Devin J
Public gardens offer a serene escape from the stress of everyday life while preserving biodiversity and promoting environmental education. In addition to providing a habitat for countless plant species, public gardens teach us about horticulture, conservation, and the significant value of green spaces in urban environments. Let’s take a state-by-state journey to explore the best public garden in each state.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Alabama
In the heart of Birmingham, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens spans 67.5 acres and is the state’s largest living museum, with more than 12,000 plant types in 25 themed gardens. This peaceful retreat within the city was founded in 1963 and is free to the public. The gardens offer educational programs, guided tours, and seasonal events.
Georgeson Botanical Garden: Alaska
Located in the middle of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Georgeson Botanical Garden is a five-acre garden that shows the hardiness of northern flora, with everything from Arctic wildflowers to sprawling vegetable plots. Its northern latitude allows for some of the most vibrant summer blooms, thanks to nearly 24 hours of sunlight during the growing season.
Desert Botanical Garden: Arizona
Spanning about 140 acres, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix houses more than 50,000 plants, including rare cacti, succulents, and agave. Other plants are protected under shade houses, but the garden focuses mainly on plants that have adapted to extreme desert conditions. It includes Australian, Baja Californian, and South American collections with several ecosystems represented.
Garvan Woodland Gardens: Arkansas
Located in Hot Springs, Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical wonderland on the shores of Lake Hamilton. Visitors can explore the rocky inclines, floral landscapes, waterfalls, and streams combined in a natural woodland setting. The park features the fifth-ranked Pine Wind Japanese Garden and colorful tulips that bloom every spring.
Balboa Park Gardens: California
Did you know that Balboa Park Gardens appeared in several movies, including Citizen Kane, Top Dog, and The Samuel Project? The 1,200-acre park has different gardens, in addition to several theaters, museums, and the famous San Diego Zoo. The gardens feature more than 350 plant species, most selected and planted by horticulturist Kate Sessions.
Denver Botanic Gardens: Colorado
These gardens comprise three main diverse locations, each with 23 acres, and feature North America’s biggest collection of cold temperate plants scattered over seven gardens. This garden stands out because of its iconic glass structure, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, filled with exotic plants. The gardens are also known for their seasonal exhibits and evening summer concerts set among lush greenery.
Harkness Memorial State Park: Connecticut
Covering over 304 acres, Harkness Memorial State Park was once the summer estate of philanthropist Edward Harkness and his wife Mary. In the early 20th century, they commissioned famous landscape architect Beatrix Farrand to design the garden. The stately Harkness Mansion adds a historical touch, and visitors can tour its impressive architecture. Moreover, they can go on picnics or enjoy shoreline fishing.
Nemours Estate: Delaware
The Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware, is a 200-acre garden surrounding a grand French-style mansion built in 1910 by industrialist Alfred I. du Pont as a gift to his wife. The estate’s gardens are modeled after the formal French gardens of Versailles, complete with fountains, sculptures, and long, elegant walkways. Highlights include the stunning reflecting pool and the intricate maze garden.
Naples Botanical Garden: Florida
The Naples Botanical Garden was founded in 1993 and spans 170 acres in sunny Naples, Florida. It’s a tropical paradise with flora from Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Florida, with more than 1,000 plant species. Members and children under 3 can enter for free, but adults have to pay $25, while kids between 7 and 14 pay $10.
Atlanta Botanical Garden: Georgia
Citizens of Atlanta signed a petition to have the Atlanta Botanical Garden founded in 1973, and their efforts paid off when the park was established three years later. The garden is famous for the Canopy Walk, a 600-foot-long elevated walkway that allows visitors to explore the treetops of the Storza Woods. The garden is also home to the Fuqua Orchid Center, which houses the rarest orchids from around the world.
Foster Botanical Garden: Hawaii
The Foster Botanical Garden is a 13.5-acre garden built in the middle of an urban area. It’s the oldest botanical garden in Hawaii. The German botanist William Hillebrand introduced most of the plants in 1853. The garden is home to different palms, herbs, dyes, poisonous plants, some primitive plants, and a collection of hybrid orchids.
Sawtooth Botanical Garden: Idaho
Situated in the stunning Wood River Valley near Ketchum, the Sawtooth Botanical Garden is a 5-acre high-altitude garden celebrating the native plants of Idaho’s rugged mountain terrain. Established in 1994, the garden’s highlight is the Garden of Infinite Compassion, which features a Tibetan prayer wheel blessed by the Dalai Lama during a 2005 visit.
Chicago Botanic Garden: Illinois
With 27 display gardens, 5 natural habitats, and 9 islands, the Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the most popular parks in Illinois. It opened in 1972 and is famous for its Japanese Garden, with tranquil ponds and meticulously manicured landscapes. Today, it focuses on sustainability by incorporating food and paper composting, sustainable irrigation methods, and minimal pesticides and fertilizers.
Garfield Park: Indiana
Right in the heart of Indianapolis, Garfield Park is home to one of the oldest botanical conservatories in the Midwest. Established in 1881, it spans 128 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Visitors can explore tropical rainforests, desert ecosystems, exotic plants, and two memorials inside the eastern conservatory.
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens: Iowa
Located just outside Waterloo, the Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens spans 40 acres and offers a peaceful retreat filled with native Iowa plants and stunning horticultural displays. Founded in 1996, it features themed gardens such as the Children’s Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Butterfly Conservation Meadow, which attract visitors of all ages with a dedicated team of volunteers who work year-round to maintain vibrant displays.
Kansas State University Gardens: Kansas
The Kansas State University Gardens in Manhattan, Kansas, is a beautiful 19-acre space that serves as a public garden and a teaching and research facility for students. It’s free of charge and open to the public from March to November. Visitors can observe an impressive variety of perennials and the conservatory, which is home to tropical plants and cacti.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest: Kentucky
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is known for its eco-conscious practices and is an important research site for scientists studying forest ecosystems. It’s 25 miles south of Louisville and covers 16,000 acres of forest and natural beauty. Established in 1929 by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, this massive arboretum features several species of holly, maples, conifers, and different cultivars of trees and shrubs.
Longue Vue House and Gardens: Louisiana
Philanthropists Edgar and Edith Stern hired landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman to design their garden. She demolished their house to build a new one that allowed them to enjoy their land better. The Longue Vue House and Gardens is a celebration of the southern landscape inspired by the Gardens of the Alhambra in Spain, with stunning architecture that still stands today.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Maine
Currently listed as one of Maine’s top attractions, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the biggest public garden in New England. It opened in 2007 and stretches over 295 acres with several theme gardens that feature native Maine plants and species suitable for northern coastal conditions. An average of 200,000 guests visit these gardens every year.
Brookside Gardens: Maryland
Brookside Gardens is a 54-acre public garden in Maryland known for its peaceful, picturesque landscapes and year-round beauty. Established in 1969, it features a variety of themed gardens, such as the Aquatic Garden, Rose Garden, and the popular Japanese Tea House. Brookside is free to visit and offers seasonal events like garden tours and holiday light displays.
Boston Public Garden: Massachusetts
In the heart of Boston, the Boston Public Garden is a piece of American history. It was founded in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in the US. It’s part of the Emerald Necklace, which connects it to Boston Common. The iconic Swan Boats, which have been offering rides since 1877, are among the most popular attractions.
Dow Gardens: Michigan
For those interested in hands-on lessons, the Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan, offers a unique educational opportunity. This is a 110-acre botanical garden featuring formal and informal landscapes, with highlights like the Children’s Garden and the Exploration Garden. One of its most unique aspects is the Canopy Walk, which is one of the longest in the nation, allowing visitors to explore the treetops 40 feet above the ground.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Minnesota
Spanning more than 1,200 acres, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska is part of the University of Minnesota’s research program. It has introduced over 100 hardy plant varieties, including the famous Honeycrisp apple. It features over 5,000 plant species and stunning landscapes, including formal gardens, woodlands, and prairies. A highlight is the Three-Mile Drive, a scenic road that takes visitors through the diverse trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Crosby Arboretum: Mississippi
Located in Picayune, Mississippi, the Crosby Arboretum is a 700-acre nature preserve that highlights the native plants of the Gulf Coast region. This was named in honor of L.O. Crosby Jr., a local businessman and philanthropist who had a passion for conservation. Visitors can explore walking trails that wind through diverse ecosystems, including woodlands, wetlands, and savannas. The arboretum also offers guided nature walks and educational workshops.
Missouri Botanical Garden: Missouri
Known as Shaw’s Garden, the Missouri Botanical Garden is home to more than 6.6 million plant specimens. Its highlights include the Climatron, a futuristic geodesic dome that houses a tropical rainforest; the Japanese Garden, one of the largest in North America; and the English Woodland Garden, which has a serene forest-like setting. This garden plays a vital role in conservation and plant research.
Montana Arboretum and Gardens: Montana
Situated on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman, the Montana Arboretum highlights the native plants and trees of the Northern Rocky Mountain region. It’s a public garden and an educational resource for students and researchers, as visitors can explore themed sections like the Conifer Garden, which features pines and spruces, and the Montane Forest, which shows the flora found at higher elevations.
Alice Abel Arboretum: Nebraska
The Alice Abel Arboretum covers 25 acres and houses more than 100 types of trees and shrubs. This arboretum was named in honor of Alice Abel, a philanthropist and long-time supporter of conservation efforts in Nebraska. It offers a peaceful environment for students and the public, with walking paths and seating areas. It has become a popular spot for birdwatchers due to its variety of habitats and tree species.
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden: Nevada
The Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden in Henderson, Nevada, is a unique 3-acre garden with more than 350 species of cacti and succulents from the US, South America, and Australia. The garden was established by Forrest Mars Sr., founder of the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, as a tribute to his mother. During the holidays, the garden transforms into a twinkling wonderland during its famous Holiday Cactus Lighting event.
Bedrock Gardens: New Hampshire
Bedrock Gardens was originally a dairy farm, and many of the sculptures are made from repurposed farm tools. It’s a stunning 20-acre garden known for its creative fusion of horticulture, art, and design. The garden started as a private space and has since grown into a public attraction filled with whimsical sculptures, water features, and meticulously designed landscapes, which attract an average of 1200 visitors annually.
Sayen Park Botanical Garden: New Jersey
Originally the private estate of Fredrick Sayen, the Sayen Park Botanical Garden was established in 1912 and opened to the public in 1991. Sayen imported plants from Japan, China, and England as an avid world traveler. Today, the garden features over 1,000 azaleas, 500 rhododendrons, and thousands of flowering bulbs, which make it a popular spring destination, in addition to winding pathways, gazebos, and a pond.
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden: New Mexico
For those interested in the plant life of the Southwest, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden will be an excellent place to start. It’s a 36-acre oasis in the desert with an impressive variety of plants adapted to New Mexico’s arid climate. Visitors can stroll through themed areas like the Japanese Garde and the Butterfly Pavilion, home to hundreds of butterflies during the warmer months.
New York Botanical Garden: New York
The New York Botanical Garden is one of the most iconic public gardens in the world. It currently features over 50 specialty gardens, including the breathtaking Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse that houses tropical rainforests, deserts, and aquatic plants. NYBG’s highlights include the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden and the Thain Family Forest, which have some remains from the original forest that covered the area before the arrival of European settlers.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens: North Carolina
On the Duke University campus in Durham, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens covers 55 acres and is considered one of the finest university gardens in the country. Named in honor of the wife of industrialist Benjamin Duke, this garden offers a diverse range of landscapes, from the formal Terrace Gardens to the serene Asiatic Arboretum, which features a koi pond, Japanese maples, and stone lanterns.
Fort Stevenson State Park Arboretum: North Dakota
The Fort Stevenson State Park Arboretum is located within a historic 19th-century military site that is now underwater. It features over 50 species of trees and shrubs native to North Dakota, several varieties of roses, and other cold-hardy plants. Visitors can indulge in several fun outdoor activities, such as boating, hiking, camping, and exploring the plant collections.
Franklin Park Conservatory: Ohio
Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, is open daily for an admission fee. It contains more than 400 plant species with different biomes ranging from the rainforest to the desert. Visitors can explore the Palm House, a historic Victorian glasshouse, and the stunning Pacific Island Water Garden, filled with tropical plants and butterflies. The conservatory is usually rented for weddings and other events.
Myriad Botanical Gardens: Oklahoma
Located in downtown Oklahoma City, the Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 17-acre urban park featuring a variety of gardens, walking paths, and the centerpiece Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Established in 1988, this lush garden is an escape from the urban environment with its breathtaking landscapes, including the Meinders Garden Terrace for seasonal plantings and the Children’s Garden, which encourages kids to explore nature.
Portland Japanese Garden: Oregon
As one of the most authentic Japanese gardens that isn’t located in Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden spans 12 acres in the hills of Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. It offers a tranquil experience with carefully designed landscapes that represent traditional Japanese garden styles, such as the Strolling Pond Garden and Sand and Stone Garden. The garden is famous for its cultural significance, featuring Koi ponds, cherry blossoms, and bonsai displays.
Longwood Gardens: Pennsylvania
Set in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens is a horticultural masterpiece stretching over 1,100 acres, which makes it one of the largest and most impressive botanical gardens in the US. It currently houses more than 13,500 plant species, with 12 core collections. Many art and music events take place at the gardens, with seasonal events to celebrate specific plants.
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum: Rhode Island
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum is a 32-acre estate that combines elegance and natural beauty. The gardens are known for their carefully curated plantings, including a large collection of rare trees and shrubs and the magnificent 10-acre arboretum. Blithewold is particularly famous for its daffodil display, with over 50,000 bulbs blooming for almost a month each spring.
Brookgreen Gardens: South Carolina
As a blend of art and nature, Brookgreen Gardens is home to stunning botanical gardens and America’s largest outdoor sculpture garden, featuring over 2,000 works of art. The gardens themselves are divided into themed areas, including the Live Oak Allée, which is lined with 300-year-old oak trees, and the Palmetto Garden, which features South Carolina’s native palmetto trees.
McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum: South Dakota
Located on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, the McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum offer 25 acres of vibrant gardens and an additional 45 acres of arboretum. The gardens are known for their stunning flower displays in the formal rose garden and the eye-catching sunflower collection. The arboretum focuses on trees and plants native to the Northern Plains, making it a vital resource for conservation and research.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: Tennessee
This is a 55-acre historic estate with stunning gardens and an art museum. Originally built in 1929 as the home of the Cheek family, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art was opened to the public in 1960. The gardens contain different species of Southeastern natives, such as boxwood, conifer, maple, fern, daylily, and holly. Cheekwood also houses a vast art collection and hosts year-round exhibitions and outdoor concerts.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Texas
Although most of the land was part of the Rancho Encinal estate, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1984 with 19 theme gardens. This arboretum is famous for its vibrant seasonal displays, including the Dallas Blooms Festival, one of the largest spring floral festivals in the country with over 500,000 blooms. The gardens offer breathtaking views of the downtown Dallas skyline.
Conservation Garden Park: Utah
The Conservation Garden Park is focused on water conservation and sustainable landscaping. Established in 2001, the garden promotes drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation methods, with several garden designs suited for Utah’s dry climate. Conservation Garden Park offers free entry and regularly hosts workshops to teach the community about eco-friendly gardening practices. It’s a favorite among local homeowners seeking inspiration for water-wise landscaping.
One World Conservation Center: Vermont
Formerly known as the New England Tropical Conservatory, the One World Conservation Center is an environmental education and conservation hub. While it’s smaller in scale compared to other gardens, this conservation center emphasizes native plants and sustainable practices. The gardens feature a wide range of Vermont’s native flora, including wildflowers and trees that support local wildlife.
Maymont Park: Virginia
Maymont is a historic 100-acre estate and public park located in Richmond, Virginia, that features a stunning collection of gardens, including the Italian Garden, the Japanese Garden with a koi-filled pond, and the Herb Garden. Maymont is also home to an arboretum with century-old trees, a wildlife center, and a petting zoo. Ground admission is free, but there are fees for tours and special exhibits.
Highline Botanical Garden: Washington
Guests can visit the Highline Botanical Garden all day without charge. It features 10.5 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and a 1,200-foot stream that empties into a pond. Visitors love the Seike Japanese Garden, originally created in 1961 as a war memorial. The garden also features Elda Behm Paradise Garden, which is famous for its collection of colorful perennials and ornamental grasses.
West Virginia Botanic Garden: West Virginia
The West Virginia Botanic Garden is the only botanical garden in West Virginia. It covers 85 acres of former reservoir property and has 4.5 acres of nature trails. It was founded by George Longenecker and some volunteers and has been managed by volunteers since 1999. Visitors can explore themed gardens like the Butterfly Garden and Eclectic Garden and take guided nature walks.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Wisconsin
Located in Madison, Olbrich Botanical Gardens spans 16 acres and is known for its breathtaking outdoor gardens and the Bolz Conservatory, a tropical paradise featuring waterfalls, exotic plants, and birds. Established in 1952, Olbrich offers a variety of themed gardens, including the Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, and the Thai Pavilion and Garden, the only authentic pavilion of its kind in the continental US.
Cheyenne Botanic Gardens: Wyoming
The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in Wyoming’s capital city is a 9-acre garden known for its focus on sustainable gardening practices and community involvement. Founded in 1977, the gardens include a wide range of themed areas and the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory, which houses tropical plants, desert cacti, and an impressive bonsai collection. The gardens also offer a solar-heated greenhouse and various educational programs.
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