Partners: Botanical Garden

Established in Palm Springs since 1938, this privately-owned arboretum was created to share the beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants with everyone who visits. The featured desert trees, plants, and cacti come from around the world and range in size from miniature to giants!

The West Virginia Botanic Garden is a collection of nine themed gardens run by a non-profit organization. The site is also committed to conserving the surrounding Tibbs Run Preserve. This endangered habitat is a mix of deciduous, hemlock, and rhododendron trees.

The themed gardens are headlined by the beautiful Butterfly Garden, which delights visitors with colorful blooms from spring to fall. The Eclectic Garden showcases a yearly display of annuals and perennials. The Secret Garden celebrates shade-loving plants such as ferns and hostas.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden was founded in the 1950s as a camellia collection. Since then, the institution has blossomed into a 295-acre site operated by Clemson University. The garden also includes the Schoenike Arboretum. Much of the SCGB is devoted to South Carolina’s natural and historical heritage. There are two historic buildings – Hanover…

The Memphis Botanical Garden is a 96-acre oasis in the heart of the city. The gardens have been open since 1953 and are nestled within Audubon Park. The site includes 23 themed gardens as well as an arboretum. Some of the more popular garden areas include the Japanese Garden, the Pollinator Garden, and the Rose Garden. The Herb Garden displays 500 different species of herbs, while the Delta Garden showcases plants native to the Mississippi Delta.

This 110-acre site is Texas’s oldest major botanical garden, having opened its doors in 1934. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden also houses the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. The site contains 22 specialty gardens that showcase more than 2,500 plants. The Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden are extremely popular. The Four Seasons Garden creates a striking display starring hundreds of species of chrysanthemums, daylilies, and irises.

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an ideal escape from the center of Richmond. The gardens cover 50 acres and were opened to the public in 1984. The dazzling domed conservatory is thought to be the only one in the mid-Atlantic region. The gardens feature several beautiful walking routes, including the Asian Valley and the…

The Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16-acre site in the heart of Madison. The gardens were first opened in 1952 and have gradually expanded. The gardens also contain the 10,000 ft² Bolz Conservatory as well as the only Thai sala pavilion in the mainland United States. The themed gardens include the Meadow Garden, which contains…

If you’re drinking in the sights of Capitol Hill, it’s well worth exploring the United States Botanic Garden. Established in 1820 by George Washington, this site is the oldest continuously-operated botanic garden in the US. The collection contains over 65,000 plants, set across several areas.

This six-acre garden is run by the non-profit Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society. Despite its small size, the garden showcases several different areas and plants. The Society hopes to expand the site in future years.

The central area contains the Greenhouse, Hummingbird Patio, Chrysanthemum Garden, Butterfly Garden, and Rain Garden. The largest section of the site is devoted to an Edible Forest. This plot displays native fruit trees and shrubs along with pollinator plants. It’s primarily used for educational courses.

The Franklin Park Conservatory has been a fixture in Columbus, Ohio since 1895. Although it has occupied various locations, the site remains one of Ohio’s most popular botanical gardens. The Conservatory showcases over 400 plants from a range of ecosystems. Some of the most interesting areas include the Desert biome, the Himalayan Mountain biome, and…

Despite its small size, Lendonwood Gardens has achieved some big things. This three-acre garden displays more than 1,400 plants, including the Southwest’s largest collections of rhododendrons. Lendonwood Gardens was established in 1995 and became a non-profit organization in 1997.

Lendonwood boasts one of America’s largest collections of false cypress trees. The site also displays 500 daylily varieties, 75 species of Japanese maples, over 50 bonsai trees, and more than 70 types of hostas.

This privately-owned botanical garden features a stunning range of sculptures and architecturally themed gardens. Bedrock Gardens covers 20 acres and was opened to the public in 1990 by its current owners. More than 1,000 plant species are displayed throughout the garden. The site contains several collections, including dwarf conifers. There are woodland areas decorated with sculptures, as well as the Spiral Garden and the Funnel Garden. There is also a French-inspired parterre garden.

Owned and operated by Rutgers University, this 130-acre site is split between 60 acres of specialty gardens and 70 acres of woodland. Rutgers Gardens is the official botanical garden of the university and aims to conserve and research its collection to educate visitors. The garden began in 1916 and now includes several distinct garden areas. The site consists of a Bamboo Grove and a dedicated Pollinator Garden. Several gardens are themed around various plant types, including the Holly Collection, a Rhododendron and Azalea Garden, and a Succulent Garden.

Headlined by a 10,000 ft² conservatory, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden cultivates a collection of plants native to the Southwest. Opened in 1996, the 36-acre garden is part of the wider BioPark site in Albuquerque. The conservatory encompasses two main zones. The first showcases plants that grow in Mediterranean climates worldwide, including olive trees and…

Situated in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden was founded in 1891 and covers 250 acres. The gardens contain more than a million individual plants. The NYBG is also home to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, which houses one of the largest collections of botanical texts in the world.

Also known as Omaha’s Botanical Center, Lauritzen Gardens is a 100-acre site that opened in 1982. The gardens also include a four-acre arboretum that showcases trees from seven local ecosystems, such as oak-hickory forests and prairies. Some of Lauritzen’s most popular specialty gardens include the Founder’s Garden, Rose Garden, and Tree Peony Garden. The Spring…

The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory showcasing a diverse range of over 1,200 plants. The site was opened in 1983 in downtown Fort Wayne. The Showcase Garden features seasonal displays, while the Desert Garden celebrates plants that are native to the deserts of the Southwest. These include cacti such as Saguaro and prickly pear along with plants like yucca. There’s also a Tropical Garden focusing on bromeliads, citrus, and 13 species of palm trees.

Although this 14-acre site has been used since 1979, the modern version of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden opened in 2013. The area is divided into a series of outdoor gardens, a geodesic dome conservatory, and several indoor gardens. Containing more than 1,000 taxonomic groups of tropical and arid plants, the conservatory also displays…

The University of Idaho Botanical Garden and Arboreta are outdoor museums maintained for the acquisition and proper curation of a living collection of native and introduced plants hardy in the Inland Pacific Northwest. As a primary reference collection, the arboreta will emphasize plant variation and genetic diversity. Highest priority of the arboreta is to develop,…