treetop Adventure's tree house or stood on the wraparound veranda of the Little Garden Guest House, the site for future art, science education, and other activities.
This new attraction, in the making for more than two years, features sixteen separate sections with unique activities that blend into a seamless whole. Some activities are familiar from the childhoods of a simpler time: Leaping Lawn with space to play, jump and roll; My Little Garden with areas for mud pie baking and sand castle building; Playhouse Lane where both fairies and children will delight in playing house; and Treetop Adventure, featuring the kind of tree house every kid would love to have.
Other areas, such as Raindrop Stop, Critter Creek, and the Pond Out Back mimic the natural world. Extremely realistic recordings of thunder signal the beginning of each unpredictable rain cycle. Next, mist and clouds roll in until finally a deluge of raindrops fall from the sky. This will undoubtedly be a very popular attraction on hot summer days, but there is also shelter from the storm with benches and metal roofing to enjoy the acoustics of the rain, if not the moisture.
As the last raindrops drain into Critter Creek, kids will naturally begin to wade and explore, where sharp eyes will be rewarded with sightings of wildlife tracks, realistic sculptures of snakes, frogs, and crayfish, and real bog plants and water striders at the pond’s floating dock.
Whimsical Exhibits to Pique Curiosity and Inspire Imaginations
Then there are the attractions that are utterly unique and charming, starting with the entrance at Home Sweet Home. Here the aforementioned flowerbeds have potted plant shoes neatly laid out beside them. The kitchen table is set with plates overflowing with succulent greenery, and an old jalopy is adorned with a "Go Green" Tennessee license plate. Every room of this attraction features information about the vital role that plants play in our homes.
Wormville has monster earthworm sculptures erupting from a hillock and larger-than-life worm tunnels that fit a child on hands and knees just perfectly. Pollination Pass showcases meadow plants and gives instructions so that kids can enact their own "bee waggle dance" to signal the location of a nearby nectar source.
Preparing for the Children's Garden
In a brief interview after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mary Helen Butler, Director of Education, said these unique exhibits were developed by the Botanic Garden’s small education staff working very closely over many months with an experienced designer. Many of the exhibits feature original art. The entire 2.5-acre Children’s Garden represents a $5.8 million investment by area businesses, patrons, and donors.
Judging by the response of both children and adults on opening day, My Big Backyard will become a new magnet for outdoor fun in the River City. Educational programs for area school children are already on offer, with more programs for families in the planning stages. The Children’s Garden entrance fee is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for kids 3 to 12, with members and children under 2 getting in free. Children should wear attire appropriate for playing in the mud, wading in streams, and singing in the rain.
Treetop Adventure at My Big Backyard
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