Niner Nation

Students participate in Gold Rush Event, Fall 2021. Photo credit: Kat Lawrence.

Welcome Niner Nation!

This page is designed to highlight some of the opportunities that the Botanical Gardens have available especially for members of the UNC Charlotte community, including students, faculty, and staff.

Events

The Botanical Gardens offer free Gratitude in the Gardens meditative walks once a month. These walks are open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

Thank you to all who participated in the Spring Exam Week 2022 Gratitude Walks!

For Winter Exam Week, we will have one drop in Gratitude Walk exclusively for the UNC Charlotte community. Drop in, no registration required!

Monday 12/5 10:00-12:00 p.m.
Gratitude Walk: Art in the Gardens – Painting Rocks

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help individuals of all ages express oneself, explore emotions and instill hope and empowerment.

Rock painting – Rock painting is a rewarding wellness ritual that can help one heal and connect with others. The idea is to find a pebble or small rock within the space, leave an artistic mark or positive note on the surface and leave it in the same space for others to enjoy. The person who finds your surprise gift may experience a surge of mood-boosting emotions, since having a sense of community is foundational for feelings of safety and security.

The Botanical Gardens welcome new and returning students to the McMillan Greenhouse each August to explore what the Gardens and Greenhouse have to offer. Information about this year’s event is below. Learn more about Gold Rush here.

Fall 2022’s event is tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 22, 2022.
Discover the Green Heart of UNC Charlotte (9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.) – Students can complete a fun scavenger hunt in the Gardens, tag and share on social media, and receive one free plant per visitor. This event will be held on the lawn in front of the Greenhouse on the corner of Mary Alexander and Craver Road. A special Gold Rush “Gratitude in the Gardens” rock painting event with also take place in Polly’s Garden during this event.

Students, faculty, and staff all receive early access to our annual plant sales, and a 10% discount on Preview Day with their UNC Charlotte ID! Join our mailing list to make sure that you don’t miss a sale!

  • Fall Plant Sale: October 6-8, 2022. Preview day is Thursday, October 6 from 12-3 p.m.!
  • Orchid Sale: The week leading up to Valentine’s Day each year.
  • Spring Plant Sale: Early April each year.

See a full list of upcoming events at the Gardens here.

Visit

Did you know you can check out a hammock for free?? Drop in any time the Greenhouse is open, Monday – Friday, 9-4 and go swing from one of the hammock zones throughout the Gardens.
Have a picnic in the Gardens! There are several picnic tables scattered throughout the Van Landingham Glen, as well as a large picnic area next to the pond in the Susie Harwood Garden.
Check out an art kit! Art kits are available to check out for free any time the McMillan Greenhouse is open, Monday – Friday, 9-4.

Other fun ideas for a visit:

  • Family in town? Bring them on a tour! Parents love the Gardens.
  • Have a photo shoot! Graduates love taking pictures under our iconic Moon Gate! Just make sure you’re following our photo policies!
  • Go on a pollinator scavenger hunt!
  • and so much more! The Botanical Gardens and Greenhouse offer four season interest, so make sure to come back throughout the year. You can see a sample of what blooms in each season here.

PLEASE NOTE: Group tours and visits require advance registration. Click here to register:

Group Visit Registration

Collaborative Opportunities

There are many ways that we have collaborated with students, faculty, and staff in the past. Here’s a list of a few ideas of ways we can work together, and we are always open to new ideas!

  • Outdoor Classroom: we’ve hosted classes from various departments, from plein-air painting, to Shakespeare, to architecture, 3-d printing, sustainability, biology, and more!
  • Research collaborations: No better place for plant research than a Greenhouse!
  • Request a guest speaker: Our staff has expertise in botany, horticulture, agriculture, entomology, the plants we eat, evolution of food plants of the Carolinas and more!
  • Exhibit student’s work: we love to incorporate student art in our Gardens!
  • Departmental events: How can we work together! Each Earth Day, we host an annual “Gardens and Verses” event with the English department. What fun project could we do with YOUR department?
  • Student organization events: Our classroom and gardens are also available for small student events! Contact us at botanicalgardens@uncc.edu to see if your event is a good fit!

PLEASE NOTE: Group tours and visits require advance registration. Click here to register:

Group Visit Registration

Employment Opportunities for Students

The Gardens employ student workers as garden assistants. We accept applications on a rolling basis and hire each semester. For more information, contact Jennifer Bueno at jbueno2@uncc.edu.