I've wanted to visit Yew Dell for years but since it's out of the way, I always forget about the place. Over the weekend, I woke up... it was sunny and I said, "Let's go to Yew Dell!" So off we went.
I figured peak Spring would be a perfect time to visit but I can see myself visiting again as the seasons change. A guy created this garden a while ago. When he died, commercial development threatened the place. Luckily a group of people saved Yew Dell and the rest is history.
I've wanted Louisville to get a move on with their Botanical Gardens but that project has seen numerous delays. It's coming soon and Yew Dell gave me hope that our Botanical Gardens will be wonderful once they arrive.
The place is just past Kentucky Artisan Distillery so you'll likely smell lovely whiffs of corn while you're at Yew Dell. Parking isn't an issue. Yew Dell has a huge parking lot so take your pick.
They advertise plenty of events so I think that keeps it interesting. As far as Yew Dell goes, there's not much to do except walk around. The 1.5ish mile hiking trail helps the experience. If you're into general exercise and being outside, it's a great place to go. With that being said... I LOVED IT!
While the place had plenty of flowers to look at, I think I expected more flowers... maybe even fields of flowers. Unfortunately, it's not that. There are more plants, trees, and the like. The hiking trail is nice because it allows you to spend more time there for the 9 dollar price of admission. There is a pond on one side of the trail and you'll see the occasional frog around the creeks but other than that, it's basic.
There are numerous event spaces that you can walk in around the grounds. One thing that I thought was weird is that they have buildings that you can go in but when going inside them, it seems that you're not supposed to be in them. There aren't any signs telling you not to, but some of the buildings just have storage in them.
There's one building that is greenhouse-like where they keep growing plants, cacti, and other plants. I like that building. There were quite a few things there that I had never seen. Most of the grounds had tulips scattered. They were beautiful, but again... the plants, trees, and occasional statues rule this place. I need just a little more color for this place to call itself a garden.
My experience was enhanced by my mate. She knows all of the plants that you can eat! We don't even have to take snacks on the trail anymore because we can just eat the plants!
Overall, I think you should visit. The 9 dollar admission price is cheap enough but it does seem expensive for what's there... especially if they have some type of event going on that blocks you from viewing certain areas. It's my understanding that they have birthdays/weddings happening there. I'd look into it before you go. There are numerous places to sit down and relax too.
The place is definitely romantic and relaxing enough to spend some time at. In the end... you can spend around 1.5-2 hours there and see everything. read more