The New Canaan Nature Center is a botanical garden and a nature preserve located in Route 124 near New Canaan in Connecticut.

The New Canaan Nature Center was established in 1960 and was built on the land that was formerly the property of Susan Dwight Bliss. The 40 acre site of the New Canaan Nature Center was given to the non profit group to help in studying different sciences such as horticulture, related sciences and nature. The center is also a 501? 3 non-profit environmental education center that is geared to wards raising awareness and educating people.

Visitors can find different attractions and exhibits in the center including two ponds, wet and dry meadows, dense thickets, dry and wet woodlands, cattail marsh, an old orchard and a 4,000 square foot greenhouse. Other areas in the center where visitors can spend time with include a landscaped, wildflower garden, a perennial garden and a herb garden.

The New Canaan nature center also features an animal care center inside the facility. The center has been taking care of more than 50 different animals who also serve as the center?s official animal ambassadors during outreach programs and activities. The center also carries an outdoor aviary featuring a wide range of species of Birds of Prey.

The Greenhouse was designed by architect Donald Watson and originally opened in 1983. Through the years the building has received several national awards due to the solar design together with the energy conservation features of the greenhouse. The greenhouse is open to the general public from Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am all the way to 4:00pm.

Tourists can also learn more about nature and the ecology with the help of the different gardens in the center including the arboretum, the bird and butterfly garden, the Children?s garden, the community garden, the herb garden and the naturalists? garden.