Explore the bosque's diverse plants and animals in this future exhibit.
Scheduled to open in the summer of 2013, the five-acre Cottonwood Gallery will be located at the north end of the Botanic Garden. A path from the old-time Heritage Farm will lead to the new garden.
The garden will showcase a restored bosque with a canopy of mature cottonwoods and an understory of native trees and bushes. The natural area already attracts interesting wildlife, including roadrunners, kestrels, porcupines and great-horned owls. The palatte of plantings includes species used by animals for forage and shelter, and Botanic Garden staff expect wildlife sightings to increase as the habitat is restored.
The garden plans call for wetland areas, signage, paths and bird blinds, which will provide quiet places to watch for the naturally-occurring animals. The Cottonwood Gallery is part of the original vision for the Botanic Garden, developed in the 1990s.
Botanic Garden staff are currently cleaning the area and preparing to build paths and plant cottonwoods and other native vegetation. UNM Greeks are helping with a big clean-up in Feburary.
