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Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

February 13, 2024

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is a 7-acre (2.8 ha) botanical garden with over 3,000 species of plants,[1] located on the southeastern corner of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. It is named after Mildred Esther Mathias Hassler (1906–1995), a noted American botanist. The director is Victoria Sork. It is also the only free public botanical garden in the Greater Los Angeles area.[2]

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Aloes at the garden
Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
TypePublic
LocationLos Angeles, California, United States
Nearest cityLos Angeles
Coordinates34°03′57″N 118°26′28″W / 34.065788°N 118.441157°W / 34.065788; -118.441157
Area7 acres (2.8 ha)
Created1906 (1906) by Mildred Esther Mathias Hassler
StatusOpen year round
WebsiteThe Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

History edit

UCLA's botanical garden was started as an academic laboratory shortly after the Westwood, Los Angeles campus opened in 1929, on seven acres preserved for that purpose near the arroyo on the east side of the campus. It was funded in part by the California State Relief Administration, created by newly elected Governor Frank Merriam in 1933 to provide jobs through municipal work projects.[3] The garden's first manager, George C. Groenewegen, started with horticultural donations from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Huntington Botanical Gardens, among others. By 1947 the garden hosted approximately 1,500 different species and varieties of plants.[4] In the 1960s, garden director Mildred E. Mathias, who oversaw the garden from 1956 to 1974, helped to develop it into the "university garden" and opened it for public tours.[5]

The UCLA Botanical Garden of the 1950s included special sections of eucalyptus and other Australian plants, gymnosperms, palms, succulents, aquatics, and camellias. The original native vegetation had been removed, but was replaced by a horticultural display of California perennials. A lathhouse for teaching and research was completed in the northwestern corner of the garden in 1952. Franklin Murphy supported a project to build the recycling stream and ponds. Then with the construction of the La Kretz Botany Building, a sunny area was set aside for a permanent experimental garden, where plants were grown for exciting cytological studies by the botany faculty. Since the early 1960s, efforts have been made to grow plants from the tropics and subtropics, especially those with magnificent flowers, e.g., the Bignoniaceae. The Garden has not suffered a freeze since winter 1948–49.

In 1979, the facility was named the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, to honor Dr. Mathias for her numerous contributions to horticulture. By then, the collection had become forest-like. Dr. Arthur C. Gibson was hired as Director in 1980, and began a program to admit more sunlight, hence providing opportunities for many sun-loving groups of plants to grow. Periodically, areas of the Garden were renovated to establish special collections, including Malesian rhododendrons, the lily alliance, bromeliads, cycads, ferns, mediterranean-type climate shrubs (e.g., chaparral), and native plants of the Hawaiian Islands. Other exciting special collections are planned, and will be established in the future as funding becomes available.

The Nest, an outdoor classroom with semicircular bench seating, was constructed by the Garden staff and dedicated in 1996 to the memory of Hazel (Lisa) Kath McMurran, a UCLA alumna. Later that year a massive effort was undertaken to build new paths on the western side of The Garden. The gently sloped new paths and entrances provide access to The Nest and special collections to all visitors, including those with physical disabilities.[6] The garden is maintained by a full-time dedicated staff and around 30 student volunteers.

Collections edit

Because the garden is frost-free it can accommodate tropical and sub-tropical plants, including special collections of ferns, palms, eucalyptus and figs. The eucalyptus and figs were brought to the garden during its early years, before they became widespread in the Los Angeles region.[7] Plants are arranged by geographic, taxonomic or cultural needs to demonstrate to students and visitors how specimens are related to one another.

Within the garden, you'll find various themed sections, such as the California Native garden, the Mediterranean Garden, the Hawaiian Garden, the Ancient Forest Section, and many more, allowing visitors to explore the diversity of flora from different parts of the world.[8]

The herbarium, which hosts 150,000 specimens, is curated by Dr. Anthony Baniaga. The hebarium also has a special library dedicated to botanical literature and journals.[9]

Notable specimens edit

The garden includes a large dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides),[10] from China, an endangered species that was once thought to be extinct.

There is also a large Torrey Pine, a rare tree found mainly in San Diego, California, which has its own nature reserve in San Diego.

In the Hawaiian Section, there are many colorful Hawaiian hibiscus plants, which is also the state flower of Hawaii.

The palm section contains palms native to parts around the world, including the Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis), the Spiny fiber palm (Trithrinax acanthocoma), Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii), and Texas Palmetto (Sabal mexicana).

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "A living museum at UCLA - the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden". YouTube.
  2. ^ "Plan Your Visit". 6 February 2017.
  3. ^ Marina Dundjerski, UCLA: The First Century (Los Angeles: Third Millennium Publishing, Ltd./UCLA History Project/UCLA Alumni Association, 2011), p. 61.
  4. ^ Marina Dundjerski, UCLA: The First Century (Los Angeles: Third Millennium Publishing, Ltd./UCLA History Project/UCLA Alumni Association, 2011), p. 280.
  5. ^ Marina Dundjerski, UCLA: The First Century (Los Angeles: Third Millennium Publishing, Ltd./UCLA History Project/UCLA Alumni Association, 2011), p. 281.
  6. ^ "History".
  7. ^ Kathleen McCormack, "The Garden Lover's Guide to the West," Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press, 2000, p. 75
  8. ^ "Garden Collections".
  9. ^ https://www.botgard.ucla.edu/ucla-herbarium/?avia_forced_reroute=1
  10. ^ "Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden".

External links edit

  • The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden - Official website
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden.

February 13, 2024
mildred, mathias, botanical, garden, acre, botanical, garden, with, over, species, plants, located, southeastern, corner, university, california, angeles, ucla, campus, named, after, mildred, esther, mathias, hassler, 1906, 1995, noted, american, botanist, dir. The Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden is a 7 acre 2 8 ha botanical garden with over 3 000 species of plants 1 located on the southeastern corner of the University of California Los Angeles UCLA campus It is named after Mildred Esther Mathias Hassler 1906 1995 a noted American botanist The director is Victoria Sork It is also the only free public botanical garden in the Greater Los Angeles area 2 Mildred E Mathias Botanical GardenAloes at the gardenMildred E Mathias Botanical GardenShow map of the Los Angeles metropolitan areaMildred E Mathias Botanical GardenShow map of CaliforniaMildred E Mathias Botanical GardenShow map of the United StatesTypePublicLocationLos Angeles California United StatesNearest cityLos AngelesCoordinates34 03 57 N 118 26 28 W 34 065788 N 118 441157 W 34 065788 118 441157Area7 acres 2 8 ha Created1906 1906 by Mildred Esther Mathias HasslerStatusOpen year roundWebsiteThe Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden Contents 1 History 2 Collections 3 Notable specimens 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editUCLA s botanical garden was started as an academic laboratory shortly after the Westwood Los Angeles campus opened in 1929 on seven acres preserved for that purpose near the arroyo on the east side of the campus It was funded in part by the California State Relief Administration created by newly elected Governor Frank Merriam in 1933 to provide jobs through municipal work projects 3 The garden s first manager George C Groenewegen started with horticultural donations from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Huntington Botanical Gardens among others By 1947 the garden hosted approximately 1 500 different species and varieties of plants 4 In the 1960s garden director Mildred E Mathias who oversaw the garden from 1956 to 1974 helped to develop it into the university garden and opened it for public tours 5 The UCLA Botanical Garden of the 1950s included special sections of eucalyptus and other Australian plants gymnosperms palms succulents aquatics and camellias The original native vegetation had been removed but was replaced by a horticultural display of California perennials A lathhouse for teaching and research was completed in the northwestern corner of the garden in 1952 Franklin Murphy supported a project to build the recycling stream and ponds Then with the construction of the La Kretz Botany Building a sunny area was set aside for a permanent experimental garden where plants were grown for exciting cytological studies by the botany faculty Since the early 1960s efforts have been made to grow plants from the tropics and subtropics especially those with magnificent flowers e g the Bignoniaceae The Garden has not suffered a freeze since winter 1948 49 In 1979 the facility was named the Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden to honor Dr Mathias for her numerous contributions to horticulture By then the collection had become forest like Dr Arthur C Gibson was hired as Director in 1980 and began a program to admit more sunlight hence providing opportunities for many sun loving groups of plants to grow Periodically areas of the Garden were renovated to establish special collections including Malesian rhododendrons the lily alliance bromeliads cycads ferns mediterranean type climate shrubs e g chaparral and native plants of the Hawaiian Islands Other exciting special collections are planned and will be established in the future as funding becomes available The Nest an outdoor classroom with semicircular bench seating was constructed by the Garden staff and dedicated in 1996 to the memory of Hazel Lisa Kath McMurran a UCLA alumna Later that year a massive effort was undertaken to build new paths on the western side of The Garden The gently sloped new paths and entrances provide access to The Nest and special collections to all visitors including those with physical disabilities 6 The garden is maintained by a full time dedicated staff and around 30 student volunteers Collections editBecause the garden is frost free it can accommodate tropical and sub tropical plants including special collections of ferns palms eucalyptus and figs The eucalyptus and figs were brought to the garden during its early years before they became widespread in the Los Angeles region 7 Plants are arranged by geographic taxonomic or cultural needs to demonstrate to students and visitors how specimens are related to one another Within the garden you ll find various themed sections such as the California Native garden the Mediterranean Garden the Hawaiian Garden the Ancient Forest Section and many more allowing visitors to explore the diversity of flora from different parts of the world 8 The herbarium which hosts 150 000 specimens is curated by Dr Anthony Baniaga The hebarium also has a special library dedicated to botanical literature and journals 9 Notable specimens editThe garden includes a large dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 10 from China an endangered species that was once thought to be extinct There is also a large Torrey Pine a rare tree found mainly in San Diego California which has its own nature reserve in San Diego In the Hawaiian Section there are many colorful Hawaiian hibiscus plants which is also the state flower of Hawaii The palm section contains palms native to parts around the world including the Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis the Spiny fiber palm Trithrinax acanthocoma Pygmy Date Palm Phoenix roebelenii and Texas Palmetto Sabal mexicana Gallery edit nbsp South entrance to garden nbsp Alberta magna nbsp Plectranthus barbatus nbsp The Nest outdoor classroom nbsp Asclepias curassavica nbsp Bamboo nbsp A photo of the garden nbsp A Torrey Pine in front of the school of dentistry nbsp One of the Trails in the GardenSee also editMildred Esther Mathias nbsp Gardening portalList of botanical gardens in the United States California native plants South Coast Botanic Garden Santa Barbara Botanic Garden California Botanic Garden Manhattan Beach Botanic GardenReferences edit A living museum at UCLA the Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden YouTube Plan Your Visit 6 February 2017 Marina Dundjerski UCLA The First Century Los Angeles Third Millennium Publishing Ltd UCLA History Project UCLA Alumni Association 2011 p 61 Marina Dundjerski UCLA The First Century Los Angeles Third Millennium Publishing Ltd UCLA History Project UCLA Alumni Association 2011 p 280 Marina Dundjerski UCLA The First Century Los Angeles Third Millennium Publishing Ltd UCLA History Project UCLA Alumni Association 2011 p 281 History Kathleen McCormack The Garden Lover s Guide to the West Princeton Princeton Architectural Press 2000 p 75 Garden Collections https www botgard ucla edu ucla herbarium avia forced reroute 1 Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden External links editThe Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden Official website nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden amp oldid 1198256587, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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