Mercer Botanical Gardens reopened to the public May 25.[/caption]

The east side of Mercer Botanic Gardens reopens to the public May 25, after being closed for more than four weeks due to damage from April flooding.

The floodwaters at Humble-area park crested at almost 7 feet, uprooting a few trees, damaging the irrigation system and destroying some botanical collections, said Mercer director Darrin Duling. The visitor center, library and children’s playground narrowly escaped floodwaters, he said.

Mercer was one of the precinct’s parks most affected by flood damage because of its proximity to Cypress Creek. The north Harris County region received averages of 14 to 17 inches of rainfall.

“The floodwater stayed in place for at least 3 days in our main areas at the entrance, over a week in others further out before subsiding,” Duling said. “The floodwaters formed rushing torrents in many areas, bringing in lots of silt and debris, also sweeping away small plants and all of our mulch and pine straw.”

The gardens’ regularly scheduled programs have restarted, but the new Creekside Ramble—primitive loop trails—and Storey Lake are still off limits due to potential hazards from settling silt and an unstable creek bank.

Park staff and volunteers will continue reworking trails, plant collections and structures. Plants that floodwaters affected may also appear unhealthy.

The Harris County Precinct 4 park includes 20 acres of diverse botanic gardens that show off the area’s largest assortment of native and cultivated plants.

“It is great to be open to the public again—it gets us back to our normal operations and routine, showing both ourselves and the public that we are overcoming the devastating effects of the storm,” Duling said. “Not all of the gardens are open, and we trust that our visitors will understand that we are working hard to get them rehabilitated and reopened as soon as possible.”

Mercer Botanic Gardens is located one mile north of 1960 at 22306 Westfield Aldine Road, Humble.

Additional reporting by Chris Shelton

Correction: An earlier version of this article said floodwaters crested at 7 inches at Mercer Botanical Gardens. In fact, the waters crested at 7 inches.