The Most Incredible Public Gardens in America
If you love plants and traveling, consider taking a trip to some of these breathtaking botanical gardens. All throughout the world, the land is dotted with these green jewels just waiting to be explored. All of them have different collections or qualities that make them special. Most botanic gardens combine science, plants, art, and architecture to create a little piece of heaven. I am fortunate enough to live near some of these gardens, and I’ll bet you might too. There are an estimated 1775 botanic gardens in 148 countries – but I have included eleven of the best in the United States here. It is impossible to list all of the treasures these gardens hold, so I have picked out some of the most special qualities of each garden to list.
Missouri Botanical Garden The Camellia, lotus, water lily, and medicinal plant collections are some of the most loved and most notable collections at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. The famous domed conservatory designed by R. Buckminster Fuller covers half an acre and holds over 2800 plants complete with water falls, cliffs, and a river aquarium.
Chicago Botanic Garden The Chicago Botanic Garden has over 2.4 million plants, but specializes in 17 genera; of these, its collections of geranium, oak, and spirea have been accepted as part of the North American Plant Collections Consortium which works with public gardens to preserve living collections. There are 25 display gardens, but the one that stuck out to me most was the stunning bonsai collection.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens This 248 acre garden in Boothby, Maine is lovely, and is memorable for its gardens that keep children in mind. It features a waterfront Fairy House Village in which kids can build eco-friendly fairy houses. There is also a garden based on children's literature that is popular in Maine. Other features are a visitor’s center, Burpee Kitchen Garden, Forest Pond, and sculptures by fine artists.
Garden in the Woods Wildflowers are a beautiful part of a region's ecology, and this garden specializes in native New England wildflowers and plants. This magical 45 acre parcel is home to over 300 rare and endangered species in a woodland setting. A pond, streams, a bog, and brook add to the charm of this tranquil haven.
The Huntington To me, the Huntington in San Marino, California is heaven! It houses a library of rare books, art galleries, and botanical gardens—some of my favorite things in life. The Huntington started out as a ranch in 1903 and has evolved into what it is today. The Huntington features 14 distinctive gardens on 120 acres—some of my favorites are the Shakespeare Garden, which includes plants and scenes from Shakespeare’s writings, and the Lily ponds.
Longwood Gardens Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania has the biggest conservatory in the nation at 4.5 acres—it holds 20 different gardens with different themes and an orchid collection of over 9,000 plants. The gardens stretch across 1077 acres and include meadows, woodlands, gardens, fountains, and towers in addition to the conservatory. Of course, as a Pennsylvania resident, I am partial to this amazing garden.
Desert Botanical Garden Located in Phoenix, Arizona the Desert Botanical Garden consists of 140 acres of native plants, of which 139 are rare, endangered, or threatened. Its special collections include agave and cacti. Plants adapted to desert climates are its specialty and some of its themed collections include an Australian collection, a Baja California collection, and a South American collection. Several different ecosystems are represented as well.
Atlanta Botanical Garden If you are an orchid lover, this garden is a must! The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Georgia holds the largest collection of orchids in the country as well as a 16,000-foot rain forest conservatory. It also boasts a canopy walk through the treetops of some of Atlanta’s oldest trees. This 300-acre garden holds many different theme gardens, such as the Japanese Garden, a rose garden, and a children’s garden.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Do you dream of a warm breeze and palm trees? Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden of Coral Gables, Florida is your dream come true, boasting an amazing palm tree collection. A butterfly garden and two acre tropical rain forest as well as a series of lakes, streams, and waterfalls are also part of this piece of paradise. The gardens here are artfully artistically arranged and also offer a wealth of scientific information.
United States Botanic Garden If you are a history buff and a lover of plants, I have good news—there is a botanical garden that is perfect for you! The United States Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the country, established in 1820 by Congress and completing a vision that George Washington had. Some plant specimens are over 165 years old and four are thought to be directly related to the famous Wilkes expedition, which was commissioned by Congress to collect plant specimens all over the world in 1838.
New York Botanical Garden I have to say that the most precious thing about this garden, in my opinion, is that it contains 50 acres of the original forest that covered New York City before Europeans settled here. It is also home to an old Victorian-style greenhouse and an exhaustive herbarium that is over three hundred years old. In this sense, it is as much of a museum as a garden, and it is a green oasis in the Bronx, New York City.
More information about the author:
April 8, 2014
Comments
April 18, 2014 at 8:32 AM
These look like such beautiful places to visit. I would love to someday, but my husband would never spend a day at a "just plants" place. I can dream!
April 23, 2014 at 9:34 AM
Thanks for commenting! Have you been a botanical garden before? You can tell him they have plenty of things to see and do while there. Their websites usually have some good suggestions. Some of them have really nice cafes and sometimes they host special classes, art exhibits, or events like music festivals. And if he doesn’t like any of those things, you should plan a visit with a friend. Well worth it! :)
