Whenever we have company to come stay with us, we always make sure to take them to Hollis Gardens. The team here are constantly rotating the flora. After the freeze this year, I was concerned that there would be not much left, but I can tell a lot of care was put into surviving this past freeze. The grotto did take a little bit of damage, but I know it'll be back. The fish are super big and thriving as usual. The fountains are always running. It's always so beautiful. Kudos to the team that keep it epic! read more

I visited while in town and it is a cute little garden by the lake. A lot of people walk around, sit, read and some even come to take pictures for an event. It is a nice little place to chill and enjoy the garden, fountain and view. read more

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Haven't been here forever and came to visit on New Years Day 2026! So many people were enjoying the outdoors. We usually walk around Bonnet Springs Park and haven't been here in forever. I wanted to see the roses which are actually right by the building where the parking is. The parking is free in the lot right next to Hollis Garden. FYI, the closest bathroom is at The Joinery. So from the parking lot walk towards the lake and walk to the right to get there. Hollis Garden is right to the left of the parking lot. My old review said it was not dog friendly. I did see other dogs and I didn't see a no dogs sign. So my pics do have mine in them. It's pretty to walk around and see all the landscapes. There was some flowers not too too many but it's January. I really loved Hollie Garden even more and you can also walk on the trail on lake mirror too. It's so pretty. This is such a great stop while being outdoors. read more

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What a lovely place to walk around. The patterned flower beds, ornamental fountains, and public art are aesthetically pleasing and add to the beauty of Lake Mirror Park area. No pets allowed and no picnics or litter. There's quite a few other rules, but the best one has to be "don't close the gates." Clearly someone has done it before for it to be a rule... there's always one! read more

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One thing about me that many may not know about me is i love going to weddings. Today I'm here for my friend wedding and this garden is absolutely beautiful. Well managed and well manicured. The ground crew here is too notch!! The place was crawling with photographers getting the best shots of this venue. Not sure when or if I'll ever be back but I'm glad I was able to witness this wedding at this dope spot read more

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When the Frances Langford Promenade was designed around Lake Mirror the original plans called for a large garden. In 1926 an economic crash scaled back the grand plans and when the promenade opened in 1928 it was without the garden. In 2000 Mark and Lynn Hollis gave to Lakeland the garden that was intended for the Langford Promenade. Mark Hollis is a former president of Publix and the couple donated one million dollars to the City of Lakeland through their Hollis Trust in the Community foundation of Greater Lakeland, Inc. They also provided a perpetual care fund of $500,000 in Publix stock that pays for the upkeep of the garden without impacting the city's budget. The garden was dedicated on December 8, 2000 and opened to the public. Admission is free. Hollis Garden is a 1.2 acre botanical display garden. It is designed in a neo-classical architectural style inspired by a trip the Hollis family took to New Zealand. The garden has over 10,000 flowers, ornamental shrubs, and native trees along with public art and fountains. There are sixteen themed sections that are called rooms with plants that are rotated throughout the year. The historic 1938 Magnolia Building built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression is next to the gardens and is now used as an event space. Hollis Garden can be closed for private events and weddings so if you plan on visiting I suggest earlier in the day is better. The garden is only a short walk from the dining and shopping in downtown Lakeland. If you are in the area this is a must see destination. read more

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It was just a really beautiful park and there were people there that were working and we were able to answer questions about different plants. Everyone was friendly and it's so beautiful. read more

This place is awesome. It is the perfect venue for outside weddings (and graduation photo shoots). There is a koi pond and a place where butterflies hang out. The plants are pretty. It was so hot that we just wanted to jump into the fountain. Each plant is identified. I like the layout of the gardens and nearby activities. There is a lake, art museum, restaurants and lots of places to walk. read more

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My friend told me years ago if you visit Lakeland, stop by Hollis Garden at Lake Mirror Park! Finally, after years of procrastination, we finally step in this amazing place. One thing you noticed immediately; it has a geometric design! The layout reminded me of some garden in front of European Castle or mansion. It is a 1.2 acres site. By no means huge but packed with flowers, shrubs, and shade trees. If you enter the Garden by the lakeside main gate, you notice, there is a Grotto all the way back. Next came the Gazebo and trellis with an open space plaza and fountain. After that, there are bowls and runnels for the water flowing into Lake Mirror. Each section is named Room. So, we have Tropical Room that have tropical plants like papaya, palms, variety of flowers and fruit trees. Red Room, Yellow and White room showcase foliage to flowers to a particular shade of colors. I found two Herbal rooms, a Vegetable Room, many huge Koi swimming in a small Pond and more! Since, this is a garden, seasonality and regular maintenance is a necessity! Don't be alarm if your favorite room is not available. The best news is it is completely free! Free admission and free parking! I can see myself just walking and watching the wonderful seasonal scenes throughout the year. You know what, bring your camera and the family! read more

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I love this garden. It is the prettiest garden I've ever seen. I wanted to get married here, but it was expensive. However, you can go here and take beautiful pictures and enjoy the scenery and there's even a restaurant right beside it. read more

Hollis is a truly beautiful garden with a lot of different, vibrant flowers and plant life to look at- if you come during the right season. There are walking paths all over to view everything, and there's some nice gazebos as well. In the back corner there are some bamboo trees where people have carved their names or initials into the bark which I thought was neat, really gave the garden a more personal touch. There's a small koi pond as well with some of the biggest koi fish I have ever seen, and some benches/ sitting areas for you to just sit in the quietude and enjoy the beauty. Hollis Garden also has a direct entrance to Lake Mirror walkways and downtown Lakeland, which is one of my favorite areas in town so it's a great and convenient location. The only thing I don't like as much is there are a lot of events, such as weddings or photo shoots, that take place in the garden and they get priority so if you are just a regular visitor you have to pretty much make yourself "invisible" and keep out of the way of the events which can be a pain. read more

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I absolutely love Hollis Gardens! It's Lakeland's hidden gem. It's so beautiful! It's small but as soon as you step in the garden, you feel like you have been transported into another world. I just wish it stayed open longer so I could enjoy nice sunsets here. Right now Monday-Friday the garden closes at 6pm and Saturday and Sunday closes at 4pm. My favorite areas in the garden are the vegetable garden, koi pond, grotto, gazebo area, and of course the amazing view overlooking Lake Mirror. This garden is so picturesque! It's great for engagement photos, prom photos, birthday photos, wedding photos, family photos, or just because photos. If you haven't been, what are you waiting for! read more

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It's nice if you like to walk alot. It's great all the different fountains the art nice

Hollis Garden is a beautiful garden and park area lakeside in the downtown area. I first happened upon it a couple years back and now make it a regular stop when traveling to and from Titusville to Tampa. It is just the right size to stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful flowers read more

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Hollis Garden is like a secret garden, located off to the side of Lake Mirror in Downtown Lakeland. It's a formal garden, just barely over an acre in size, boasting over 10,000 plants according to LakelandGov.net. It has an official entrance, along with it's own little parking lot on Orange Street, but you can also access it by foot from the Lake Mirror Promenade. Best of all, it's free to the public and open every day but Monday. Besides all of the expected flowers, shrubs, and trees, it has pathways to walk, fountains, sculptures, and benches. There is a lovely little koi pond. It may be small, but there is something new to see around every corner. People schedule photo shoots here, so don't be surprised to see young people posing for yearbooks or couples for engagement shoots. When we were there, areas were roped off for grass reseeding, so we were not able to fully walk around, but hopefully the areas will be reopened soon. read more

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Hollis Gardens is a stunning little gem in Lakeland. it reminds me of the terraced gardens in Europe. The little pathways and fountains make it a must see when you're in downtown Lakeland or around Lake Mirror. read more

Only the best when it comes to this garden! A great place to take anyone for photos, perhaps plant study or just a romantic location to talk, walk & meditate. They have lovely art installations, and unique plant installations on location. I suggest downloading the SEEK App before heading to this location. (This way you can view and study their flora and tropicals as you please.) read more

Hollis Garden - Looking @ Lake Mirror - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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This area is really nice. Because it was Christmas time there were lots of decorations was done very nicely. There a great path to walk around the lake with lots of birds. I really enjoyed was a nice way to spend the afternoon read more

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Hollis Garden is so beautiful we enjoyed out photoshoot plus everyone else that was there for their own photoshoot was beautiful. I recommend this Garden to anyone. read more

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I live so close to this beautiful park and I am so happy. This garden is absolutely breath taking. I would absolutely love to get married here one day. If you are in the Lakeland area I highly suggest read more

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This location is free to go to and walk around beautiful. Botanical presentation located in the heart of downtown Lakeland just off Lake Hollingsworth. Hands-down one of my favorite locations to spend a little free time. read more

YES YES YES!! What a beautiful place and its FREE!!! As soon as you walk through the entrance you're greeted by lovely classical music that is playing throughout the garden's loud speakers. I was surprised to hear this and thought it was an absolutely lovely touch to the whole experience. The garden itself is breathtaking. There are beautiful little areas that are secluded and give you a sense of "the secret garden". You'll stumble upon beautiful little fountains throughout the space that create a calming and zen feel to the whole area. There are benches throughout and many spots with shade for those hot summer days. there were a few photo shoots taking place, and I can see why since the space is gorgeous. I'm so happy we found this place. If I lived closer, it would easily become a go to spot on the weekends to read a book or just walk through nature. read more

This place was everything and more! And free! I absolutely loved this Garden, the views are astounding. Every area is perfect for pictures and it wasn't packed. The little store has great cakes and wine, in case you get parched. Enjoy read more

The most beautiful place in all of Lakeland. The gardens are so geometric that even geometry itself can't comprehend the angles that nature can accomplish. The koi pond is a representation of the vibe of this place as the koi would eat Oreo dust directly out of my hand into the water. Maybe it's the Oreos? It may be, but I've never seen a fish jump so high to munch on something so black and white. 10/10 bring the kids read more

This small garden is sweet. It has a small cafe where they create meals with food from the little garden. It's perfect for a nice day and stroll around the surrounding area. read more

Lakeland is my hometown and this is probably my all time favorite spot! We came here to take family pictures on a Sunday afternoon and the park was empty. Sometimes on the weekend the park will be closed for weddings, but if this is the case there will be a sign posted outside. Perfect spot to rent for events or just go for a family photo shoot. The parking lot is fairly large and if the lot is full there is also street parking. Perfect place for a picnic or to just sit and enjoy the beautiful garden. read more

Hollis Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

We drove over from Tampa to see the garden. I thought the garden was well cared for and lots of thing were blooming and it was a beautiful day. I am sure in the spring/summer it is really amazing! Lakeland is very lucky to have nice garden like this. This is a great place to take photos of your family and enjoy the day. I am not complaining, but I really enjoyed the plants so much, I wished they all had the names in front of them so I would know what there are! I took lots of pictures and really enjoyed the garden. read more

This is a beautiful, free one-acre garden in downtown Lakeland on the bank of Lake Mirror. Nice waterfall, koi pond, fountain. Great place for weddings (can reserve 2-4 hours for $400 or so through the City of Lakeland). Nice for meditation, enjoying Florida flora. I think it's open 10 to 6, closed Mondays. nearby kids play park with water spout stuff, bistro, reception hall, B&B--and all of downtown. Very worth your time! read more

Attack of the photographers! Don't be fooled, this little garden is probably the size of an acre but there's many flowers, bushes, and scenery to make it feel much bigger than that. To add to that a-maze-ing feeling are stone pathways, steps, and columns. For real just sit on a bench, stare out into the nearby Lake Mirror (or any of the surrounding flowers) and just zen out. I'm no Botanist but I definitely appreciate natural beauty and this place is definitely beautiful. It's no surprise then to run into hordes of people with long, lensed cameras or wedding parties posing for pictures. It's totally open. Anyone can wander in here for free. So it's very possible for you in your jeans to be caught in the background of these crazed photogs. It's a small garden crammed with many natural décor. Luckily after an hour of wandering it's very easy to waltz over to the nearby lake and walk to the rest of the Lake's sights as well as nearby Downtown Lakeland. read more

A couple weeks ago we went to Hollis Park for an afternoon out with the grand girls. Started out smelling all the beautiful roses and using the very clean restrooms then stumbled upon the Barnett Park area for little kids. What a delight for the girls. A water pad with water sprays coming up out of the ground or out of a hole in the wall A dump bucket where the kids line up ever few minutes to get soaked. They loved it. A nice tree shaded area with tables and benches for the adults. A small under 5 year old play area nearby that was lots of fun but when things got too warm, we could run back to the water. Parking is right near by. We came back on a Saturday and ambled around watching all the kids dressed up for their prom. "Oh look, there's a princess" said the 5 year old. So much more to see in the area and we found out later more parks. We will return for more fun. read more

If you haven't yet strolled through this beautiful neo-classical garden, you are missing a treat. Relax and rejuvenate within this tranquil oasis, usually to a background of classical music piped through the grounds to add to the serenity. Hollis Gardens is yet another example of what makes Lakeland a great place to live. Over the years the City has done a wonderful job of fostering art, culture, and green space, especially for a city of its size. Admission is free. Our family has been many times and we always enjoy it; our kids (ages 5 and 9) call it "The Secret Garden". The Garden has a limestone grotto surrounded by lush ferns and tropicals; a Koi pond; several fountains, and all sorts of alternately shady and sunny turns and corners to explore, all surrounded with cool green trees, exotic flora, and even vegetables. The Gardens slopes down to Lake Mirror. Nice views to be had of The lake, and the Gardens opens out onto the loggia and the Promenade; you can walk all the way around the lake on wide landscaped sidewalks. Lake Mirror and the Promenade etc. were named to the American Planning Association' "Top Ten Public Spaces" in the U.S. last year. Their website includes reference to Hollis Gardens as part of what makes it so special here. Lots of weddings take place here, and it's easy to see why once you visit. After you take in the beautiful garden, head next door to the Garden Bistro restaurant (on the lake side under the Magnolia Building) for great sandwiches and other light fare, or visit Barnett Family Park a little further west of the Gardens. Note that the Gardens, although City property, were made possible by the significant generosity of several prominent local families and charities including the Hollis family, whose name the Gardens bears. read more

This place is a treat to have downtown on Lake Mirror. Hollis Gardens is a city park that is a delightful surprise with the formal garden rooms, fern grotto, butterfly garden and Koi pond. It's free to visit. It's a popular place to see photographers snapping pics of families and there's usually weddings on the weekends (which there's a fee). It's a peaceful place to visit on a sunny afternoon, especially to escape a busy life to connect with nature for a few minutes. read more

Absolutely beautiful! Elegantly soothing with graceful charm and unexpected wonder at each corner and nook. Our City of Lakeland does a great job maintaining the splendor. Catherine read more

We are snowbirds from NS and looked online for something interesting to do in Lakeland this afternoon. Well, what a fabulous ,delightful surprise! Gorgeous, manicured grounds surrounded by a beautiful ,calm lake full of birds. A totally relaxing atmosphere where you are unaware that you are in the centre of a city! Definitely worth visiting. I would be remiss not to give a shout out to Stephen, the caretaker/ gardener who took us on a short tour of the gardens. So helpful, pleasant and cordial . So enjoyed the afternoon & cannot wait to return to visit the bistro located on the property. read more