405-371-2103 Serving Oklahoma Since 2001 405-371-2103
Myriad Gardens
Imagine entering a rainforest where it never
rains, visiting a desert where droughts always end and
experiencing a world of waterfalls, palm trees, butterflies and
orchids without ever opening your passport. You'll find it
all at The Oklahoma City Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal
Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Nestled in 17 acres of gently
rolling hills, The Crystal Bridge looks like a giant crystal
salt shaker tipped over on its side. Standing seven stories
high, you don't expect such an oasis in the center of
downtown Oklahoma City. Open to the public since 1988, over
1,300,000 visitors have enjoyed the misty tropical atmosphere
and exotic plant collections. The Crystal Bridge Tropical
Conservatory is the centerpiece of the garden. The
architecturally renowned garden was designed by city builders
I.M. Pei and Conklin Rossant Architects of New York, and is
made from 3,028 translucent acrylic panels. The lake under the
Crystal Bridge is fed by a natural aquifer. It is stocked with
Goldfish, Golden Orfes and Imperial Japanese Koi, some weighing
as much as 20 pounds. Upon entering the botanical gardens, you
will be greeted by Muffin and Bojangles, two Double
Yellow-Headed Parrots who liven up the lobby. The parrots are
tame and will speak to you if they are in the mood for
conversation. Past the parrots, you will see the brick wall
sculpture by artist Paula Collins. The three-dimensional, hand
carved bricks carry a tropical plant theme. Entering the south
end of the Crystal Bridge, the warm humid air surrounds you
like a warm blanket. The deep green foliage of the rainforest
spills over into your path. The plants in this area are from
Amazonia, Central Africa, S.E. Asia and the South Pacific
Islands and receive water every day. For a welcome break from
the warm air, turn left under the 35-foot waterfall that gently
cascades down the side of a realistic mountain. The path leads
you up to the top of the mountain, past the source of the
waterfall and the tropical Birds of Paradise (which, by the
way, is a plant not a bird). The natural looking rock
formations were created by taking latex molds from actual rock
outcroppings. When you have seen all there is to see on top of
the mountain, take the sky walk across the middle of the
tropical paradise and look down at the lush foliage and
brightly colored flowers. At the end of the sky walk you will
be in the dry tropics or monsoon-type climate at the north end
of the garden. These plants are put through a drought from
November to March of each year, followed by regular watering
during the summer months. Most of these specimens come from
South Africa, Madagascar and Mexico. On your way through the
bright yellow flowers of the Dry Mountain, watch for small
Anoles sunning themselves on the rocks. These quick little
chameleons arrived in the crystal Bridge by hitching a ride on
palm trees shipped from Florida. Because the conditions in the
Bridge are ideal, their numbers have increased
significantly.
To see more of these friendly creatures,
visit the Round Room in the heart of the Dry Mountain. This
small reptile collection is used for the educational programs
produced at the Gardens. Back on the ground in the Dry Tropics,
make your way to the Mediterranean or Californian Zone. The
plants thrive in a moderately dry climate, such as Southern
California, South Africa around the Cape, Spain, Italy, the
Middle East and Coastal Australia. This is a great place to
watch for the Zebra Longwing butterflies warming their black
and yellow wings in the sunshine. As you head back south over
the wooden bridge, you will notice bright-red flower bracts
that resemble red plastic pinecones. You won't be able to
miss the sweet-smelling orchids or the banana trees that
dominate the garden foliage. Leaving this tropical paradise,
back into the Oklahoma weather, check out the Crystal Bridge
gift Shop where you will find a fascinating array of botanical
and garden-related gifts. In addition to daily visits by local
and out-of-town admirers, the Myriad Botanical Gardens hosts
several major events each year. The Festival of the Arts in the
spring, Theatre at Twilight and Fourth of July Celebration in
the summer attract thousands of visitors to the Gardens
annually. The Myriad Botanical Gardens is located at 100 Myriad
Gardens on the corner of Reno and Robinson in downtown Oklahoma
City.
