Simply put, Atlanta Botanical Gardens secondary location in Gainesville, Georgia is spectacular... ESPECIALLY in the blooming seasons. The Garden waste no time dazzling you with its beauty from the moment you turn into the entrance off Cleveland Hwy. They don't play around getting you in the mood, even the parking lot is well landscaped!
You first need to acquire your tickets for entry at the architecturally beautiful Visitor Center. It is recommended you buy your tickets online to guarantee entry. All non-member tickets have limited timed entry and include exhibitions like Origami in the Garden and Cocktails in the Garden (May-September). Current prices are $14.95 for adults (13+) and $12.95 for kids (3-12). Just as a comparison, that is $10 cheaper than the least expensive adult or kids tickets to the Atlanta location... and this garden is more than 5 times larger in acreage. The Atlanta location is roughly 30 acres while the Gainesville location is said to be around 168 acres. But more on that later.
WHERE SHOULD YOU START???
You will exit at the rear of the Visitor Center into the gardens. There you are immediately faced with a 3 way decision: Do I go straight towards the woodland gardens & overlooks, left to the Amphitheater and Event Lawn or right to visit the Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children's Garden.
. . . . . . . . . .
[ CHILDREN'S GARDEN ]
Let me just say each direction is lovely and offers eye candy for any nature lover, but if you are looking for show stopping floral razzle-dazzle, you simply must begin here.
Don't let the name fool you, because this area is as much for kids as it is for the kid-at-heart! It is a 2.5 acre master class on garden design. Features for kids include a fort/treehouse playground, ornamental art, squirting water features, animal shaped topiaries and Desmond the Dragon, a concrete feature incorporated into the walking path.
Photo opportunities abound all throughout the Garden, but especially here! The trail to the Children's Garden takes you past the tranquil Forest Pond. From there you will switchback through all its beauty to the highest point in the garden. Shortcuts are built into the landscaping, encouraging little ones to explore what may feel to them like an off-trail adventure, but it's really all part of the plan.
[ WOODLAND GARDEN & OVERLOOKS ]
The WOODLAND section of the Garden is a more subdued walk through nature and seems more intent on quiet personal reflection and meditation. There are plenty of benches throughout the trail in strategic (often shaded) locations. One section is called Overlook Garden, but it really doesn't offer a view befitting the name. No matter, it is still beautiful. Probably the best area of the woodland section is the Stream Garden, which switchbacks through several small man-made waterfalls.
[ AMPHITHEATER & EVENT LAWN ]
I'm not sure what the 2,000 seat Amphitheater is used for, but I believe they offer summertime concerts. The Event Lawn is a great area to let families with toddlers run and play on an open field that is largely surrounded by shrubs to help keep them contained. Also available is a roughly 1.2 mile hiking loop into the woods via three trails (Holly Ridge, Sourwood & Dogwood).
* GARDEN FACTS *
The Gainesville location has only been open since 2015, and the Children's Garden only since the Spring of 2020. But expansion plans are in the works! One of the first orders of business is to increase the parking area to accommodate visitors better. The gardens boast a diverse plant palate with more than 1300 different varieties. There are 300+ varieties of Hydrangea, 150 Magnolia varieties, 88 unusual varieties of plants, 50 Witch Hazel varieties, and 32 Maple species. [source: Rupert Landscape Blog]
. . . . . . . . . .
[ FINAL THOUGHTS ]
While far larger than its Atlanta location in acreage, it doesn't have as much developed area, which makes it feel much smaller. I hope someday that will change, but still, what IS developed here is wonderful. I've never been to the Atlanta location in daylight hours or in bloom season, so I can't really offer a comparison. But I don't think visitors of the Gainesville location will be disappointed.
In my humble opinion the two should not be compared anyway. THE ATLANTA LOCATION started with very humble beginnings in 1976 and it has taken 46 years to become what it is today. Back in the 70's, a trailer served as a visitor center AND gift shop. The suspension bridge through the hardwood forest wasn't built until 2010, 34 years after it opened to the public. So at only 7 years old, the Gainesville location still isn't even a teenager yet! The potential of this property is endless!
Just remember: Spring and Summer are the most ideal times to visit ANY Botanical Garden if you want to see Mother Nature showing off her best dress! ENJOY
2022 / 125 read more