By Barbara Arnstein
Do you remember the magical moment in the first movie about Willie Wonka, when the kids first see the candy meadow he’s made? They’ve just entered a big building, but inside it’s as though they’re outside, and they see all kinds of unusual flowers and trees. Entering the awesome dome at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a magical experience a lot like that one. Walk inside, and suddenly you’re in a tropical spot. Look up and you’ll see towering trees, look down and you’ll see beautiful blooms. Stroll around, and you’ll see incredible orchids, bamboo, begonias and bonsai, shrubs and succulents. There are corridors of cacti, fabulous fountains, a wonderful waterfall, a pond full of colorful koi fish and many more surprises (ever see carnivorous plants?). In this freezing season, you can easily escape to a warm world.
In the center of the dome, there’s an art gallery, and until February 26th you can see an exhibit (it’s included with admission) featuring the paper cut patterns of Kiyomi Millar. She’s creatively cut layers of paper into lovely, illuminated images of bees, dragonflies, flowers, flying birds, and more.
On certain mornings, up to fifteen lucky visitors get to feed the exotic koi fish. Just like the children who get to be the first to see inside Wonka’s world of wonder, your kids can be the first ones inside, on a morning you choose. This is possible at 9:30am on January 13th, 20th, & 27th, February 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th, March 9th, 16th, & 23rd, April 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th 13th, &27th, May 4th, 18th, & 25th, June 1st, 8th, 22nd, & 29th, July 13th, 20th & 27th, August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st, September 7th, 14th & 28th, October 5th, 12th 7 19th, November 2nd, 16th, 23rd, 29th & 30th and December 7th. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time. Admission is included. The cost for adults and students 13 and up is $22, and for kids three to twelve, it’s $16. Kids two and under are free but must have a ticket.
Photo/Barbara Arnstein
Admission for adults to the Gardens is $16.50 Seniors 62-plus get a $1.50 discount, and so do students thirteen years old and older, with a student I.D. For kids from three to twelve it’s $9. Children two years old and younger, and members are free, but must have a ticket. There are seasonal outdoor gardens that are always free and open to the public. The Gardens are open seven days a week, from 10am-4pm, except March 12th-13th, September 20th, November 8th, 19th, 20th & 28th, and December 25th, 2024. There are limited hours on a few other days. The Gardens are located at 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY. For more information, go to buffalogardens.com or call (716) 827-1584