Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens
Encyclopedia
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens (507 acres) is a nonprofit nature center with botanical garden
s located on the grounds of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
, on Highway 118 about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Fort Davis, Texas
, United States. They are open Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. An admission fee is charged.
The nature center is located at elevation of 5040 feet (1,536.2 m) in the Chihuahuan Desert
. It contains over 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails, and features springs and pools, interesting geology, and local flora and fauna, including the Montezuma Quail
and some of the largest madrone
trees in Texas.
The center's botanical gardens (20 acres) include some 165 species of trees, shrubs, and perennial forbs of the Chihuahuan Desert, as well as a greenhouse containing about 200 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti
.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s located on the grounds of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute or CDRI, incorporated in January 1974, is an independent non-profit, scientific and educational organization located on a tract in the foothills of the Davis Mountains...
, on Highway 118 about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Fort Davis, Texas
Fort Davis, Texas
Fort Davis is a census-designated place in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,050 at the 2000 census and 1,041 according to a 2007 estimate. It is the county seat of Jeff Davis County...
, United States. They are open Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. An admission fee is charged.
The nature center is located at elevation of 5040 feet (1,536.2 m) in the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
. It contains over 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails, and features springs and pools, interesting geology, and local flora and fauna, including the Montezuma Quail
Montezuma Quail
The Montezuma Quail is a stubby, secretive New World quail of Mexico and some nearby parts of the United States. It is also known as Mearns's Quail, the Harlequin Quail , and the Fool Quail .-Description:At about 22 cm , it is one of the shortest quails of North America, although it weighs 180 g...
and some of the largest madrone
Arbutus
Arbutus is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America.-Description:...
trees in Texas.
The center's botanical gardens (20 acres) include some 165 species of trees, shrubs, and perennial forbs of the Chihuahuan Desert, as well as a greenhouse containing about 200 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
.
See also
- List of botanical gardens in the United States
- Nature centerNature centerA nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...