Botanical Garden of the Ozarks sees 100,000 visitors annually

by Jeff Della Rosa ([email protected]) 134 views 

Ashley Wardlow, executive director of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (BGO) is growing more than plants, trees, bees and butterflies. The Fayetteville nonprofit is also growing in visitors, staff, programs and plans for its 44 acres on the east side of Lake Fayetteville.

BGO had more than 100,000 visitors in 2023, up from over 70,000 annual visitors. It opened to the public in 2007 and comprises 12 themed gardens and the state’s only butterfly house.

Ashley Wardlow joined the organization as executive director one year ago. She previously was interim president and CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I have lived in Fayetteville for over a decade and have known about BGO and been this organization’s biggest fan for that time,” said Wardlow, adding that she wanted to give back to Fayetteville during her career.

When a family friend told her about the job opening, “I leaped at the opportunity,” she said.

“From there, it just became more and more attractive. I knew about the place. I love the place. Interviewing and connecting with the search committee gave me the chance to know the people. And that made all the difference.

“We’ve got a phenomenal professional staff … We also have a highly engaged, really talented board,” said Wardlow, noting that’s not always the case working alongside boards. BGO’s 10-member board comprises three members appointed by the city of Fayetteville.

Pamela Steider works at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.

“One of the things that I’ve enjoyed doing in this first year is building and strengthening those ties with our key collaborators like the city of Fayetteville but also with leaders of municipal governments within our region: The mayors of Springdale, Bentonville and Rogers — all are fabulous supporters — and we’re grateful because we are located in Fayetteville. But we are truly a regional amenity.”

Wardlow said she’s learned a lot and had a blast in her first year. She joked that she’s yet to learn how not to kill a house plant. “I’m working on that. That’s a goal for year two,” she said.

“This has been a year that we’ve focused on the talent that’s under our roof.”

PEOPLE FOCUS
BGO recently added new staff, including expanding its horticulture team and adding communications coordinator Madison Brown. It’s also promoted staff, including Molly Jones as director of education. BGO has 19 staff.

“We’ve got a great culture in-house and some really talented people who share baseline dedication to what we do and the role that we play for this community,” she said. The organization is “always looking for talent … We are looking for people who share our passion for what this organization is, for the mission, and for the work that we do … If you want to be connected with us, send me your contact information. And we may not have that position open today, but that’s always a conversation that we’re interested in having.”

She said the organization also has about 400 volunteers. Many work in the gardens, but some help with daily operations. BGO is an organization that connects “people with nature and with one another,” Wardlow said. “We are in that business, and one of the things that’s extraordinary to me about how this organization came to be in the landscape of Northwest Arkansas is that we actually opened our doors in ’07 …

“On the timeline for Northwest Arkansas’ regional amenities, that’s before Crystal Bridges. That’s before phrases like regional amenity and placemaking came into our shared vocabulary. So, for a group of friends in the mid-90s to look at each other and say, ‘This community needs a botanical garden.’ Then … through sheer force of will, bootstrap that into existence — with the support of the community … the support of the city of Fayetteville — is remarkable to me. And it is a legacy that I take really seriously and feel honored to steward.”

GROWTH TRAJECTORY
Wardlow said people who live in Northwest Arkansas know about the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, yet she thought it was a hidden gem.

“I couldn’t have been more wrong,” she said. “In 2023, we welcomed about 100,000 visitors from every single state and more than 10 countries. We are a stop for anyone who’s visiting this corner of Arkansas. We are home to the state’s only butterfly house. I think that’s one of our brand differentiators. It’s also a cornerstone of how we tell the story of pollinators and how we fulfill our mission as it relates to environmental education.”

The butterfly house comprises “dozens and dozens” of native butterflies, she said. Peak season for butterflies is May to October. BGO also has an apiary for those who want to learn about bees.

Wardlow said there’s a mutual benefit to BGO’s and the region’s growth.

“Being located in Fayetteville, we are a no-brainer for folks who are visiting, if they’ve got a grandchild or a child who’s at the University of Arkansas,” she said. “As we look at where those folks are visiting us from, more often than not, they are from somewhere in the state of Arkansas. But if they’re not from Arkansas, the next state is Texas, believe it or not.”

She attributed this to the number of UA students from Texas. BGO hosts more than 6,000 students for field trips each year and has a partnership with the UA. Wardlow highlighted BGO’s educational component as “the core of what we do. It’s the heart of our mission.”

It is significant to its programs, such as Little Sprouts for those ages 3 and under who visit weekly from May to October, “to adults of all ages who want to hone their own gardening expertise,” she said. “Something I’m really excited about for Q1 of next year for people like me who have some improvement to make in the area of becoming a certified green thumb, we’re introducing … the Arkansas Gardening School.”

NEW PROGRAMS
She said the interactive sessions will take place from 9:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 and March 1. BGO’s horticulture team will be joined by community partners and collaborators, such as Northwest Arkansas chapters of master gardeners and naturalists. They’ll be invited for fireside chats and panel discussions, and attendees can ask gardening questions.

“Each day is going to wrap up with a make-and-take, so an opportunity to actually get your hands dirty before you go back home and start planning for your growing season in ’25,” she said. “And maybe I’ll learn how not to kill a house plant.”

This year, BGO received a grant to expand its vegetable garden, which provided over 1 ton of produce donated to area nonprofits serving food-insecure residents. Wardlow said the garden grows a variety of produce and is expected to continue to produce vegetables like leafy greens through early December.

During the first three weekends in December, BGO will host Winter Glow. The holiday event will feature more than 2,000 luminaria and lighting installations. Food trucks, warm beverages, and a bar with beer and wine will also be available. Each weekend will include different experiences, such as musical performances by area school children, a holiday market offering handmade items from area artists and merchants, and pop-up performances by area musicians.

Next year, the gardens are expected to undergo maintenance. BGO will use its new laser printer to replace plant labels and memorial plaques on benches and trees throughout the garden. Wardlow also wants to raise awareness about its south field adjacent to the greenway trail.

“We are interested in inviting more of those folks in who are out on the greenway trail, walking their dog or cycling, maybe didn’t have a visit to BGO on the agenda for the day, but how can we include them in the welcome that we extend to the community,” she said. “Part of the way we’ll do that is beginning to cultivate and develop the land that adjoins this footprint and that south field so that it is more attention-grabbing and leads those folks in. We will also be activating our bike racks, so that if you have biked here, you’ve got an easy and safe place to store your bike while you’re walking through the garden.”

Her long-term vision includes developing the south field. This might consist of a large-scale installation of native plants and a recreation of an Arkansas meadow, and moving and expanding the butterfly house.

BGO admission is free for members. For non-members, it’s $13 for adults and $6 for children. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Wednesday. It’s closed Thursdays. An event hall is available for private events, including weddings, parties and meetings. It hosts over 80 private events annually.