Baton Rouge Botanic Garden at Independence Park

(Photos by Jennifer Tormo)

Exploring BREC’s Botanic Garden at Independence Park

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez

May 24, 2016

By May, the daylilies are in bloom at BREC’s Botanic Garden at Independence Park. They surround the garden’s sidewalks and benches in hues of fuchsia, bright red and banana yellow.

The garden is alive with bumblebees buzzing happily around the flowers, dragonflies dancing between the leaves and birds chirping overhead in towering trees. There are about 250 flowers and plants here, including roses, crepe myrtles, Louisiana irises and gingers. There’s also a butterfly garden and a sensory garden, where fragrant herbs and plants used for seasoning food grow.

The garden is maintained with the help of volunteers, and although it’s been around for 25 years, its keepers see it as a work in progress—a peaceful sanctuary they are always trying to make better. brec.org

Find the garden at Independence Boulevard between Airport and Lobdell avenues.

Check out some photos of the garden:

By Jennifer Tormo Alvarez

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez was the editor of “225” for nearly 11 years, leading the magazine through two print and digital redesigns, three anniversary years, a flood and the pandemic. She is obsessed with restaurant interiors, sparkling water, Scorpio astrology memes and, admittedly, the word “obsessed.” She is willing to travel to see indie bands in concert, but even better if they play a show at Chelsea’s Live.