Riverbanks’ Walled Garden was the first section of the Botanical Garden to open to the public in 1995. This tremendous garden is composed of several smaller themed gardens and contains the majority of Riverbanks’ collection of plant species.
The Walled Garden is not a static garden. As plants grow too large and are removed, others take their place. A main canal divides this garden in half, with fountains at each end. The brick paths and geometric shapes of the beds create a very formal foundation. In order to soften these hard lines, the plants are allowed, and indeed encouraged, to grow over the edges of their beds and create loose canopies over the pathways. The end result is a labyrinth of secret garden “rooms”, each with their own particular theme, and lush plantings where plants are cultivated to intertwine and complement each other.