The Gardens is a 27-acre public teaching garden focused on expanding Texas A&M’s research and outreach by building a living classroom for educational, inspirational and recreational experiences while enriching guests’ appreciation and enjoyment of “The Aggie Experience.” To read more about our mission & core values, click here.
The Gardens at Texas A&M University includes a wide-ranging collection of gardens spanning not only an impressive expanse of acreage, but also an impressive array of horticultural disciplines. When students and visitors come to The Gardens, they’ll see everything from delicate flowers to hearty crops and from buzzing fauna to serene flora. This medley of spaces will be Aggies’ home for learning, entertaining, relaxing, studying and much more.
What inspired The Gardens?
The creative team behind The Gardens saw a need growing on campus – the need to enrich lives by connecting people with the living world of horticulture. The importance of plants to life on earth is immeasurable. We depend upon them for the air we breathe, the food we eat, the shelter we need, and the medicine we can’t live without. Through our numerous programs and educational materials, guests can learn about ecosystems, growing food, growing plants, conserving water, and much more. In addition, recreation and events in our tranquil and eclectic landscapes will bring the community together.
How have The Gardens grown?
Texas A&M University is home to one of the largest and busiest campuses in the nation. As it grows each year, the amount of green space disappears. So in 1998, the Board of Regents designated White Creek and the surrounding riparian area, the West Campus Greenway.
In 2011, Former Vice Chancellor and Dean Dr. Mark Hussey initiated a project to turn the area into The Gardens. Visible construction began in January 2015, starting with the restoration of White Creek. The creek was stabilized and two pedestrian bridges were installed with a limited trail system. The bridges and trails across the creek and property link students from White Creek Apartments to the AgriLife Complex and the rest of campus.
Phase I
The entire Gardens project encompasses approximately 27 acres north of John Kimbrough Boulevard behind the Texas A&M AgriLife Complex. Phase I (opened June 2018) includes the construction of the Leach Teaching Gardens, which include 21 themed gardens, an outdoor classroom, an event lawn, demonstration area, and pavilion.
Future phases will include outdoor venues for the performing arts, films, celebrations and social events. The Grove, the original outdoor venue for such events, will be recreated at The Gardens in coming phases, as well as a children’s garden, rose garden and feed-the-world themed courtyard.
More information on continuing plans for the Gardens can be found here.
The master plan was developed initially by Texas A&M Landscape Architecture graduate students and revised by Rottenberry Wellen Architects and White Oak Studio.
Ready to explore the Gardens? Head to our Visit page for more information.
