7 Best Botanical Gardens in Georgia ***PLUS BONUS RESORT WITH GARDENS!

For anyone that knows me, knows I get thorough enjoyment out of flowers and plants…maybe because I grew up with a horticulturalist as a dad, being a part of the Ornamental Horticulture team in FFA or just because they are so beautiful; either way, I truly enjoy the beauty in it all. These gardens are some you need to visit when you are in Georgia.

Atlanta Botanical Garden in Atlanta Georgia

Atlanta Botanical Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta, GA

https://atlantabg.org/

Entry fees range between $20 and $25 per person depending on the day. You have to reserve an entry time to come into the park (during COVID-19).

Atlanta Botanical Garden includes 30 acres of outdoor gardens in the middle of Midtown Atlanta. The Botanical Garden opened their doors in 1976 and has been ever evolving since. The gardens mission is to develop and maintain plant collections for the purpose of display, education, conservation, research and enjoyment.

There is something always blooming there, just depends on the season, what you might see. For example in March, there are daffodils, tulips and orchids all in bloom. Visit their website before you go to see what’s in bloom and what special events and exhibitions they might have. As the garden evolves, each experience there will be unique. There is a fantastic display of Christmas lights there as well. In addition, Atlanta Botanical Gardens displays the largest collection of Dale Chihuly works in a Botanical Garden.

Please note: Earth Goddess is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance. During this in-depth process undertaken every few years, you’ll see our horticulture team replacing her soil and performing other duties to have her ready, as usual, by mid-April 2021.

You can see the Alice and Wonderland exhibit, some of the Chihulu Displays and the scarecrow exhibit on one of my previous blog posts. https://sosarah.net/2019/10/21/atlanta-botanical-garden/

Orchid Daze and Spring Blooms! are featured in one of my recent blog posts. https://sosarah.net/2021/03/22/atlanta-explorations/

Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville Georgia

Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville is located at 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville, GA

https://atlantabg.org/gainesville-garden/

Entry fee is $10 per person. You have to reserve an entry time to come into the park (during COVID-19).

The Gainesville Garden is more than just a garden. Discover acres of natural woodland beauty on its multitude of maintained trails. There are over 168 acres at the expansive garden with a Children’s Garden, Stream Garden, Overlook Garden and more.

The Gainesville location, opened in 2015, celebrates years of planning and development of one of North Georgia’s most beautiful landscapes. It is home to the largest conservation nursery in the Southeast.

Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground Georgia

1987 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground, GA

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Entry fees range between $10 and $20 per person

Gibbs Gardens was named 2020 “Best American Botanical Gardens”. Gibbs Gardens is about 220 acres and features over 20 million Daffodils! The gardens are composed of 16 gardens including 3 feature gardens – Manor House Gardens, Japanese and Waterlily Gardens. There is so much to see, be sure to wear good walking shoes and plan to spend at least a half a day. The day I went, it was raining and I was the only person in the garden. It was a surreal experience as I explored with my umbrella in one hand and my camera in the other.

Massee Lane Gardens in Ft Valley Georgia

Massee Lane Gardens is located at 100 Massee Lane, Ft.Valley, GA

https://americancamellias.com/massee-lane-gardens

Entry Fee is $5 per person.

Massee Lane Gardens is one of the world’s finest collections of camellias. It fills a nine-acre area with brick walkways surrounding the camellia trees for easy viewing. The Abendroth Japanese Garden, the Scheibert Rose Garden, and beautiful plantings of daffodils, daylilies, chrysanthemums, azaleas, flowering trees, annuals and perennials add to the year-round beauty.

https://atomic-temporary-164054678.wpcomstaging.com/2021/02/08/massee-lane-gardens/

UGA State Botanical Garden in Athens Georgia

UGA State Botanical Garden is located at 2450 Milledge Ave, Athens, GA.

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It is free to visit the gardens, but there is a donation box.

There are trails and nature areas, Children’s Garden, Flower Garden, Heritage Garden, Horticulture Greenhouses, Hummingbird Trail, International Garden, Tropical Conservatory, Herb, and Physic Garden, and Shade and Native Flora Gardens. There is plenty of variety here to suit everyone’s enjoyment.

You can see my blog post from my visit there. https://sosarah.net/2020/03/08/a-mini-road-trip-around-north-georgia/

Smith Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw Georgia

Smith Gilbert Garden is located at 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA.

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Admission fees range between $5 and $10.

Smith-Gilbert Gardens is 16 acres of serene setting with over 3,000 species of plants, several rare in American gardens. United by woodland paths, the Gardens consist of separate groupings with individual elements of fascination. These include the Bonsai Exhibit, Palladino Camellia Garden, tea house and waterfall area, Rose Garden, and Conifer Display. There are beautiful sculptures throughout the garden as well.

You can view my recent explorations there. https://sosarah.net/2021/02/16/valentines-weekend-getaway/

Columbus Botanical Garden in Columbus Georgia

Columbus Botanical Garden is located at 3603 Weems Rd, Columbus, GA

https://columbusbotanicalgarden.org/

Admission to the garden is free, but they suggest a donation of $5. There is a donation box near the farmhouse.

You can come and visit their rose, cottage, herb, vegetable and camellia gardens. In 2020 had the new additions of a perennial wild flower collection, pollinator garden and ginkgo shade garden. Take a stroll along the tree shaded, mile long trail through the mixed hardwood forest. You can see a diverse array of native songbirds along their trails and at their feeding stations.

In March there were a ton of annuals blooming along with azaleas and camellias, some trees, lantana, with roses just starting their new growth awaiting the buds.

BONUS ***Callaway Gardens & Resort in Pine Mountain Georgia

Callaway Gardens has multiple entrances/addresses for entry. Please see their website to find the best address to use for your GPS.

https://www.callawaygardens.com

Also, I’m not counting it as one of my top botanical garden, it is more of a resort, but be sure to check out Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Georgia as well. There are restaurants, lodging, zip lining, fishing, golf courses, water sports, spa, trails, and gardens all over. They have a butterfly center and birds of prey show. You can rent bikes or bring your own and ride on the bike trails or just walk the pedestrian trails. Be sure to check them out especially in March/April for azalea season and November/December/January for Fantasy in Lights and Christmas market.