New Canaan Nature Center
The New Canaan Nature Center is a botanical garden, arboretum and nature preserve located at 144 Oenoke Ridge, Route 124, about north of the center of New Canaan, Connecticut.
The nature center includes wet and dry meadows, two ponds, wet and dry woodlands, dense thickets, an old orchard, and a cattail marsh, as well as a greenhouse. Landscaped areas of the site include a wildflower garden, a herb garden and a perennial border. About 90% of the plant specimens in the wildflower garden are native species, including bloodroot, columbine, mayapple, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild geranium, Solomon's plume, starflower, and trillium. Shade-loving perennials include bleeding heart, crested iris, Jacob's ladder, hepatica, European ginger and Virginia bluebells. Azaleas, rhododendrons and a stand of mountain laurel also feature.
The center also contains a small arboretum of Sciadopitys verticillata, Chamaecyparis pisifera Squarrosa, Chamaecyparis pisifera Plumosa, Pinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’, Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’, Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’, Cercis canandensis, Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum-Pendula’, Pinus cembra and Picea apies ‘Repens’.
New Canaan Nature Center features many nature programs throughout the year, including the Fall Fair every October, and maple sugaring celebrations in early spring.
