New Exploration Center and Gardens Coming to Missoula

The Gerald W. Marks Exploration Center and Rocky Mountain Gardens will be a premier destination for scientific and community centered education and a place to find connection with nature and our rural heritage in the Rocky Mountain West. The Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension, the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium, and the Missoula County Conservation District have partnered to open a facility prairie, sensory, forest, vegetable, ornamental, and waterwise garden beds as well as a fruit and berry orchard. in fall 2023 that features a 2,000 square foot tropical butterfly house, a plant clinic, a wet lab for classes, a conference room, a demonstration kitchen and 2.5 acre gardens.

The Rocky Mountain Gardens, opening spring 2024, will showcase the range of plants that can be grown in our region as well as the best practices for growing in a changing world. The garden is split up into 18 distinct growing areas including a rose, pollinator, herb, native

The various working spaces emphasize experiential learning and support and expand our organizations current programming as well as provide a space for our partners to engage the community. There will be an outdoor patio to expand the indoor classroom activities and conferences in addition to an adjacent flowering pollinator lawn and a drought tolerant lawn area that will serve as a gathering space. The gardens will also feature a four-season greenhouse, hoop house for season extension crops and gazebo to have small group classes in the garden. We are thrilled to have many sponsors and partners in creating the gardens – this project would not be possible without the generosity of our community. There will be many opportunities throughout the development of the gardens to engage in our programming, donor and volunteer opportunities. Please visit our website for more information, missoulaeduplace.org.