Full Book Draft 3

2016
MASTER PLAN



Letter from the Director

Dear Friends

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voluptatur, as evel inusant quid

Sincerely,

Hayes Jackson

1

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 3

INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS 7

MASTER PLAN 21

OPINION OF PROBABLE COST 47

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES 55

2

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

As Longleaf Botanical Garden develops as an institution, the Garden’s Mission, Vision, and Aesthetic
Identity form the foundation and framework for all future growth. They provide a clear guide for
developing and evaluating programs, planning projects, design elements, and operational practices.
This Master Plan was created with these guiding principles in mind and is intended to serve as a
direction for Longleaf Botanical Garden as these important, long-term decisions are made. The
Master Plan is considered a “working document” that evolves and adapts as the Garden grows,
but because it is rooted in the Garden’s Core Values, it also serves as a guideline to which future
evolutions are compared.

Mission
Longleaf Botanical Garden is committed to cultivating the connection between people and Nature.

Vision
That every visitor connects with and learns to appreciate the wonder of nature.

Aesthetic Identity
Longleaf Botanical Garden is more than just a “botanical garden.” It:

• Celebrates the wonder and beauty of nature through a variety of gardens and plants
• Is a thoughtfully designed garden that respects the region’s history and culture and

conveys a clear design intent
• Respects the natural environment in every garden and program
• Provides a variety of recreational opportunities, rental venues, and educational experiences
• Is family-friendly
• Inspires a passion for nature

MASTER PLANNING PROCESS

The goal of a Master Plan is to serve as a guide for development. It must be influenced and formed
by those who will use it. The Master Planning process for Longleaf Botanical Garden included
independent research by the consultants, an extensive inventory and analysis, stakeholder meetings,
interactive workshops, and public presentations.

With the Kick-Off Meeting in December 2015, the LBG Board outlined their goals for the master
planning process and their expectations for the Master Plan. They also discussed and distilled their
vision and identity for the Garden. Information was gathered regarding the Garden’s organizational
structure, operational challenges, and community involvement, and a Garden Tour reviewed the
Garden’s history, site conditions, and natural features. Independent site observations identified
potential opportunities and constraints. Regional, local, and site analyses were subsequently
performed and are detailed in this document.

3

Workshop 1 was conducted in January 2016 and facilitated input from the local community and various stakeholders.
Groups comprised of civic leaders, educational institutions, garden volunteers, and cultural partners were all invited to
provide input and vision to ensure the Master Plan process was as inclusive as possible. The information gathered from
these meetings was critical to the Master Plan development and is summarized in Appendix B of this document.

With the information compiled from the Kick-Off Meeting and Workshop 1, the Draft Master Plan was developed and
presented to the LBG Board in April 2016. This presentation served as Workshop 2, and the LBG Board reviewed the
Draft Master Plan over the course of a day. They discussed design challenges, aesthetic considerations, and functional
concerns, and they provided a clear direction on how best to proceed.

The Final Master Plan was then developed, incorporating the feedback from Workshop 2 and several subsequent
conversations with the LBG Board, and it was presented to the public during the Garden’s annual fundraising event in
June of 2016.

GARDEN OVERVIEW

Longleaf Botanical Garden is located on approximately 45-acres in Anniston, Alabama, which is the County Seat of
Calhoun County. The Garden’s core is situated at an approximate elevation of 880, with approximately 275 feet of
vertical change between its highest and lowest points. The Garden is located in Zone 7b according the 2012 USDA Plant
Hardiness Zone Map, and has an average annual rainfall of approximately 50-inches. The property is characterized by a
stark contrast in landscape typologies. A mix of mature hardwoods and pines cover the majority of the hilly topography,
while the areas directly adjacent to the existing building are cleared and flattened from their previous uses as athletic
fields, parking, and a swimming pool. However, these flattened areas sit on distinctly different horizontal planes and
provide an interesting tiered effect.

Though the property is currently dominated by hardwoods, several large Mountain Longleaf pine specimen are on the
property, and there is an active effort to plant seedlings wherever possible to assist in the plants’ reestablishment.
This effort is supported by the nearby Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge, whose mission is to preserve and
reestablish this unique plant community.

History
Longleaf Botanical Garden was established in 2009 at the former Lenlock Community Center….

INSERT INFORMATION FROM HAYES

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6

INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

OVERVIEW

Information was collected through meetings with the LBG Board, stakeholder workshops, site tours,
and independent research. Because Longleaf Botanical Garden is still in its infancy, most of this
information focused on visitation, development and educational partnerships, and programming
distinction. Several different scales were studied to ensure the Master Plan considered both local
and regional opportunities.

Regional Context

Anniston is located approximately 7 miles north of Oxford, Alabama, which is one of the largest cities
on the I-20 corridor between Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. It is nearly the midpoint
between the two metropolitan areas, with travel times of approximately 55-minutes to Birmingham
and 1-hr 20-minutes to Atlanta. Huntsville, Alabama is also approximately 2-hrs 10-minutes away.
All three of these cities support successful botanical gardens, but Anniston’s centralized location
between them potentially captures botanical garden visitors from all three areas. Short day trips
from these population centers to LBG are easily afforded.

LBG is also situated near the western boundary of Talladega National Forest, which offers a
variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, mountain biking, camping, and bird watching.
Several of these activities are also accommodated in the Master Plan (hiking, bird watching), which
presents a potential for visitation based on adjacency. Talladega National Forest is also home to
Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in Alabama, while the lowest point in Alabama, Little River
Canyon, is located only 60 miles north of the Garden. The region has begun to prioritize dedicated
recreational trail connections, and there have been talks about creating a trail between these two
attractions. A potential partnership with this trail could establish LBG as a waypoint on its route.

The most notable, and potentially the most impactful recreational trail in the area is the Chief Ladiga
Trail. This paved recreational trail was created along a former Seaboard/CSX Railroad Line and is
the longest, continuously-paved trail in the United States. It begins in Atlanta and navigates the
beautiful Alabama and Georgia countrysides, ending only three miles north of Longleaf Botanical
Garden. A planned trail extension into Anniston routes users of this incredible trail within a few
hundred yards of the Garden entrance and could be a major opportunity for visitor attraction.

LOCAL CONTEXT

The majority of the daily visitors will likely come from an area close to the Garden. Therefore, a
more focused study was performed in the area along the I-20 Corridor within a roughly 20-mile
radius. Schools, recreational amenities, and other cultural institutions all present opportunities for
increased visitorship.

7

Many Gardens partner with local schools for educational programming, and many also provide opportunities for higher
learning to students at colleges or universities. These programs can bring thousands of children through the Garden each
year, and if the experience is memorable, the chance for repeat visitation by the families is increased. The study area,
which encompassed portions of five different counties (Calhoun, Cleburne, Clay, Talladega, and St. Clair), included forty-
four elementary schools, eleven junior high / middle schools, and seventeen high schools. The combined enrollment for
these schools is over 20,000 students. Four higher education institutions are located within the study area, and their
combined enrollment is over 15,000 students. Of these institutions, Jacksonville State University (JSU) is potentially a
major research, study, and volunteer partner. JSU has both Biology and Botany departments, it operates an herbarium
and the Center for Tick-Borne Disease Ecology, and there are over 125 student groups that are required to log volunteer
hours.
Adjacent recreational opportunities could also attract visitors. Talladega National Forest is within 10 miles of LBG, and
it offers hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. Other biking trails are in the area, including the popular Coldwater
Mountain Bike Trail, which offers trails catering to families and experienced bikers alike. Talladega Superspeedway, one
of the largest racetracks in the country, is less than 20 miles from LBG, and this national attraction brings over 100,000
visitors to the area several times each year. Talladega Superspeedway is also home to the International Motorsports Hall
of Fame.
Another amenity that regularly brings thousands of visitors into the area is the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)
Talladega Marksmanship Park. This 500-acre, state-of-the-art facility opened to the public in 2015 and attracts visitors
from across the country. It hosts several national and international competitions each year.
Other cultural institutions offer important partnership opportunities, and there are several in the area with which
relationships could be cultivated. The Cane Creek Community Gardens, located at Fort McClellan, is a 17-acre site that
includes a community vegetable garden where local residents plant and harvest their own produce. Janney Furnace Park
is a historical site only 16-miles from LBG, and it includes a Confederate and Native American Museum.
Longleaf Botanical Garden has a unique opportunity in terms of cultural partners. The Anniston Museum of Natural
History and the Berman Museum of World History are located directly adjacent to the Garden and are critically important
for many reasons. The two museums are established and have consistent visitation. Visitors are already within the
area, and visitation to one institution is likely to garner a visit to the others. The Garden and the two museums are all
operated by the City of Anniston, and together they make up the informally titled “Museum Complex.” Marketing and
fundraising opportunities between these three groups are discussed further in the “Development Strategies” section of
this document.

8

Little River
Canyon

HUNTSVILLE
BOTANICAL

GARDEN
(49 miles)

60 POTENTIAL

105 mi TrailLadiga

40 MountainChief
Longleaf
10 20
5 65 mi NWR

BIRMINGHAM Coosa River Cheaha
BOTANICAL Mountain

GARDEN TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST

Aldridge
Gardens

100

REGIONAL CONTEXT

TRAIL 5 Smith-Gilbert
10 Gardens
2097 mi ABG
Dunaway Gainesville
40 Garden (45 miles)

80 ATLANTA
100 BOTANICAL

GARDEN

Woodlands
Garden

Georgia
Perimeter

College
Botanical

Garden

Meadowlark
Garden

SCALE: N.T.S.



John W. Inzer
Museum

Janney
Furnace

Coosa River
20
10
5
2

Coldwater
Mountain
Bike Trail

I-20

Int. Motorsports Taladega
Hall of Fame Superspeedway

CMP Taladega
Marksmanship

Park

30 Central Alabama
Community
College

Jacksonville LOCAL CONTEXT
State
I-20
University
College (4)
GSCC - Fort Mountain High School (17)
McClellan Longleaf Junior High/Middle School (11)
Elementary School (44)
2.5 NWR Cultural Amenity (6)
Recreational Amenity (23)
Cane Creek
Community SCALE: N.T.S.

Gardens

Gadsden St.
Community

College

TALADEGA NATIONAL FOREST

Pinhoti
Trail

Cheaha
Mountain
State Park



Existing Chief Ladiga Trail

Existing Trailhead

Future Chief Ladiga LONGLEAF
Trail Extension BOTANICAL

GARDEN

Potential Recreational
Connection

Anniston

LOCAL RECREATION
CONNECTIONS

Mountain
Longleaf

NWR

SCALE: N.T.S.



SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

The Longleaf Botanical Garden property is approximately 45-acres in size and extends up a moderately-sloped hillside.
However, the focus of the Master Plan is on the lower 18-acres, which includes the existing building, entry drive, parking
areas, and open spaces. The remaining property is covered by mature forest and is being considered for the purpose of
the Master Plan as undisturbed open space dedicated to informal hiking trails and subtle destinations.
The 18-acre project area includes approximately 12-acres of mature forest surrounding approximately 6-acres of mostly-
cleared open space. The entrance to the property is at its lowest elevation, and the entry drive traverses a steep hill
up to the existing parking area and building. The hillside along the entry drive is fairly open on the ground plane and
moderately shaded with mature trees, which presents favorable opportunities for a viewing garden along the entry. The
entry drive continues for a short distance to an additional parking area.
The hilly topography of the area has been modified for the property’s previous uses, and the 6-acre open space area is
subdivided into four distinct levels.
The parking lot, building, and open spaces on the north and east sides of the building are all roughly on the same level,
while the additional parking area south of the building is at a higher plane. There is a small open space on the highest
plane that contains three remnant gazebos, and this vantage point offers views to all the lower levels. This area and its
views were identified as a great opportunity, and it significantly influenced the overall form of the Master Plan.
A second open space at the northeast corner of the building forms a level slightly lower than the building, while two
former athletic fields on the north end of the site form the lowest level. The western athletic field is currently unused
open space, while the eastern one currently houses several greenhouses.
These tiers lower progressively in elevation as you move from the south end of the site to the north, and they are each
separated by steeply sloped embankments. The lowest of these embankments is somewhat heavily vegetated, which
creates an additional layer of separation. However, each tier offers views to the higher and lower levels, which creates a
changing perspective of the property as you move through the space.
The forested hillside to the southeast of the entry drive has several small drainage channels that converge near the
Garden’s entry, and an existing outbuilding / pavilion (with restrooms) is located at the top of the hill. The hillside to
the west of the building is covered primarily by mature hardwoods, but several large longleaf pine specimen are within a
short walking distance of the building.
The organization of the spaces and distinct levels set up an interesting spatial relationship and axial orientation.
Additionally, their close proximity to the existing building helps define a “garden core”, though accessibility between the
levels will be challenging.

15

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

A major focus of the Master Plan research was to identify and develop the most appropriate program elements for LBG. The
Garden’s Mission and Vision were previously established, and the Aesthetic Identity was refined during the initial meetings.
Identifying and developing an entire program to meet those guiding principles was a challenging task, and ensuring that program
distinguished LBG from other gardens added another level of complexity.
A common aspiration heard from many LBG Board Members was “finding our niche.” A wish list of garden types and program
elements was developed from board input, but in order to identify the opportunities for a competitive advantage, a detailed
inventory of the other botanical gardens in the region was completed. This graphic inventory catalogs the different garden types
and programs at ten other gardens in the region and compares them to the program list developed by the LBG Board. It helps
clearly identify program elements that are most popular, as well as elements that could help the Garden differentiate itself.

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trail

MATURE FOREST

trail view elevation
view elevation
trail view

Unused Open Space elevation elevation
view view

drainage view

Existing Property Line drainage

Existing Service Yard
Greenhouses

Potential Service Access
Steep Slope

SITE ANALYSIS

Existing Property Line Existing Building
Steep Slope
Existing Gazebos
Parking Lot
Existing Outbuilding

drainage

drainage Adjacent Pond
Parking Lot
drainage Sloped Garden Area
Service Access
Entry Drive

SCALE: N.T.S.



REGIONAL GARDENS
ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN
BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDEN
HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN
ALDRIDGE GARDENS
ATLANTA B.G. - GAINSVILLE
DUNAWAY GARDEN
GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE B.G.
MEADOWLARK GARDENS
SMITH-GILBERT GARDENS
WOODLANDS GARDEN

7.1 16 - 4 5 168 30 112 67.5 30 General Data
2002 2005 1980s - 1934 / 2000 2015 2002 1988 1963 1976 Property Size (acres)
Free $7 / $5 / $6 - Free $10 / $8 $8 / $5 Free $12 / $18 / $10 Free $18.95 / $12.95 / NA Date Established
501c3 City Private University - 501c3 City 501c3 City 501c3 Entry Fees (Adult / Child / Sr.)
Yes Yes - No - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Owner Entity
- - - - - - - 350,000 350,000 523,000 Associated Non-Profit
- Yes No - - - Yes Yes Yes Land Lease Discount Yearly Visitation
- Yes Yes - Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Public Funding
- Yes No - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Rental Venues
- $50 - $750 - - - $75 - $10,000 $35 - $1,000 $30 - $10.000 $25 - $1,000 $75 - $10.000 Memberships
- Yes - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Membership Fees
- - - - Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Members-Only Events
- Yes - - Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Food Service
Gift Shop

Potential LBG Gardens and
Program Elements Identified in
Workshop One (Prioritiezed)
Recreational Opportunities
Nature Center
Wedding Garden / Venue
Educational Opportunities
Natural / Native Plant Garden
Zip Line
Interpretive Signage
Japanese / Asian Garden
Other Cultural Gardens
Formal Gardens
Summer Camps
Wildlife Garden
Edible / Kitchen Garden
Demonstration Garden
Medicinal Garden
Children’s Garden
Community Vegetable Garden
Ecological Garden
Interactive Exhibits
Performing Arts Venue
Winter Garden
Rotating Exhibits
Seasonal Displays
Camping Facilities
Food Service

Hotel GARDEN RESEARCH MATRIX
Pet Garden
Cooking Demonstrations
Fairy House Trail
Food Cycle Exhibit

Gardens / Program Elements
Identified in Research (Alphabetized)
Animal Displays
Art Gallery
Art / Sculpture
Birding Trail
Bog Garden
Bonsai Garden
Butterfly House / Garden
Camellia Garden
Conifer Garden
Conservation Programs
Conservatory
Crape Myrtle Garden
Cutting Garden
Daylily / Lily Garden
Desert House
Dogwood Trail
Education Center
Elementary School Trips
Enabling Garden
Family Programs
Fern Garden
Four Seasons
Great Lawn / Event Lawn
Herb Garden
Hosta Garden
Hydrangea Garden
Internship Programs
Iris Garden
Library
Lily Pond
Meditation Space
Miniature Train Garden
Orchid Display
Plant Analog Garden
Rental Buildings
Research Facility
Rhododendron Garden
Rose Garden
Southern Plants Garden
Special Plant Sales
Tree House
Visitor Center
Walking / Jogging Trail
Weekend Programs
Wildflower Garden
Woodland Garden



MASTER PLAN

SPATIAL FRAMEWORK

The Master Plan utilizes the site’s levles and existing open spaces to define the primary garden
spaces. The elevation changes physically separate the rooms while long, axial views between
the levels are maintained. This axial orientation creates strong visual connections and intuitive
circulation patterns, and it is the overall organizing element of the Master Plan.

These physical features, along with existing elements such as the entry road, building, and parking
area influenced six different Identity Zones within the Master Plan. These zones organize the Garden
based on purpose, character, and interpretive themes. Each Identity Zone is further subdivided into
Garden Areas that highlight specific garden themes or program elements. All of these elements
integrate seamlessly to create a dynamic, cohesive, and memorable visitor

The Identity Zones are:
1. Entry and Arrival
2. Core Gardens
3. Lower Gardens
4. Native Hillside
5. Native Hollow
6. Service Area

CIRCULATION

The Garden’s pedestrian circulation emphasizes a layered experience, providing direct routes
between gardens in conjunction with a network of smaller paths within the garden areas to facilitate
exploration. The primary paths focus on moving visitors between gardens, yet are also routed to
provide a complete visitor experience of the Core Gardens. These paths have generous widths (10’-
12’) and their material should be a hard surface to ensure full accessibility by all visitors.

Secondary paths immerse visitors more deeply into the garden spaces, accessing more detailed
landscape areas. They have more modest widths (6’-8’) and are also paved with a hard material.
However, stone and other modular pavers may be considered to further distinguish them from the
primary paths.

Garden Pathways lead through the most intimate spaces of the Garden and offer more contemplative
experiences. The widths are wide enough for two people (4’-5’), and the materials are looser and
more organic, such as gravel or mulch.

Nature trails and recreational trails are reserved for the wooded areas of the site and allow for
easier access of natural areas. The path widths are small to remain unobtrusive (4’ max.), and their
materials should blend in with the woodland character. Solid asphalt may be used on the main
trails, but a crushed asphalt or mulch may be more appropriate where more sensitivity is desired.

21

Vehicular circulation is limited to the Entry Drive and parking. The main parking area is located near the new Visitor
Center to accommodate daily visitors. An overflow parking area is located closer to the Event Lawn, anticipating larger
crowds for events that utilize that space. Service circulation is primarily focused around the perimeter of the Garden,
but adequate access into the Garden interior was a maintenance concern because of the site’s topography. Key service
access points and shared pathways extend into the Garden Core and ensure proper access is provided to each Identity
Zone in a manner that deemphasizes their visual appearance.

MASTER PLAN OVERVIEW

The defining gesture of the Master Plan is the Fibonacci Spiral pattern that originates from the new Visitor Center. The
pattern is inspired by the form of the longleaf pine cone, and the graceful curves define the garden pathways, landscape
beds, and other garden elements. A strong axis through the Core Gardens visually connects the Garden’s different levels,
while a primary path connects the Core Gardens to the Lower Gardens.
The management and programming of the garden spaces are organized as a gradient. More intensely managed and
programmed gardens are closer to the Visitor and Education Centers, while gardens with more natural character and
nature-focused programming extend into the wooded areas of the site. Parking, service, and vehicular circulation are
kept to the perimeter to create a contiguous area that accommodates the majority of the gardens.

22



SITE CIRCULATION

Vehicular
Primary Pedestrian
Secondary Pedestrian

Garden Pathway
Nature Trail

Recreational Trail
Service (Dedicated)

Service (Shared)

SCALE: 1” = 100’-0”

0 50 100 200



18 13
11 12
1
17 8
9

5

2

IDENTITY ZONES &
GARDEN AREAS

ENTRY AND ARRIVAL 1
Entry Drive and Hillside Garden 2
3
Main Parking and Drop-Off
Arrival Garden

15 CORE GARDENS 4
Visitor Center and Nature Center 5
Education Center and Service Drive 6
7
Parterre Garden 8
Kitchen Garden 9
10
Event Terrace
Dichotomy Gardens

Longleaf Slope

14 LOWER GARDENS 11
12 12
Event Parking 13

Ecological Garden and Bog Garden 14

Demonstration Greenhouses and Desert
Garden

Longleaf Meadow, Event Lawn, and
Pavilion

7 NATIVE HILLSIDE 15
Adventure Woodlands 16
10 Nature Garden and Hiking Trails
6
NATIVE HOLLOW
Native Plant Garden and Fern Glade 17

SERVICE AREA
Service Facility and Screening 18

3 16
4

SCALE: 1” = 100’-0”

0 50 100 200



1 20
19 15

14
13

14
12

2 10 9

6

3

17 MASTER PLAN

16 Entry Gate and Drive 1
13 Floral Hillside 2

Main Parking and Drop-Off 3
Arrival Garden 4

Visitor Center and Nature Center 5
Education Center 6
Parterre Garden 7

Kitchen Garden and Green Roof 8
Event Terrace 9

Dichotomy Gardens 10
Longleaf Slope 11
Event Parking 12

Ecological Garden and Bog Garden 13
Demonstration Greenhouses and 14
Desert Garden
Longleaf Meadow 15
Event Lawn and Pavilion 16
Adventure Woodlands 17
Nature Garden and Hiking Trails 18

Native Plant Garden and Fern Glade 19
Service Facility 20

11 17
7 18

5

4 5
3

SCALE: 1” = 100’-0”

0 50 100 200



5
4

3

1

2

1 Garden Entry; 2 Entry Drive; 3 Floral Hillside; 4 Event Parking Drive; 5 Overflow Parking

ENTRY AND ARRIVAL

Entry Drive and Floral Hillside
A sculptural entry gate welcomes visitors as they arrive to the Garden along the Entry Drive. A pedestrian pathway and
entrance allows access to visitors from the Anniston Museum of Natural History, the Berman Museum, or recreational
trail destinations nearby. The Entry Drive moves up the existing slope where the Floral Hillside greets visitors with a
striking display of seasonal blooms. Flowering natives spill down the hillside and weave through a new stand of mountain
longleaf pines. A small pathway provides public access to the area.
A second drive separates from the Entry Drive and leads to the Event Parking area. Reinforced lawn areas adjacent to
the Entry Drive and Event Parking Drive accommodate overflow parking when necessary.

29

3

2

1

1 Main Parking; 2 Drop-Off; 3 Arrival Garden

Main Parking, Drop-Off, and Arrival Garden
The Entry Drive continues up the hillside and leads to the main parking. The existing forest canopy around its perimeter
provides shade, while trees within planted islands supplement shade levels. ADA parking spaces are provided closest
to the building. A contrasting paving material delineates the visitor drop-off, which allows vehicles to stop momentarily
without impeding traffic flow.
The paving material continues along two pathways that lead visitors through the Arrival Garden and toward the Visitor
Center. A grid of shade trees and a central lawn panel frame the view of the building, and bands of flowering plants bisect
large masses of lower evergreens. These bands translate onto two primary pathways as specialty paving, and these paths
intersect to form a small plaza at the primary Visitor Center entrance.

CORE GARDENS

Visitor Center and Nature Center
The Visitor Center is a split level structure centered on the primary axis that extends through the Core Gardens. The
primary entry and ticketing are located on the upper level. Visitors enter from the south side of the building and are
presented with a stunning view of the Core Gardens through the structure’s mostly-glass north façade. The gift shop
is also located on the upper level and services visitors as they enter and exit the garden. The lower level of the Visitor
Center is accessed by an elevator or internal staircase, while a gracious stairway on the exterior of the building leads
visitors down directly into the Parterre Garden.

30

6 7
5
34

1

2

1 Visitor Center; 2 Nature Center; 3 Education Center; 4 Parterre Garden; 5 Green Roof; 6 Kitchen Garden; 7 Longleaf Slope

31

VISITO
CENTE

ARRIVAL GARDEN CONDITIONED SPACE OVERHANG FORMAL GARDEN

12’-0” 15’-0”

EXISTING GRADEELEVATOR15’-0”
Conceptual Visitor Center Section - N.T.S.

NATUR
CENTE

ARRIVAL GARDEN CONDITIONED SPACE OVERHANG NATURE CENTER TRAILHEAD

12’-0”
14’-0”

Conceptual Nature Center Section - N.T.S.

A small café on the lower level of the Visitor Center offers food service to patrons, and seating for the venue extends out
to the Parterre Garden terrace. Exhibit space and staff offices occupy the remaining space on the lower level.

The Nature Center is adjacent to the Visitor Center and is at the same elevation as the Visitor Center’s upper level. This
structure is aesthetically similar to the Visitor Center, though it is limited to a single story. The eastern façade is primarily
glazed and presents striking views of the native hillside, and a small exhibit space educates visitors about native flora and
fauna on the nature trials. Staff offices are also accommodated.

Education Center and Service Drive
The existing building is reprogrammed as the Education Center and is the heart of the Garden’s educational programming.
The classrooms and larger event spaces accommodate children’s classes, lectures, continuing education courses, and
other learning opportunities of varying magnitudes. The larger event spaces are also the primary interior rental venues
for the Garden, and these are serviced by a drive and service entry on the south side of the building.

Parterre Garden
The Parterre Garden is adjacent to the Visitor and Education Centers and is a modern interpretation of a traditional

32

garden. The Fibonacci spiral pattern that influences the Core Garden layout originates on the Parterre Garden Terrace,
and the geometry’s graceful arcs define the parterre’s pathways, landscape beds, and paving pattern. The garden space
appears as a tapestry of flowering perennials, annuals, seasonal bulbs, and evergreens. Ornamental trees provide shade
and frame views down the primary axis.

Primary and secondary pathways are constructed of pavers to differentiate them from the perimeter pathway, while
gravel garden paths provide a more intimate experience within the parterre.

Kitchen Garden and Green Roof
The Kitchen Garden is located one level below the Parterre Garden and is accessed by progressing down the Core
Gardens’ main pathway. This garden highlights edible fruits, vegetables and herbs in various displays. Walls retaining
the upper level facilitate fruit tree espaliers and climbing vegetables, and rows of different vegetables and herbs border
the Outdoor Kitchen plaza. A linear water feature originates in the plaza and extends the view to the Lower Gardens.

The Outdoor Kitchen is set within the hillside and is visibly concealed from the upper levels. It is a venue for cooking
demonstrations and other educational classes, and it is a dedicated rental venue for dinner and cocktail parties.

The Outdoor Kitchen is covered by a sloping green roof planted with sedums, grasses, and other small groundcovers.
The roof’s low point is set at the same elevation as the Parterre Garden, and then slopes toward the Kitchen Garden to
provide a tall opening on the lower level.

Longleaf Slope
This existing slope at the foot of the Native Hillside is a façade where a simple, yet striking design begins. Following
the spiraling pattern of the Core Gardens, clusters of mountain longleaf pines rise out of alternating masses of meadow
grasses. A shallow stone runnel at the bottom of the slope captures stormwater and provides a channel for the existing
natural seep on the southern end of the slope.

A curved pathway at the top of the Longleaf Slope provides panoramic views over the Core Gardens and acts as an ADA-
accessible route from the upper level of the Visitor Center to the Lower Gardens.

Event Terrace
The Event Terrace serves as the outdoor extension for the large rental room on the north side of the Education Center.
Lush plantings of the garden and floor-to-ceiling windows of the building blur the boundary between the interior and
exterior spaces. An open lawn panel allows for a variety of exterior seating options, while a small plaza and arbor at the
edge of the slope overlook the Lower Gardens.

Dichotomy Gardens
The Dichotomy Gardens highlight and compare mixed plantings with similar visual characteristics but contrasting
natural characteristics. Medium-height evergreens grow adjacent to medium-height deciduous plants; yellow-flowering
perennials offer an alternative to yellow-flowering annuals; and sun-loving groundcovers juxtapose against the shade-
loving groundcovers.

Large lawn panels with sculptural focals extend views within the garden, and a series of hedges, garden paths, and seating
niches provide numerous contemplative spaces. A large, sculptural gate signifies a secondary event entry directly into
the Education Center.

33

1

2

1 Event Terrace; 2 Dichotomy Gardens

LOWER GARDENS

Ecological Garden and Bog Garden
The Ecological Garden and Bog Garden convert an existing drainage swale into a biologically diverse garden space that
maintains its functionality. Stormwater from the majority of the Core Gardens is directed into this space, and the stone
runnel at the foot of the Longleaf Slope terminates here. A series of small weirs detains water in key locations, which
creates areas of continuous moisture.
Varieties of rushes, pitcher plants, iris, and other aquatic species distinguish the Bog Garden. A series of boardwalks
meander through the space and hover just above the surface, giving visitors an up-close perspective of the diverse
species in this unique ecosystem.
The Ecologoical Garden educates visitors about the natural water treatment properties of wetlands. Stormwater from
the site moves through a series of wetland pools, each one providing additional treatment. Interpretive signage at key
overlooks along the garden explains the various ecological processes and their benefits.

34



CORE GARDENS
PERSPECTIVE



Longleaf Meadow, Event Lawn, and Pavilion
The Longleaf Meadow reestablishes a landscape typology traditionally associated with longleaf pine forests in the region.
Various species of meadow grasses cover the bases of numerous longleaf pine specimen, and a series of garden paths
wind through the space. The garden is actively managed by seasonal burning and other practices, and visitors are
informed of these purposes and their goals.

The garden’s primary open space and a major opportunity for revenue generation are the Event Lawn and Pavilion. The
large, circular lawn panel hosts events such as concerts, festivals, or other large gatherings. School group picnics and
passive recreation activities fill the space on a daily basis. The Pavilion is an open-air, architecturally-subdued structure
tucked into the edge of the existing forest. Functionally, it provides permanent sound and lighting capabilities to the
space, while aesthetically, it blends in with the wooded edge on which it is located.

This area was identified for Phase I Implementation by the LBG Foundation Board and design team. The existing space
could accommodate many of the activities mentioned, and programs such as Spring and Fall concert series were identified
as immediate revenue generating opportunities to help catalyze larger development efforts.

3
2

1

1 Bog Garden; 2 Event Lawn; 3 Pavilion

37

5 2
4
3
1

1 Demonstration Greenhouses; 2 Desert Garden; 3 Ecological Garden; 4 Event Parking; 5 Service Yard & Greenhouses

38

Demonstration Greenhouses and Desert Garden
Hands-on educational activities for all ages were a primary goal identified in the master planning process, and the
Demonstration Greenhouses and Gardens provide many of these opportunities. The greenhouses host small classes of
various themes, and docent stations throughout the area provide brief demonstrations to visitors. Interactive exhibits in
the garden space allow visitors to see how an irrigation system works, discover different soil layers, or examine the root
structures of various plants. These activities motivate visitors and encourage them to use the knowledge in their own
gardens.

An additional greenhouse serves as the entry to the Desert Garden. LBG has an extensive existing collection of agave,
succulents, and other arid-climate plants, and this garden highlights those species in an artful display of colors, patterns,
and textures. The garden also educates visitors on species that may be available locally, as well as the sustainable
benefits of this garden type.

Restrooms for the Lower Garden are included in one of the greenhouses.

Event Parking
Dedicated Event Parking is provided in close proximity to the Event Lawn and Pavilion to facilitate more efficient
circulation during larger activities such as concerts or festivals. A sculptural gate designates the Event Entry used during
these events. This parking can also be used as overflow parking for daily visitors, and a pathway leading to the Visitor
Center accommodates those occasions.

Because this parking will see a lower intensity of traffic on a daily basis, softer materials are utilized. Drive aisles are
paved with a hard surface, while the parking spaces are gravel. This minimizes the impervious surfaces, aids in stormwater
management, and reduces the heat-island effect. Shade trees in planted islands further diminish this effect.

A heavy evergreen buffer around the perimeter of the parking mitigates undesirable views to the parking from within
the Garden.

SERVICE

Service Facility
Tucked behind the Event Parking, the Service Facility dedicates sufficient space for all activities necessary to maintain
the Garden. Large production greenhouses, a potting shed, and bulk material storage are included, and a large area is
open for general operations and service parking.

A dense, evergreen screen minimizes the service yard’s visibility from the rest of the Garden, and an access gate is
provided from the Event Parking access drive.

Service Access
Generally, service access is restricted to the perimeter of the major garden spaces, and access within the individual
garden spaces is limited to small maintenance vehicles in order to minimize the impact on the visitor experience.

A dedicated service drives runs from the Service Facility to the back of the Event Lawn Pavilion. This drive allows for
larger stage productions to bring equipment directly to the performance area, and it is the primary service access for the
Lower Gardens and Core Gardens. Service access to the Core Gardens is accommodated along the primary pathway at
the foot of the Longleaf Slope, and the curved pathway at the top of the Longleaf Slope provides unobtrusive service
access to the Visitor Center, Nature Center, Arrival Garden, and Parking.

A dedicated service drive provides access to the Native Plant Garden, and this path is accessed by driving down the
Event Parking access drive and crossing the Entry Drive near the Entry Gate.

39