According to Liz Howell, president of the Searcy Greenkeeper’s Garden Club, Harding University’s First Ladies Garden has been elevated to ‘botanical garden’ status, with identifying markers increasing tourism and educational opportunities.
Arkansas garden club Women for Harding and Creative Group partnered with First Ladies Garden to achieve status, Howell said. She said the Greenkeepers Garden Club funded and installed the identification plates.
“In 2013, First Ladies Garden was approved by the Harding Board of Directors. [former Harding President David Burks’ wife] Thank you to Leah Burks and the other first ladies who have kindly served the college,” Howell said. “Blessed by God and the generosity of Harding’s loving alumni and friends, this dream has become a reality.”
Howell said the next step would be to obtain botanical status because gardens differ in landscaping, design and botanical collections. can now be advertised. [Department of Parks, Heritage and] Tourism as a botanical garden increases tourism and educational opportunities in Searcy. “
Another garden is also added to honor Harding’s new first lady, Lisa Williams, wife of Dr. Mike Williams, the university’s sixth president.
“Today, the gardens have five signature gardens that showcase the favorite flowers of five previous First Ladies, and a corridor has been created to connect the front lawn to Legacy Park,” said Howell. rice field.
Located between Shores Hall and Stevens Hall, the gardens are more than a beautification project, they include colonnades, secret gardens, outdoor classrooms, serendipity game areas, a wall of honor, Harding’s Women’s Water Feature, It features a bell tower, Howell said.
“By creating green spaces and places to remember, reflect, and recognize those who sowed seeds in our lives and in Harding’s history, the garden is a place of honor and about our ordinary women. We will give you the chance to speak, and you have done extraordinary things to honor God and His family,” Howell said.
A new Holland Waller Building is under construction, and Howell said it will continue Harding’s legacy of honoring women. “The gardens are open to the public and are now covered with Christmas lights,” says Howell. “There is no membership fee.”