TO TOP

HISTORY OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN

18 Jul 1963: The parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia decides to found a university in Bochum

1965: Start of construction of the Ruhr-University Bochum

30 Jun 1965: Ceremonial opening of the Ruhr-University Bochum

01 Oct 1966: Start of preparatory works to create a Botanic Garden at the Ruhr-University Bochum

01 Apr 1968: Recruitment of the first gardener and the first curator; beginning of acquistion of woody plants


The area in front of the N-Buildings on which the Botanic Garden was to be developed


 

Oct 1969: First glasshouse operational, getting started with the 2,5 ha large propagation and experimentation field

Jan 1970: Start of construction of the operational building an the glasshouses for propagation and experimentation

Jan 1971: Start of the second phase of construction of the outdoor areas of the Botanic Garden (Alpine Garden, Systematic Botany, Geobotany)

15 Jun 1971: Inauguration and opening of the completed areas of construction phase 1 (propagation area, useful plants, biological plant communities, 3 glasshouses)

15 Dec 1971: Move into the operational building with offices and staff rooms

Aug 1972: Completion of construction of the glasshouse complex for propagation and experimentation

Oct 1972: Completion of construction phase 2 of the outdoor areas (Alpine Garden, Systematic Botany, Geobotany)


The glasshouse complex for propagation and experimentation during construction in 1971


 


The Alpine Garden whilst still under contruction in 1971


 

May 1975: Start of construction of the Tropical Glasshouse; first-time planting in the Alpine Garden, Dune, Heath and Native Forest Communities

1976: Completion of the Tropical Glasshouse (713 sqm, 17 m clear height); first apprentice gardeners


The tropical conservatory during its construction


 

Tropical Glasshouse under construction
View into the yet unplanted Tropical Glasshouse


 

04 Apr 1977: Opening of the Tropical Glasshouse

1980: Construction of the outdoor Infomation Centre (3 wooden pavilions covering 150 sqm); start of construction of the first Cloud Forest House

1983: Construction of the second Cloud Forest House

1984: Contruction of the Alpine House (140 sqm)

1985: Refurbishment of the roof of the Tropical Glasshouse

1987: Construction of the third and fourth Cloud Forest House

1988: Publication of the first guide book about the Botanic Garden

Sep 1988: Completion of the Desert House (400 sqm) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Botanic Garden on 20 Sep 1988


 


The Desert House just after completion


 


The first plants moving into the new Desert House

1990: Eröffnung des Chinesischen Gartens "Qian Yuan" im südchinesischen Stil innerhalb des Botanischen GartensOpening of the Chinese Garden "Qian Yuan" inside the Botanic Garden


 


The Chinese Garden during its construction

Lupe
The Chinese Garden today
© RUB / W. Stuppy


 

1988: The Botanic Garden goes online

2000: Foundation of the charity "The Chinese Garden e.V." to support the urgent restortation of the Chinese Garden

Förderverein "Der Chinesische Garten e.V."

Spring 2001: Restoration of the Chinese Garden

Autumn 2001: Re-opening of the Chinese Garden; opening of the Savannah Houses to display the flora of Australia and South Africa

2004: Publication of the second guide book

 

 


BOTANISCHER GARTEN DER RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM

KONZEPT UND THEMEN DES FREILANDS IN 75 TAFELN

by Annette Höggemeier & Bernd Kirchner

 


Aug 2004 - Sep 2005: Renovation and re-opening of the Tropical Glasshouse

2009: Publication of the third guide book

 

 

BOTANISCHER GARTEN DER RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM

BOTANISCH-DENDROLOGISCHE STREIFZÜGE

by Veit Dörken & Annette Höggemeier

 

 


2015: Publication of a history of the Botanic Garden

 

 


DER BOTANISCHE GARTEN

PLANUNG UND AUFBAU 1964-1989

by Karl Esser


10 & 11 Sep 2017: First ever Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum, Araceae) flowering event in Ruhrgebiet at the Botanic Garden of the Ruhr-University Bochum


The first Titan Arum flowering event in 2017 was a big sensation

16.06.2019: Erster "Tag der offenen Tür" im Botanischen Garten


16 Jun 2019: First Open Day

03 Dec 2019: The founder of the Botanic Garden, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Karl Esser, dies at the age of 95