See ‘Buddha’s Hand’ when new exhibit opens at Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko

“We’re reimaging everything,” said Joe Mannion, director of Horticulture & Operations at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

The multi-million-dollar expansion plan that the Botanical Gardens started several years ago is gaining momentum, and Mannion gave me a sneak peek at the next transformation: Greenhouse 12 will become the home for a new collection of fascinating edible plants.

Other revamped exhibits will include a seasonal pollinator exhibit and a family play space inside the existing historic conservatory, as well as expanded gardens outdoors.

And there’s more! A new building will be constructed that will include:

• A grand visitor entrance
• State‐of‐the‐art educational classrooms
• Expanded spaces for events
• Updated grow houses
• A larger gift shop
• Other much-needed visitor amenities

The project aims to ensure that impact on the environment is minimal.

The Botanical Gardens and Erie County Department of Public Works recently announced that they selected Wendel, in partnership with lead architects: Bucholz McEvoy Architects, to design the multi-million-dollar expansion.  

Here’s the timeline:

• Exhibit updates inside the existing conservatory will begin in spring 2024.
• Construction on the new building will begin in late 2024 and will open in late 2026.
• The all-encompassing expansion is anticipated to be completed in 2027. The Botanical Gardens will remain open during all renovations and use of the historic conservatory will be minimally disrupted.

“This project will greatly enhance the Botanical Gardens and create spaces and experiences that will keep visitors coming back for generations,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

The expansion will “provide a seamless and updated experience for our community, international botanical gardens enthusiasts, and tourists visiting our region,” said Mark Mortenson, president and CEO of the Botanical Gardens.

Dean Gowen, Wendel’s senior landscape architect, added, “This includes the opportunity to complete Olmsted’s original landscape vision for the overall Botanical Gardens experience and integrate the new facility expansion seamlessly into the surrounding park setting.” (The Botanical Gardens is situated in South Park, which is part of the park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted more than 150 years ago.)

Edible plants exhibit

You may have heard about macadamia nuts, but what about ‘Buddha’s Hand’ citron, peanut butter fruit or miracle berry tree?

When the edible plant exhibit opens in Greenhouse 12, you’ll be able to learn about many fascinating food plants from around the world.

Macadamia nut

The macadamia nut tree or Macadamia integrifolia is native to Australia, said Andrea Masterson, horticulturist and plant collections manager. The nuts were first commercially produced in Hawaii in the 1880s.

“Now they can pretty much be found anywhere around the world,” she said, including areas of the continental United States that have climates warmer than ours.

The trees can start producing nuts when they are five to eight years old and can live up to 100 years old.

‘Buddha’s Hand’ citron

The ‘Buddha’s Hand’ citron or lemon got its name because the fruit looks like fingers on a hand. See the photo at the beginning of this article.

“It’s native to India and China,” Masterson said. “The fruits are used in religious ceremonies, for medicine and for perfume—it’s citrusy.”

I was able to see the plant when it had fruit, and chances are good that you’ll be able to see it, too.

“The fruit stays on for six months at least,” she said.

Peanut butter fruit

“It tastes like peanut butter and has the consistency of a fig,” Masterson said of the peanut butter fruit or Bunchosia armeniaca.

Native to South America, the olive-sized fruits are oval and ripen to a deep, glossy, orange-red. The tree will produce two fruits per flower stem.

Miracle berry

The miracle berry contains a substance that, when you eat the fruit before eating sour or tart foods, those foods taste sweeter.

Native to tropical West Africa, the miracle berry, or Synsepalum dulcificum, is grown on an evergreen shrub.

Help the project along

The horticulturists have already been preparing plants for the new edible plants exhibit, even though that space won’t be open until spring.

“Trees are expensive,” Mannion said, so the horticulturists bought the trees small and have been nurturing them in the growing area in the Administration Building.

“We now have probably 75 percent of the trees we want to put in,” Masterson said.

Your donations can help purchase the rest of the edible trees and support other needs. See more here.

Other features of this exhibit are interpretive signage, new hardscapes and a brand new pathway.

Half of the path was finished three weeks ago. It starts in the Palm Dome, but stops at a currently inaccessible area. When completed, the path will wind through that area, leading visitors through the edible plants exhibit in Greenhouse 12. 

The path will be dedicated to Mary Ann Kresse, a long-time supporter of the Botanical Gardens.