6 Botanical Gardens You Can't Miss this Spring
Springtime warms up nicely at botanical gardens all over Georgia. Enjoy that special sweetness in the air as nature awakens with colorful displays. Stroll among millions of cheery daffodils, brilliantly colored tulips, iconic dogwoods and many more amazing blooms at botanical gardens like these.
Daffodils at Gibbs Gardens in springtime
1. Gibbs Gardens
Spring is in the air at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground with millions of golden daffodils covering rolling fields in North Georgia. Located 60 miles north of Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens is a spectacular place to stroll along paths, traverse hills, and wander through the woods to experience more than 220 acres of specialty gardens, including the Japanese and Waterlily Gardens.
Tulips and azaleas at Callaway Resort & Gardens in spring
2. Callaway Resort & Gardens
Celebrate spring with amazing, world-renowned displays of azaleas, dogwoods, tulips and more at Callaway Resort & Gardens, located 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and 30 minutes north of Columbus. The whole family can find countless ways to explore spring at Callaway. Miles of scenic bike trails wind through the gardens and woodlands, exciting ziplines crisscross the trees, and the butterfly center makes magic. Callaway also offers overnight accommodations and packages.
Several glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly can be found throughout the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
3. Atlanta Botanical Garden
Spring comes alive in Atlanta with thousands of tulips, daffodils, crocus and more at the Atlanta Botanical Garden located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta next to Piedmont Park. Stroll along the canopy walk, explore beautiful blossoms during Orchid Daze, admire the Earth Goddess, and enjoy meadows of vibrant colors.
State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Photo by @meganlogden
4. State Botanical Garden of Georgia
The State Botanical Garden in Athens is a 313-acre preserve set aside by the University of Georgia in 1968 for the study and enjoyment of plants and nature. It contains a number of specialized theme gardens and collections, more than five miles of nature trails, and four major facilities, including a tropical conservatory.
The Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden is an ideal place for children to play and learn in an environment that will inspire their sense of adventure, wonder and love for nature. The 2.5-acre, accessible garden contains a variety of fun, immersive locations, including a chestnut tree house, fossil wall, giant water-misting mushrooms, vegetable garden, a replica of a North Georgia cave, and more — all designed to be learned from, crawled through and touched.
Savannah Botanical Garden in Savannah, Georgia
5. Savannah Botanical Garden
The Savannah Botanical Garden includes nature trails, a picturesque pond, and an archaeological exhibit among the formal and natural displays. Enjoy the Southern charm of the historic Reinhard House, the sweet sounds of songbirds, and wander along a path that explores camellias, ferns and a children's garden. Admission is free.
Visit Savannah Botanical Gardens
Find more free things to do in Savannah.
Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw, Georgia
6. Smith-Gilbert Gardens
Smith-Gilbert Gardens is composed of serene woodland paths that showcase more than 3,000 species just minutes from Kennesaw Mountain, located 25 miles north of Atlanta. Unique plantings and fascinating elements such as The Rose Garden, Bonsai Exhibit and waterfall area delight the senses in this designated wildlife habitat. Smith-Gilbert Gardens is open Tuesday through Saturday.
