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Experience the Wild Side
Endangered Species Garden Open at Mercer
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Walk along the winding pathways and spend time spotting fish in the waters of the Endangered Species Garden.
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Where can you relax to the sounds of running water over a beaver dam, look for native fish in a cool reflecting pond, and catch a glimpse of frogs, toads, and green herons? At Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden’s Endangered Species Garden, of course!
Thanks to initial grants from the River Oaks Garden Club and the Garden Club of Houston, and the hard work and dedication of volunteers and The Mercer Society, which raised additional funds, the renovated and expanded Endangered Species Garden is now open and is home to more than 25 threatened or endangered annual and perennial native plant species.
The area, situated adjacent to the daylily, vine, dry, and bulb (geophyte) gardens, includes an extensive woodland area, bogs, and a new observation bridge and walkways. Visitors can spot a variety of native fish, including sunfish, perch, catfish, mollies, and minnows. A few mild-mannered Asian koi have also been added to control algae. Additional help comes from the native water plants, such as hardy water lilies, which shade out algae. Hornwort and other submerged aquatic plants, as well as the floating plant frog-bit, also limit the growth of algae by removing nutrients from the water.
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| The Scarlet Catchfly is one of the newest additions to the Endangered Species Garden. |
In addition to frogs, toads, and tadpoles, visitors may catch a glimpse of harmless green- or yellow-striped ribbon snakes, as well as other wetland wildlife. Raccoon tracks are often spotted in the bogs.
Visitors can learn more about wildscaping their yards through signage located throughout the exhibit. Future enhancements to the garden include natural stone arches at the main entrances, which will complement the new seating walls and pathways. Permanent display boxes will be installed for educational literature and information for self-guided tours.
Educational signage is being developed for the rare native plants, as well as for the companion native plants used to enhance the displays or to provide shelter and shade for the rare plants. One of Mercer’s newest additions to the Center for Plant Conservation’s (CPC) National Collection of Endangered Plants is the rare Scarlet Catchfly (Silene subciliata), which can now be seen in the renovated sun garden.
By Anita Tiller, botanist
Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, Fall 2003 issue of The Parkscape
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