The peaceful gardens at Nathaniel Greene/Close Memorial Park are a little noisier than usual during the day as construction is underway on the 12,700-square-foot botanical center.

"To see this finally become the center of the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, where we're going to be able to showcase all things horticultural, in what we like to call a library for plants here, is going to be an exciting event for this area," said George Deatz, president of Friends of the Garden.

The sunlit, LEED-certified building will include a community room and lobby for the public, as well as classrooms and offices for the University of Missouri Extension Service, 4-H, Master Gardeners, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, and Friends of the Garden. It will overlook Lake Drummond, and be surrounded by 41 beautiful gardens.

"We currently have 21 in place, the Japanese stroll garden, the master gardeners demonstration garden, and numerous other gardens, including the butterfly garden with the new butterfly house that has attracted over 12,000 visitors this year," said Deatz.

The park is already attracting large numbers, and Deatz knows it will only continue to draw local residents, tourists and even conventions.

"People will be stopping off to see this on their way to Branson. I think we're going to see a number of conventions coming to town due to this," he said.

The building should be complete by next fall.

"This is going to be very special because it's going to be the heart of the gardens," said Deatz.

The butterfly house will only be open this Saturday and Sunday, and then close for the season.