In 1988, the original site between Lions Beach and Kiwanis Pond sat as an abandoned sand and gravel quarry, filled with debris and used as a storage site and BMX racetrack. It was here that a momentous idea sparked for retired orthodontist, Dr. Robert Yahr.

 

Dr. Yahr approached two Janesville Rotary Clubs with a dream: to transform the dilapidated site into an internationally themed botanical garden. With encouraging community support and a strong cooperative effort of volunteers and skilled tradespeople, the ambitious project took root.

 

From those early days forward, the land, and the people it gathered, became something special. Rotary Botanical Gardens grew into a botanical treasure cherished by the local community and visitors from around the world. Today, with lush, themed gardens, 4,000+ unique plant varieties, and a sanctuary of native wildlife, water, and art features, every visitor discovers a corner to call their own.