Spreading the Love at the Botanical Center
On a chilly Valentine’s Day, our Nuevas Voces participants and their families found warmth—not just in each other’s company, but in the tropical splendor of The Botanical Center. Guided by Alex Gonzales, who led the tour in both English and Spanish, visitors explored New England’s largest indoor public garden, discovering lush plants from around the world.
The Botanical Center’s glass-and-steel conservatory is breathtaking: 12,000 square feet of space, soaring 40 feet high, designed to house large indoor trees. Palm trees tower over the paths, offering shade and creating a serene, year-round tropical atmosphere. The entire garden spans 23,000 square feet, making it a haven for nature lovers and an ideal place to celebrate plants in every season.
Long before the Botanical Center opened in 2007, the city’s greenhouses were located on Park Avenue, demolished to make way for Rhode Island Route 10. Today, visitors can wander among tropical flowers, towering trees, and familiar plants that resonate with many of our participants, particularly those with roots in Central and South America.
For families, friends, and kids alike, it was the perfect way to spend a cold winter day: surrounded by greenery, learning, relaxing, and sharing in the beauty of tropical life right here in Providence.
For more information about the Botanical Center, visit their website.