I read an article recently on www.boston.com about the new Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI and was intrigued to visit. Although the Botanical Center is a work in progress (exterior landscaping is still being installed) the two greenhouses are filled with many interesting and fascinating palms, elephant ears, cannas, bouginvillea, cactus, fruiting plants, etc. among other tropical plants too many to name. In the second greenhouse, various New England and RI plant societies maintain display gardens including the NE Carnivorous Plant Society, RI Orchid Society, etc. as well as more water features and tropical plants.

A return visit is in order to see the completed walkways, stairs, retaining walls leading up to the Botanical Center. FYI: For visitors wishing to see tropical blooms, best time to see blooms is mid-February to May, then we see another surge from September to November. Whatever time of year you can visit, the tropical foliage is lovely year round as you can see in this album's photos taken in June 2008. Also a visit in June can be combined with the peak bloom period of the Victorian Rose Garden.

Some Websites

Roger Williams Botanical Center article on Boston.com

Roger Williams Botanical Center web site