Photo by David Philips: "Mural Finishing Touches" - Liam Stephens-Etheridge (age 13), a participant in the Youth Mural Program, puts the finishing touches on one of the murals in the Silva Creek Botanical GardenSilva Creek Botanical Garden, a living museum devoted to native plants, will celebrate the completion of several exciting new additions on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 2-4 PM at State and Virginia Streets in Silver City, NM. The family-friendly events include a puppet show, brief talks, and hands-on activities in botanical art, science, and archaeology. Volunteers will be on hand to explain each of the new areas, and books and outdoor sculptures will be available for sale.
The Garden is a project of the Gila Native Plant Society (GNPS) and the Town of Silver City. GNPS volunteers have been working for many years to turn a lot no longer needed by the Town into a showcase for native plants. In 2023, GNPS completed a Master Plan and began fundraising for it. Late that year, the Gila Native Plant Society received a Trails Plus grant from the New Mexico Department of Outdoor Recreation, which significantly contributed towards funding the first phase of garden improvements. The rest has been accomplished through the generosity of GNPS donors and innumerable volunteer hours implementing and then maintaining the new garden areas.
"Curved Pathway" – new path layout near the main entrance of the Garden - Photos by Elroy LimmerElements include a welcoming new main entrance with reworked pathways, interpretive signage, a front yard garden to display plants that can enhance home gardens, and a habitat thicket that showcases ways to attract and keep wildlife in the garden. The butterfly garden, dedicated to three local young people who died untimely deaths, demonstrates how to attract butterflies.
Visitors can check out the new wall and gorgeous murals surrounding the Garden's iconic tank. The Youth Mural Program has done an extraordinary job of depicting the garden's three themes: the relationship between native plants and wildlife, climate, and people of the region. Donors to the garden's capital campaign and volunteers to GNPS, including those involved in the garden, are honored with beautiful tile flowers.
"In the butterfly garden" – a portion of the Children's Butterfly Garden - Betty Spence"We are so happy to be able to offer this increasingly beautiful and educational garden to the public," said Marty Eberhardt, Chair of the Garden's Steering Committee. Donna Stevens, GNPS President, added, "The hard work of many volunteers has transformed an empty lot into a lovely, peaceful garden for everyone to enjoy."
Everyone is welcome to come join the celebration on Sunday afternoon, October 12th, from 2-4 pm. Silva Creek Botanical Garden is located on Virginia street two blocks north of route 180. Please leave pets at home, for this event, except service animals.
"New Murals" – ceramic murals created by the Youth Mural Program in the Garden - Photos by Elroy Limmer
