Lauritzen Gardens

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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

For comparison, I looked at Des Moines' botanical center attendance and for the most recent full year, they only had 55,000. Nice to see Lauritzen should easily have 4x as many people.
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iamjacobm
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by iamjacobm »

One of the few notable places that I have never been to in town. Might have to make a trip when the colors start to change.
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Brad »

The Lauritzen Gardens were looking great on Saturday!

1. Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory
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2. Gazebo on a small pond leading up to the new Administrative Offices Building. This pond is the last in a series of four ponds that clean the rainwater that runs off the administrative office parking lot.
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3. The trail leading from the gardens up to the new Administrative Offices Building. This pond is the third in a series of four ponds that clean the rainwater that runs off the administrative office parking lot.
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4. This is the same trail as photo three, but looking back the other way. So pond three is on the left. The first two ponds are on the right, they are small and actually look like one pond, but there is a berm dividing them in the middle.
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5. The new offices also harvests rain water. The water is actually collected in to a tank below ground then then pumped up in to this tank above ground for storage.
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6. One other thing I noticed, there are now 3 ponds surrounding Mt Fuji. This is not the new one, just a photo to remind me. There were the two smaller ponds on the south side of Mt Fuji, but now there is a much larger one on the north side.
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If you haven't been, the Lauritzen Gardens are absolutely worth a trip!

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nativeomahan
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by nativeomahan »

Lauritzen is truly an amazing place, and destined to only get better as the Japanese Gardens area is developed in the coming years.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Omaha_corn_burner »

nativeomahan wrote:Lauritzen is truly an amazing place, and destined to only get better as the Japanese Gardens area is developed in the coming years.
I disagree that it is amazing, but I agree that it can only get better. The conservatory is pretty impressive.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

Free admission this Sunday from 9-5. With the weather expected to be perfect, I wonder if there is going to be all the same parking problems as last time.
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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We went to Check out Holiday Poinsettia Show Aglow at the Gardens Sunday Night.

Here are a few photos:

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EATapodcast
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by EATapodcast »

That blue palm tree left me awestruck. Brad you've done it again. Which is your favorite of the bunch?
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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

Great photos!

Have they had this event in the past? I don't remember hearing about it.
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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EATapodcast wrote:That blue palm tree left me awestruck. Brad you've done it again. Which is your favorite of the bunch?
Thanks, probably #10. I really wish I could get in there with a tripod and no people, I could really get some good photos then. These are all hand held with my camera settings cranked way up and trying to dodge people.
skinzfan23 wrote:Great photos!

Have they had this event in the past? I don't remember hearing about it.
Thanks, no this is the first year of being opened at night.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Brad wrote:
Thanks, probably #10.
It's a lovely shot. Have you tried contacting the garden director to ask for permission or talking with the closing manager?
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nativeomahan
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by nativeomahan »

Wonderful photos of a what is fast becoming an important annual Omaha tradition,
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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EATapodcast wrote:It's a lovely shot. Have you tried contacting the garden director to ask for permission or talking with the closing manager?
Yes, there have been some discussions.
nativeomahan wrote:Wonderful photos of a what is fast becoming an important annual Omaha tradition,
Yes, they sure do make it better and better each year.
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Brad »

The LEGOs are back. Some sculptures are the same and some are different. Apparently there are 3 different "Nature Connects" traveling exhibits and this is the 3rd of the 3 to come to Omaha.

January 14 through May 15
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

Awesome pics as always Brad. Those are pretty impressive with legos.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Thanks! They really are impressive to see.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Brad »

Beautiful time of year to get to the gardens. We went yesterday and a lot of things outisde were starting to bloom. The front room in the conservatory was probably in peak bloom a week or two ago, but there was still plenty of color in there too.

Few photos from yesterday:

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4. Wildlife too
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6. Inside the front room of the conservatory.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

Love that last pic.
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Brad
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Brad »

skinzfan23 wrote:Love that last pic.
Thanks, that was in the first furthest south room in the conservatory.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

They had over 10,000 in attendance yesterday alone to see the Big Stinko. No doubt this year is going to be another record year for attendance.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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skinzfan23 wrote:They had over 10,000 in attendance yesterday alone to see the Big Stinko. No doubt this year is going to be another record year for attendance.
Wow. I heard that the lines were long but that is a huge number.
I also heard that parking at the zoo and surrounding neighborhoods was crazy.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by nebugeater »

skinzfan23 wrote:They had over 10,000 in attendance yesterday alone to see the Big Stinko. No doubt this year is going to be another record year for attendance.

I cannot image 10,000 going through there in a single day, even with extended hours. The parking had to be a nightmare.
For the record  NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER    !!!!!!!
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by GRANDPASMUCKER »

I went and seen the Big Stinko Wednesday about 5pm and they were packed but there was no lines. Admission was free and the Big Stinko kept people amused for all of about 20 seconds. It was all going fairly smooth. Stinko was a stinker but he didn't stink because he don't stink until he blooms :roll: Turns out we been waiting for it to bloom all week and it bloomed Saturday night while they were closed because someone had rented out the place for a wedding. Free admission is what got us all down there ........it is what it is! We used that Big Stinker as a free pass to get in take a look around. The place is pretty darn nice without a doubt. It is a spectacular building in a pretty cool place on that bluff.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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We arrived just after 7am on Sunday morning. Waited in line about 45 min before we saw stinko. Unfortunately most of the smell was already gone by then. Whoever the luck wedding party was the night before sure got an extra treat.

Snapped a quick photo of Stinko as we walked by.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by skinzfan23 »

Some pretty nice numbers from the article in the World Herald this morning:
In the years since, annual attendance has jumped from 5,000 in 1995 to 271,565 in 2017; memberships from 500 to 13,395. The nonprofit garden has added a 32,000-square-foot visitor and education center and a 17,500-square-foot conservatory. And, perhaps most telling of the development at Lauritzen Gardens, the staff has grown from one full-time, year-round employee — Crews — to more than 70.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by Brad »

The Amazing Stinko is back: The corpse flower is about to bloom at Lauritzen Gardens

https://www.omaha.com/living/the-amazin ... 26003.html
Chris Peters / World-Herald staff writer wrote:Based on the flower’s 2017 growth pattern, The Amazing Stinko could bloom on July 7 or 8, but Jenkins stressed the plant's unpredictability .

During the 2017 bloom, the garden offered free admission so the public could witness the historic first bloom. That’s not the case this year. Visitors will have to pay admission.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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That's my 7 year old grandson Leo playing with the Lego pieces in the KETV video. I took him down to see the Sean Kenney display, loves Legos! :D
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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We visited the Gardens yesterday. We went to the Japanese garden area for the first time. There was a sign outlining an enhancement project that was to add a Japanese rock garden, three new Torii gates, a boardwalk over the pond to connect the path around the Mound Fuji, and additional trees and other plantings. Project was slated for this summer, but I imagine the pandemic set it back. The Gardens received a gift to fund the project and the opening this year was to coincide with a visit from the Shizuoka sister city delegation to celebrate Omaha-Shizuoka's 55th anniversary of their sister city relationship. That celebration has been postponed for next year.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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We belong to Lauritzen Gardens, and love everything about it except the fact that the Japanese Garden has never moved forward beyond it’s infancy stage. I hope they finally get going on finishing it up. Japanese gardens are always tourist draws.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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ita wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 10:01 am We visited the Gardens yesterday. We went to the Japanese garden area for the first time. There was a sign outlining an enhancement project that was to add a Japanese rock garden, three new Torii gates, a boardwalk over the pond to connect the path around the Mound Fuji, and additional trees and other plantings. Project was slated for this summer, but I imagine the pandemic set it back. The Gardens received a gift to fund the project and the opening this year was to coincide with a visit from the Shizuoka sister city delegation to celebrate Omaha-Shizuoka's 55th anniversary of their sister city relationship. That celebration has been postponed for next year.
I spoke to the executive director today on my way out the center’s front door. I expressed my eagerness to see the Japanese garden built out. He indicated that there would be an announcement and a groundbreaking yet this month (September) for the next phase, which would include more sidewalks and plantings. He indicated that the next phase should be finished by next spring. He also stated that building a high end Japanese Garden is very expensive...maybe $25-30 million dollars, so it would take many years to complete that portion of the Gardens. A total of 5 acres has been set aside for the overall project.

I also asked what was being built near the front entrance...obviously a sculpture garden of sorts (with the sculpture installed but covered up with a tarp). It is to be completed and dedicated by Sunday September 20th. I was told the nature of the project, who it is to honor, and what the sculpture is of (think an Asian theme), but I will not divulge the details as the person it is being built to honor is not aware of it yet.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by ita »

nativeomahan wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2020 5:41 pm
ita wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 10:01 am We visited the Gardens yesterday. We went to the Japanese garden area for the first time. There was a sign outlining an enhancement project that was to add a Japanese rock garden, three new Torii gates, a boardwalk over the pond to connect the path around the Mound Fuji, and additional trees and other plantings. Project was slated for this summer, but I imagine the pandemic set it back. The Gardens received a gift to fund the project and the opening this year was to coincide with a visit from the Shizuoka sister city delegation to celebrate Omaha-Shizuoka's 55th anniversary of their sister city relationship. That celebration has been postponed for next year.
I spoke to the executive director today on my way out the center’s front door. I expressed my eagerness to see the Japanese garden built out. He indicated that there would be an announcement and a groundbreaking yet this month (September) for the next phase, which would include more sidewalks and plantings. He indicated that the next phase should be finished by next spring. He also stated that building a high end Japanese Garden is very expensive...maybe $25-30 million dollars, so it would take many years to complete that portion of the Gardens. A total of 5 acres has been set aside for the overall project.

I also asked what was being built near the front entrance...obviously a sculpture garden of sorts (with the sculpture installed but covered up with a tarp). It is to be completed and dedicated by Sunday September 20th. I was told the nature of the project, who it is to honor, and what the sculpture is of (think an Asian theme), but I will not divulge the details as the person it is being built to honor is not aware of it yet.
Thanks for the updates! I am glad to hear that the plans for the Japanese garden improvements are still a go. I kind of wish they had a master plan published, a la the zoo, to get people excited. Regardless, I am excited to see the next phase and this secret sculpture project for the front entrance.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by lisanstan »

I'm currently in Nashville visiting family. Went to Cheekwood last night to see the Chihuly exhibition (in the mansion and outdoors on the grounds). I wish Lauretzen had more evening outdoor events like this. I realize the sizes are different (Cheekwood is 55 acres), but the cool evening, people eating picnic dinners around the grounds, beer/wine/cocktail kiosks, made for a nice evening walk to see the lit displays. Their Japanese garden is beautiful.

https://cheekwood.org
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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New plant production center gives Lauritzen Gardens a place to grow

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Lauritzen Gardens broke ground Thursday on the Claire M. Hubbard Plant Production Center.

The $8 million, privately funded project will add a 24,000-square-foot plant production facility that will include four greenhouses, office space and workspace.

Grading and excavation work has begun on the site, which had been the children’s garden. That will be moved to where the old greenhouses are now and designed for the use of kids of all ages and abilities.

Also planned is an “oasis” building that will be a hub of activity and guest amenities in the back half of the garden and will provide two education-display greenhouse rooms, café space, modern restrooms and a lush outdoor plaza.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Where is the layout of this planning to be?
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Coyote wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:38 am Where is the layout of this planning to be?
Its fairly far back in there. Northwest of the Circle and Rose Garden, and Northeast of the Japanese gate area.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Brad wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:40 pm
Coyote wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:38 am Where is the layout of this planning to be?
Its fairly far back in there. Northwest of the Circle and Rose Garden, and Northeast of the Japanese gate area.
This seems to be a recent dwelling to be an addition of good size. Good land use…
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

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Brad wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:40 pm
Coyote wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:38 am Where is the layout of this planning to be?
Its fairly far back in there. Northwest of the Circle and Rose Garden, and Northeast of the Japanese gate area.
Here's a map
gardens.PNG
gardens.PNG (9.99 MiB) Viewed 1509 times
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by nativeomahan »

My husband and I are longtime members of the gardens, and enjoy walking the entire property several times per year, in all seasons. That said, I’m sorry but this is just a head scratcher to me. The Japanese Gardens languishes unfinished and now completely screened off from access. It has never had a self imposed deadline it has met. Moving the extensive greenhouses from their present tucked out of view location to where the popular Childrens Garden has long been located (essentially swapping places so that the new Childrens Garden will now be tucked out of view) just seems so low in importance at this point, when there is a potential huge new magnet to attract more members if they would ever finish the Japanese Gardens. No one comes to a botanical garden to see a greenhouse, every garden center has them.
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Re: Lauritzen Gardens

Post by omahahawk »

Yeah, I've been hoping for further work on the Japanese garden for years too. Hopefully, this will help to that end somehow if they are able to better grow and sustain more plants.
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