The Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens is a public botanical garden situated on the campus of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Establishment and Naming
The garden was established in 2000 following a major philanthropic donation from the Irving family. It is named in honour of Harriet Irving (1901 – 1992), a noted Canadian philanthropist and supporter of education and the arts.
Location and Size
The garden occupies approximately 1.7 hectares (about 4.2 acres) of the UNB campus, adjoining the campus’s Faculty of Science and the Atlantic Canada Technical University research facilities.
Mission and Management
Its stated mission is to promote the conservation, study, and public appreciation of native and cultivated plant species of Atlantic Canada. The garden is administered by the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens Foundation, a registered charitable organization that works in partnership with UNB’s Departments of Biology and Marine Biology.
Collections and Features
The garden’s plant collections focus on native Atlantic Canadian flora and include:
- A native woodland garden featuring a variety of trees, shrubs, and understory plants.
- A meadow and meadow‑edge area that showcases native grasses and wildflowers.
- A wetland pond and bog garden representing local aquatic and semi‑aquatic species.
- An ornamental herb garden with both native and non‑native horticultural cultivars.
Interpretive signage, walking trails, a visitor centre, and occasional outdoor exhibitions provide educational resources for visitors and school groups.
Public Access and Programs
Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens is open to the public year‑round, with free admission. The garden offers guided tours, seasonal workshops, and curriculum‑aligned educational programs for primary and secondary schools, as well as community outreach events such as plant‑identification walks and citizen‑science projects.
Research and Conservation
The garden supports faculty and graduate‑student research in plant ecology, horticulture, conservation biology, and climate‑change impacts on native plant communities. It also serves as a field site for UNB‑affiliated research projects and collaborates with regional conservation organizations.
Recognition
The garden is recognized as a regional hub for native‑plant conservation and education in Atlantic Canada and contributes to provincial initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity.
Note: All information presented is based on documented public sources and the garden’s official communications.
