美国夏延植物园（Cheyenne Botanic Gardens）是美国怀俄明州唯一的非营利植物园，位于夏延市莱昂斯公园（Lions Park），隶属于该市公园休闲部门运营。植物园前身为”夏延社区太阳能温室”（Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse），由著名园艺大师沙恩·史密斯（Shane Smith）于1977年创办，2019年温室正式更名为”沙恩·史密斯宏伟温室”（Shane Smith Grand Conservatory）以纪念其卓越贡献。植物园面积9英亩，馆内面积达6300平方英尺（约6,800平方英尺），完全免费向公众开放。
创始人沙恩·史密斯与园艺疗法
沙恩·史密斯毕业于科罗拉多州立大学园艺科学专业，同时具备美国园艺疗法协会认证园艺治疗师资格。1977年，他作为志愿者参与创建了夏延社区太阳能温室，最初构想是为老年公民提供有意义的生产性活动——他甚至自掏腰包购买第一批种子。温室开放两三个月后，当地Goodwill机构询问是否可以让成年残障人士参与志愿工作，由此开启了植物园长达数十年的园艺疗法项目。史密斯还著有畅销园艺书籍《温室园丁指南》（Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion），并于1978年在KFBC电台创办了夏延首个定期播出的园艺广播节目。2018年退休后，史密斯被授予”名誉总监”称号，继续以顾问身份为植物园贡献力量。
可持续发展与绿色能源先驱
夏延植物园是可持续能源与社区园艺领域的先驱机构。1977年建成的太阳能温室是世界上最早的太阳能建筑之一，完全依靠太阳能运行，太阳能提供50%电力。1980年，植物园发起创办了怀俄明州第一个农贸市场。1996年，植物园率先在怀俄明州引入光伏太阳能发电系统。2021年，植物园荣获”美国公共花园协会”会员资格，并持续通过太阳能能源、可持续农业、教育项目和创新社区融资实践可持续发展理念。
特色展区与园区景观
植物园主馆——沙恩·史密斯宏伟温室包含三个互联温室，展示了大量在落基山脉西部地区罕见种植的植物，如香蕉树、无花果树、咖啡树和外来花卉。园区户外空间包括：和平花园（Peace Garden）、玫瑰园（Rose Garden）、香草园（Herb Garden）、花园迷宫（Garden Labyrinth）以及常年菜园（为低收入居民和老年志愿者提供新鲜农产品）。与植物园相邻的保罗·史密斯儿童村（Paul Smith’s Children’s Village）于2009年建成，是全球首个获得LEED铂金认证的儿童花园。此外，植物园还管理着距夏延西北约5英里、海拔6200英尺的高原树木园（High Plains Arboretum）。
志愿服务与社区共建
夏延植物园以独特的志愿者模式著称——其劳动力主要由老年人、困境青年和残障人士组成。植物园为这些群体提供有意义的工作机会和社区归属感。1978年，植物园创建了怀俄明州自二战以来第一个现代社区花园。1984年，植物园建成了第一个无障碍轮椅通道果园。植物园社区园艺项目为市民提供种植场地，EAT花园则展示城市农业技术和蔬菜种植试验，帮助市民了解家庭蔬菜生产知识。这一模式被广泛认可为社区园艺与疗愈花园的典范。
Cheyenne Botanic Gardens – Community Botanical Garden in Cheyenne, Wyoming
Founder Shane Smith and Horticultural Therapy
Shane Smith, a graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in Horticultural Science and a registered Horticultural Therapist through the American Horticultural Therapy Association, volunteered to help create the Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse in 1977. His initial vision was to provide meaningful productive activities for senior citizens—he even purchased the first batch of seeds from his own pocket. Within months of the greenhouse opening, local Goodwill organizations approached Smith about involving disabled adults as volunteers, which sparked the garden’s decades-long horticultural therapy program. Smith also authored the bestselling book “Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion” and launched Cheyenne’s first regularly scheduled gardening radio program on KFBC in 1978. Upon retirement in 2018, he was granted the title of Director Emeritus and continues to advise the gardens as a consultant. In 2019, the Conservatory was renamed the “Shane Smith Grand Conservatory” in his honor.
Sustainability and Green Energy Pioneer
The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a pioneer in sustainable energy and community gardening. The 1977 solar greenhouse was among the first solar-powered buildings in the world, running entirely on solar energy with solar panels providing 50% of its power. In 1980, the gardens launched Wyoming’s first farmers’ market. In 1996, the gardens became the first in Wyoming to install photovoltaic solar electricity. The gardens continue to practice daily sustainability through solar energy, agricultural production, education, their remarkable volunteer force, and creative community-based funding.
Featured Exhibits and Gardens
The Shane Smith Grand Conservatory comprises three interconnected greenhouse units showcasing plants rarely found in the Rocky Mountain West—banana trees, fig trees, coffee trees, and exotic flowers. Outdoor gardens include the Peace Garden, Rose Garden, Herb Garden, Garden Labyrinth, and a year-round vegetable garden providing fresh produce to low-income citizens and senior volunteers. The adjacent Paul Smith Children’s Village, completed in 2009, was the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified children’s garden. The gardens also manage the High Plains Arboretum, located five miles northwest of Cheyenne at an elevation of 6,200 feet.
Volunteer Programs and Community Building
The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is distinguished by its unique volunteer model—its workforce is primarily composed of seniors, at-risk youth, and individuals with disabilities, providing meaningful work and community belonging. In 1978, the gardens established Wyoming’s first modern community garden since the WWII-era “victory gardens.” In 1984, they built the first wheelchair-accessible orchard. The community gardening program provides plots for Cheyenne residents to grow their own produce, while the EAT garden demonstrates urban agriculture techniques and vegetable trials, educating citizens about home vegetable production. This model is widely recognized as a model for community and therapeutic gardens.
Official Website: https://www.botanic.org/
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