Learning in Paradise: The Role of Botanic Gardens in University Education

Abstract

The word garden, while diverse in its application, is related to the word paradise. Both refer to enclosed places where plants grow. The botanic garden has a more precise meaning, referring to plant collections designed for display, research, and education. Botanic gardens have been venues for university education for more than five centuries. Today, they are underutilized, even though they remain essential components of sound education in botany, as well as many other disciplines. Skills sought by many employers, including plant identification, are skills that are best taught with living plants. Educational experiences in natural areas are also important, and they cannot be replicated in gardens. Yet, gardens offer many benefits with respect to teaching. These include accessibility, diversity of collections, and the opportunity for frequent repeat visits. Learning in botanic gardens also offers a pleasant respite from the hectic college campus, and the aesthetic garden’s environment is conducive to learning and creativity. The garden itself is perhaps the prime example of the human–nature relationship; yet, far too often we discuss this only in the classroom. Collaborative links between gardens and universities is the key to fully realizing the potential of gardens for university education. A well-equipped teaching lab situated within a garden creates the ideal situation for botanical education, but much can be done without it. With a few cutting tools, magnification devices, and a modest teaching space, any botanical garden can become a valuable venue for teaching and research.