Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (JBG) is located in the neighborhood of Nayot in Jerusalem, on the southeastern edge of the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [1]
The garden is arranged in phytogeographic sections, featuring flora of various regions around the world.
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens opened to the public in 1985. The tropical conservatory opened in 1986 and the South Africa section was planted in 1989. The Hank Greenspan Entrance Plaza, Dvorsky Visitors’ Center and restaurant were built in 1990.
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[edit] History
The first plot of land was purchased on Mount Scopus in 1926. Plans for the botanical garden were drawn up by Alexander Eig, chairman of the Botany Department of the Hebrew University, based on the flora of the Land of Israel from Mount Lebanon to the desert. Planting began in 1931. In 1948, in the Israeli War of Independence, access to Mount Scopus and the university campus was cut off. When an alternative campus was built in Givat Ram in 1954, a new botanical garden was planted near the Jewish National and University Library, including a unique collection of Coniferae. In 1962, a rocky hill in the southeastern corner of the campus was planted with conifers from North America. Budgeting was a serious problem until 1975, when the Society of Friends of the Botanical Gardens was established and the garden became a joint project of the university, the Jewish municipality and the Jewish National Fund. A scientific board was appointed, and architect S. Aharonson was commissioned to plan the layout. In 1981, the Garden Association was founded, and a board of executives appointed. The garden was opened to the public in 1985. In 1994, it separated from the Hebrew University, and has been managed by the Botanical Garden Association since 1996. [2]
