Muttart Conservatory: Difference between revisions

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Importing Wikidata short description: "Botanical garden in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada"
 
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[[File:Muttart{{Short Conservatoriesdescription|Botanical garden in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 01A.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]}}
{{Infobox Museummuseum
|name = Muttart Conservatory
|imagelogo = Muttart Conservatory Logo.svg
|imagesize logo_upright = 180px
|logo_alt = Logo for the Muttart Conservatories
|image = Muttart Conservatories Edmonton Alberta Canada 01A.jpg
|image_upright =
|alt = The Muttart Conservatories in the North Saskatchewan river valley in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
|caption = Muttart Conservatories entrance in August 2009
|map_type = Edmonton
|map_caption = Location in [[Edmonton]]
|latitude coordinates = {{coord|53.53522|-113.47650|display=inline}}
|established = {{Start date and age|1976}}
|longitude = -113.47650
|established = 1976
|dissolved =
|location = 9626 96A Street<br> NW, [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]
|type = [[Botanical garden]]
|visitorsowner = City of Edmonton
|visitors = 100,000<ref name="Gardentourism">{{cite book|last1=Benfield|first1=Richard W.|title=Garden tourism|date=2012|publisher=CABI|location=Wallingford|isbn=9781780641959|edition=New|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yWj4xCTTw6sC&q=Muttart+Conservatory+amount+of+visitors+average&pg=PA189|access-date=29 May 2016|language=en}}</ref>
|director =
|architect = [[Peter Hemingway]]
|curator =
|parking = On site (no charge)<ref name="transport">{{cite web|title=Plan Your Visit|url=http://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/muttart_conservatory/plan-your-visit.aspx|website=Edmonton - Muttart Conservatory|publisher=City of Edmonton|access-date=29 May 2016}}</ref>
|publictransit =
|publictransit = {{rint|edmonton|ets}} {{rint|light rail|1}}{{rint|edmonton|valley}} [[Muttart stop]]
|website = [http://www.muttartconservatory.ca/ Muttart Conservatory]
|website ={{URL|https://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/muttart-conservatory.aspx|Muttart Conservatory}}
}}
 
The '''Muttart Conservatory''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|t|ɑːr|t}}) is a [[botanical garden]] located in the [[North Saskatchewan river]] [[North Saskatchewan River valley parks system|valley]], across from downtownthe [[Downtown Edmonton, Alberta|downtown core]] in [[Edmonton]]., Alberta, Canada. One of the most wellbest-known landmarks of Edmonton, the [[conservatory (greenhouse)|conservatory]] consists of three city-operated greenhouses, public gardens, as well as four feature pyramids for display of plant species found across three biomes, with the fourth pyramid hosting as a seasonal display. A fifth minor skylight pyramid lights up the central foyer.
 
A donation from the Gladys and Merrill Muttart Foundation<ref>{{Cite web| url= http://www.muttart.org/ | title= Muttart Foundation| accessdateaccess-date= 2007-03-08}}</ref> provided momentum for the conservatory's construction, with the remaining funding supplied by the Province[[Executive Council of Alberta|Government of [[Alberta]] and the City of Edmonton. The conservatory is staffed and operated by the Edmonton Parks and Recreation Department.
 
The conservatory's unusual structure, designed by architect [[Peter Hemingway]] is composed of four glassed [[pyramids]] built around a central service core. The two larger' pyramids are 660 square metres in area, and the two medium-sized ones are 410 square metres in size. Three of the pyramids are devoted to displays of plants from the tropical, temperate, and arid regions respectively, the fourth being used for shows that change with the seasons and which feature massed displays of ornamental flowering plants.
 
==Architecture==
The conservatory's unusual structure, designed by architect [[Peter Hemingway]], is composed of four glassed [[pyramids]] built around a central service core. The two larger' pyramids are {{convert|660 square metres|m2|ft2}} in area, and the two medium-sized ones are {{convert|410 square metres|m2|ft2}} in size. Three of the pyramids are devoted to displays of plants from the tropical, temperate, and arid regions respectively, the fourth being used for shows that change with the seasons and which feature massed displays of ornamental flowering plants.
[[Image:Inside of muttart conservatory.jpg|thumb|left|Plants and shrubs of tropics inside of Muttart Conservatory]]
The '''Temperate Pyramid''' houses plants typical of temperate climes, from such zones as the southern [[Great Lakes]], [[Australia]], and even the mountainous areas of [[Asia]]. Near the entrance and fed by a stream is a bog area, with white water lilies and parrot's feather. The bog merges into a woodland with mostly eastern deciduous trees and low shrubs but including redwoods, cedars and [[pampas grass]]. [[Eucalyptus]] trees and flowering shrubs complement the Australian section. In the woodland floor and alpine section are many tiny flowering plants, some native to Alberta and others from all over the world. Carefully controlled environmental conditions allow the plants to go dormant in winter and burst into spring growth of green leaves and colourful blooms.
 
==Biomes==
The plants from the '''Arid Pyramid''' come from the hot and cold dry areas spanning five continents. They share an ability to thrive in environments with dry air, irregular moisture and wide day/night temperature fluctuations. In spring 2013, the Arid Pyramid featured an Agave Americana plant bloom which reached a height of 30 feet before reaching the top of the pyramid. This plant was planted a year after the Muttart Conservatory first opened.
The '''Temperate Pyramid'''pyramid houses plants typical of temperate climesclimates, from such zones as the southern [[Great Lakes]], [[Australia]], and even the mountainous areas of [[Asia]]. Near the entrance and fed by a stream is a bog area, with white water lilies and parrot's feather. The bog merges into a woodland with mostly eastern deciduous trees and low shrubs but including redwoods, cedars, and [[pampas grass]]. [[Eucalyptus]] trees and flowering shrubs complement the Australian section. In the woodland floor and alpine section are many tiny flowering plants, some native to Alberta and others from all over the world. Carefully controlled environmental conditions allow the plants to go dormant in winter and burst into spring growth of green leaves and colourful blooms.
controlled environmental conditions allow the plants to go dormant in winter and burst into spring growth of green leaves and colourful blooms.
The plants from the '''Arid Pyramid'''pyramid come from the hot and cold dry areas spanning five continents. They share an ability to thrive in environments with dry air, irregular moisture and wide day/night temperature fluctuations. In spring 2013, the Arid Pyramid featured an Agave Americana plant bloom which reached a height of 30 feet before reaching the top of the pyramid. This plant was planted a year after the Muttart Conservatory first opened.
 
The '''Tropical Pyramid'''pyramid provides an enormous diversity of species; under a canopy of tall palms, banana and weeping fig are orchids, various hibiscus and the bird of paradise, to mention a few. The plants come from tropical rainforests, tropical evergreen forests or tropical grasslands, and are often showy and bright. A waterfall cascades into the centre of the pyramid where small fish and water lilies make their home. This pyramid has also been home in the past to a kiwi bird and a sloth. On March 11, 2013,<ref>{{cite news|last=Canadian Press|title=Stinky 'corpse flower' to bloom in Edmonton|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/stinky-corpse-flower-to-bloom-in-edmonton-1.1234588|accessdateaccess-date=11 April 2013|newspaper=CTVnews.ca|date=11 April 2013}}</ref> the bud to an imported [[Amorphophallus titanum]] plant (commonly known as the corpse flower) budded and bloomed here on April 22.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muttart Conservatory Page|title=Guess who decided to bloom last night!|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563920933630080|accessdateaccess-date=22 April 2013|newspaper=Facebook.com|date=22 April 2013}}</ref>
 
The '''Feature Pyramid'pyramid'' offers seasonal displays that change completely several times per year, providing new experiences for visitors.focusing Uniquelyon themed displays and fabulous seasonal celebrations highlight the creativity of the Muttart staff. Arriving with summer are geraniums, begonias, roses, and others.
 
Other amenities at the facility are an outdoor gazebo, gift shop, and the Culina Muttart Café. The café serves several menu items of soups, salads, and sandwiches made with locally- sourced ingredients, including herbs and salad greens grown on-site at the greenhouse.
 
The facility, owned and operated by the City of [[Edmonton]], is also a popular site for special events, such as [[wedding]]s. The conservatory underwent a $6.3 million renovation that was completed in June 2009.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.muttartconservatory.ca/pages/Muttart/News.aspx?id=338 |title=News<!-- Bot generated title -->] |access-date=2008-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508121416/http://www.muttartconservatory.ca/pages/Muttart/News.aspx?id=338 |archive-date=2009-05-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2009/06/26/edmontonnewly-renovated-muttart-renovationreopens-1.html789071 |title=Newly renovated Muttart reopens |publisher=CBC News |date=2009-06-26|accessdateaccess-date=2009-07-20}}</ref>
 
==See also==
Line 45 ⟶ 53:
File:Muttart Conservatories Edmonton Alberta Canada 11A.jpg|Dawn at the Muttart Conservatory
File:Muttart Conservatories Edmonton Alberta Canada 20A.jpg|Muttart Conservatory with downtown Edmonton in distance
ImageFile:Muttart Conservatory Edmonton Alberta Canada 01.jpg|Pyramid buildings of the Muttart Conservatory
ImageFile:Muttart.jpg|Muttart Conservatory from north side of [[North Saskatchewan River]]
File:Muttart Conservatories Edmonton Alberta Canada 13A.jpg|The Muttart Conservatory
File:Amorphophallus Flower 0155a.jpg|''[[Amorphophallus titanum]]'' flower at Muttart, 2015
File:Muttart Camphor.jpg|A [[Cinnamomum camphora|camphor tree]] in the tropical section.
</gallery>
 
==References==
{{reflistReflist}}
 
==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.muttartconservatory.ca/ Muttart Conservatory website]
 
{{Alberta parks}}
{{Edmonton landmarks}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Botanical gardens in Canada]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Edmonton]]
[[Category:VisitorTourist attractions in Edmonton]]
[[Category:Greenhouses in Canada]]
[[Category:Pyramids in Canada]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Alberta]]