Admire 26 Gorgeous Gardens on the North Georgia Garden Trail
Visit 26 public gardens on a tour in North Georgia, each with breathtaking landscapes and wondrous beauty.
Walk along paths that curve gracefully through blooming bushes, towering trees, and toward babbling brooks. Reflect on tributes to American heroes, historic figures, and life itself. Visit gardens in northwest Georgia and the northeast Georgia mountains to experience uncommon beauty any time of year.
Gardens in Northwest Georgia
Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia
1. Barnsley Resort
The garden at Barnsley Resort is a historic private estate garden designed in the 1840s in the style of Andrew Jackson Downing. The horticulture team carefully tends the diverse collection of flora and fauna in the village and heirloom gardens, and often plants harvested from the gardens are available for purchase.
2. Funk Heritage Center and Burgess Arboretum
The Burgess Arboretum has more than 550 trees and 800 shrubs planted by Dr. James Rowland Burgess Jr. during his 28-year presidency at Reinhardt University. Signs identifying trees are posted along a walking trail on the campus. Heritage trees and noteworthy specimens are included. Rain gardens and environmentally friendly xeriscaping surround the Funk Heritage Center on the Reinhardt campus.
3. House o' Dreams at Berry College
The landscaping at this house located on the campus of Berry College was created by Robert B. Cridland of Philadelphia. The terraces for fruit trees and berry patches, added at Martha Berry's suggestion, were patterned after the grounds of Castle Nemi in Italy where Eugenia Berry Ruspoli, Martha Berry's sister, lived.
Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones
4. Gibbs Gardens
Gibbs Gardens comprises 220 acres of landscaped gardens adjacent to spring-fed streams, ponds, and lakes, and surrounded by hillsides covered with mature woodlands. Fifty acres with 20 million daffodils; waterlilies; the Manor House gardens; a 40-acre Japanese garden; thousands of Japanese maples; 500 varieties of daylilies, hydrangeas, and azaleas; and thousands of roses, ferns, and rhododendrons allow for a beautiful stroll any time of the year.
5. Meditation Gardens at Myrtle Hill Cemetery
The garden overlooking Myrtle Hill Cemetery at the river confluence provides a place of beauty and serenity. The landscape plan echoes the allure of Rome’s seven hills and three rivers. Seven berms represent the seven hills: Myrtle, Mount Aventine, Old Shorter Hill, Clock Tower, Lumpkin, Blossom, and Jackson. Winding pebbled paths represent the three rivers: Oostanaula, Etowah, and Coosa.
6. Marshall Forest
Marshall Forest in Rome is 301 acres of the only virgin forest within the city limits of any city in the United States, and was named Georgia's first National Natural Landmark. The forest features two interpretive trails, including a complete ADA Braille Trail. It's home to the largest population in Georgia of the endangered large-flowered skullcap, a perennial herb in the mint family.
7. Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum
Martha Berry's formal gardens were created by landscape architect Robert Cridland in the 1920s and 1930s, and still maintain their original design. Discovery of Cridland's planting plans has provided direction for re-implementation of the historic garden; with support from the Garden Club of Georgia, Oak Hill's gardens are undergoing complete restoration.
Rock City in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Photo by @seerockcity
8. Rock City
Rock City is a marvel of nature, featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with more than 400 native plant species, and breathtaking "See 7 States" panoramic views. Rock City celebrates its status as a national treasure of botanical, geological, and entrepreneurial significance.
The Rock Garden in Calhoun, Georgia. Photo by @barrysnapp
9. The Rock Garden
Cinderella's castle, Notre Dame and 50 more hand-built miniature stone structures await at The Rock Garden. The structures — all crafted from tiny stones, pebbles, shells, odd pieces of broken glass and china, rocks, ceramic tile, cement, wire and other materials — are designed to imitate their larger counterparts. Beautiful flowers and a meandering stream enhance this tranquil, whimsical oasis, making it a perfect place to relax and an enriching experience for all ages.
10. Rose Lawn Museum
Approximately 200 antique roses adorn Cartersville Historic District's "Crown Jewell" Rose Lawn. A walk along the fence lines will take visitors past rose bushes dating back to 1752, to an assemblage of five "Old Blush" China rose bushes and two Lady Hillingdon tea rose bushes. Bourbon, noisette, polyantha, hybrid perpetual, Damask and Rosa banksaie lutea (yellow lake Banks) specimens can be seen in flower during their bloom time.
Gardens in Northeast Georgia
11. American Freedom Garden at Northeast Georgia History Center
The American Freedom Garden is a beautifully landscaped area at the Northeast Georgia History Center that pays tribute to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have fought to preserve freedom. A life-sized bronze statue of five children is surrounded by 24 granite pillars on which the names of American veterans are engraved. On the back wall is the Pathway to Freedom, a brief narrative of America's 20th century conflicts.
Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville, Georgia
12. Atlanta Botanical Garden - Gainesville
As part of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Gainesville location is a new destination for connecting with beauty and the natural world. Complete with a visitor center, seven acres of display gardens, a model train garden, walking trails, and an amphitheater, it is a cultural center for the community, hosting exciting exhibitions, events, and educational programs.
BabyLand General in Cleveland, Georgia. Photo by @benjamingalland
13. Gardens at BabyLand General Hospital
The Gardens at BabyLand General Hospital are Cabbage Patch Kid creator Xavier Roberts' ongoing tribute to his mother, Miss Eula Roberts. From flowering dogwoods, Kwanzan and Yoshino cherry trees, delicate Japanese maples, and native azaleas to spring-flowering forsythias, summer bulbs and hydrangeas, beautiful fall foliage, and holiday evergreens, the gardens welcome every season.
14. Braselton Mulberry Riverwalk
Two hundred acres of natural path along the Mulberry River featuring perennial gardens, footbridges and picnic areas are protected and preserved for all to enjoy. The spot where all four of Braselton's counties come together on the trail is designated by a monument and small rest area on the river.
15. Ethnobotanic Gardens and Woodland Medicine Trail
The Ethnobotanic Gardens and Woodland Medicine Trail on the grounds of the University of Georgia's Mountain Research and Education Center showcase plants harvested and often cultivated by early inhabitants of the region. The American Indians and early settlers used these plants for a variety of medicines, food and crafts. Although many of these plants are considered "weeds," they are valuable to wildlife and pollinators and have an important place in the ecosystem.
16. Eva Thompson Thornton Memorial Garden at Thompson Mills Forest
Thompson Mills Forest is the State Arboretum of Georgia, featuring 330 acres with granite outcroppings, the Lee Creek Native Tree Trail, Pinetum Trail and the seven-acre Eva Thompson Thornton Memorial Garden. Two hundred species of trees are found in the arboretum, and the Memorial Garden contains more than 100 species of native and ornamental trees.
Hamilton Gardens in Hiawassee, Georgia
17. Hamilton Gardens on Lake Chatgue
Rhododendrons, native azaleas, and wildflowers color 33 acres on the banks of Lake Chatuge at Hamilton Gardens. Visitors are invited to tour the gardens during the May to June blooming season along the pine bark trail.
18. Hart County Botanical Garden
The seven-acre Hart County Botanical Garden is made up of 16 specialty gardens, including the Sun Perennial, Herb, Rhododendron, Fern, Bog, Camellia, Wetland, and Native Plant gardens. An ADA-accessible walking trail provides a look at each of the garden areas in a natural wooded setting with trees and a natural spring.
19. Herb Crib
A location of peace, beauty and mystical charm, the Herb Crib provides a welcome escape from modern pressures. Visitors will find organic medicinal and culinary herbs mixed with native plants and old cottage garden flowers to provide a welcome food source for pollinators. A seat on the medieval thyme bench or a stroll along the old brick walkway allows visitors to observe nature at its best.
20. Linwood Nature Preserve
The Linwood Nature Preserve is a 32-acre national model for native plant preservation. Two miles of nature trails, an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, rain gardens, a native plant specimen garden, and the Old Growth Forest Network Community Forest comprise the preserve in Gainesville.
21. Mauldin House Gardens
Home to thousands of flowers in every imaginable color, the Mauldin House Gardens' brick paths lead you through the garden and around the historic Mauldin House, Millinery Shop, and Big Holly Cabin. The gardens feature many native and rare plants, a koi pond, and an old well, and are a popular spot for photography.
22. Monarch Mountain Stop Pollinator Garden at Len Foote Hike Inn
Monarch Mountain Stop is a garden that educates guests and school groups about Monarch butterflies, their habitats, and other pollinators. The garden is a certified pollinator habitat from Monarchs Across Georgia and is a link in the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. To get to the Monarch Mountain Stop, visitors must hike five miles to the garden at Len Foote Hike Inn and five miles back to Amicalola Falls State Park.
23. Gardens at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville
These healing gardens feature a tremendous variety of perennials, annuals and one-of-a-kind water features and sculptures. Each garden on the Gainesville campus of Northeast Georgia Medical Center is unique and completely funded through philanthropy and endowment for maintenance.
Paul Anderson Memorial Park in Toccoa, Georgia
24. Paul Anderson Memorial Park
The beautifully landscaped Paul Anderson Memorial Park is located in a residential Toccoa neighborhood and is surrounded by various flower gardens with vibrant mixes of plants, shrubs, and trees. Centered in the park is a fountain with a life-sized statue of local resident Paul Edward Anderson, 1956 Olympic Weightlifting Gold Medalist.
Reece Heritage Farm in Blairsville, Georgia
25. Poetry Trail Garden at the Reece Heritage Farm
This Appalachian farmstead was the home of acclaimed poet and novelist Byron Herbert Reece. The farm has a variety of exhibits highlighting life in southern Appalachia, including the Poetry Trail Garden, in which excerpts from Reece’s poetry are engraved in huge rock boulders. Surrounding the boulders are native plants and flowers, as well as flowers beloved by Reece himself. Wolf Creek borders the farm, which also boasts a small conifer garden.
Red Oak Lavender Farm in Dahlonega, Georgia
26. Red Oak Lavender Farm
More than 1,200 lavender plants of 18 varieties are located on Red Oak Lavender Farm. On the second Saturday of each June, visitors can pick their own, or visit the gift shop almost year-round for lavender products made from the garden's yield.
