Christen Hoover

Beginning Monday, May 6, and continuing through Sunday, May 19, space and materials will be available for the UNC Charlotte community and the general public to leave messages, artwork, memories, and prayers on river stones in the Gardens. The materials for creating these remembrance stones will be at the entrance to the Susie Harwood Gardens.

These stones can be left along the edges of the Gardens’ paths.

Edit 5/2: The Gardens and Greenhouses will reopen today, Thursday, May 2, and resume normal operating hours. Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love and support. We are working on ways to memorialize Riley and Reed. In the meantime, we hope that #NinerNation and the Charlotte community will find solace and healing here in the Gardens.

(Pictured here: a memorial we found by the pond in the Susie Harwood Gardens this morning)

All of us at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens are heartbroken by yesterday evening’s horrific events. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and also with #NinerNation as we all grieve and process.

The Gardens will be closed today, Wednesday, May 1, along with the rest of the University. All scheduled events through Sunday will be postponed. Continue to check in here for further information on affected hours.

We believe that nature is a great healer, and as soon as we can reopen, we will welcome you all to bring your broken hearts in to be comforted by the beauty and peace of this place.

Top row (from left to right): False indigo Baptisia australis), Blue Star (Amsonia), Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum ‘Sterile’)

Bottom row (from left to right): , Venus Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus x ‘Venus’), Old Copper Azalea (Rhododendron oldhamii), Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Haag’s Choice’)

Top row (from left to right): Anthurium (Anthurium pseudospectabile), Chandelier tree (Medenilla cumingii kinabalu), Black pepper (Piper nigrum)

Bottom row (from left to right): Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Goldfish plant (Nematanthus), Begonia incana (Begonia incana)

Top row (from left to right): Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Mary Fleming’), Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), Fullmoon Maple (Acer japonicum)

Bottom row (from left to right): Dwarf flowering almon (Prunus glandulosa ‘rosea plena’), Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii), Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Aronimink’)

Top row (from left to right): Camellia ‘Professor Sargent’ (Camellia japonica), Japanese andromeda (Pieries japonica), Plum yew (Cephalotaxus)

Bottom row (from left to right): Lenten rose (Helleborus), Tongue-leaf Butcher’s-broom (Ruscus hypoglossum), Camellia ‘Margery Adams’ (Camellia japonica)

Top row (from left to right): Artillary Plant (Pilea micropylla), Dancing Bones Cactus (Hatiora salicornioides), Medusa’s Head Euphorbia (Euphorbia caputmeduse)

Bottom row (from left to right): Begonia (Begonia ‘Hayes Jackson’), Spiral Ginger (Costus lasius), Gasteria (Gasteria liliputana)

Our Spring course catalog is up on the website now. Click here to see all of the details of our upcoming classes, workshops, and events. 

Exciting news! Our podcast The Plants We Eat is included in NPR affiliate @WFAE’s #QueenCityPodQuest, the search for the #Charlotte-area’s next great podcast. Vote for us once per day until February 17: https://queencitypodquest.strutta.me/gallery?entry_id=1336139.

Cast a vote for The Plants We Eat and help the world wake up to the fascinating history, biology, and culture of the food growing in our fields and forests.

Need a reminder to vote? Click here to opt in to our daily reminder emails. 

From left to right: Amethyst witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis ‘Amethyst’), Camellia ‘Crimson Candles’ (Camellia hybrid), Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), Camellia ‘Forest 38’ (Camellia japonica), Fragrant Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha), Camellia ‘Professor Sargent’ (Camellia japonica), Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica), Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)