Atlanta Botanical Garden is a must-visit destination in downtown Atlanta. The gardens have plenty of events throughout the year, from Imaginary Worlds to the summer concert series and Chihuly in the Garden.
The gardens are expanding to the BeltLine, becoming Atlanta’s first cultural institution with direct access to the 22-mile corridor. A new entrance will be built behind the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s parking lot. You can find information on all of these and more by clicking here.
Outdoor Gardens
The Garden’s outdoor gardens showcase a variety of plant collections and landscapes. From the hydrangeas of Anne Cox Chambers Garden to the world-class collection of carnivorous plants at the Conservation Display Garden, new discoveries await around every corner.
The gardens also feature educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. Kids can get their hands dirty and learn about nature with weekly programs (free with Garden admission). Adult classes range from the artistic, like floral design and watercolor painting, to practical gardening workshops.
Explore the Imaginary Worlds section of the Garden for an interactive experience that combines plant education with dreamy fun. Explore the enchanted worlds of mosaiculture, the horticultural art of planting flowers and plants to create mystical green sculptures.
Children’s Garden
The garden offers regular kid-friendly programming that varies throughout the year. Kids can explore the pond, bog garden, or edible landscapes; listen to stories at Storytime in the Gardens, or make a craft to take home.
The garden also hosts a variety of special events, including socials, concerts, and major art exhibitions. The garden has several permanent sculptures and water features, as well as the largest collection of work by Dale Chihuly in a botanical garden. Here is another spot to visit.
Fuqua Orchid Center
The Atlanta Botanical Garden leads nationally recognized conservation efforts including a greenhouse for endangered plants and a program to save poison dart frogs. Located near Midtown’s Piedmont Park, the garden includes woodland shade, parterre, Japanese rock, and rose gardens as well as a Conservatory featuring tropical, Mediterranean, and desert plants.
Orchid lovers will delight in the display houses’ dazzling variety of species. In addition to phalaenopsis orchids in the Conservatory and Orchid Center Atrium, look for tropical Asian slipper orchids, Euglossine bee-pollinated orchids, and high-elevation genera. Murals by inventive artists enhance the blooms.
Kendeda Canopy Walk
The Kendeda Canopy Walk is one of the Garden’s most popular attractions. The 600-foot-long skywalk gives visitors a view of the treetops of Storza Woods from 40 feet in the air.
Take a break to let kids run around the Lou Glenn Children’s Garden Splash Pad or spot Venus fly traps and pitcher plants in the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory. You can also explore a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and more.
Come winter, the Garden puts on a mesmerizing event with Garden Lights, and Holiday Nights. The lights illuminate the topiary sculptures and the Kendeda Canopy Walk for an unforgettable experience.
Longleaf Restaurant
Previously known as Linton’s in the Garden, Longleaf is the two-level contemporary glass structure that is nestled next to the Garden House. The restaurant offers full-service dining and a grab-and-go cafe, with space for educational programs, private rentals, and special events.
The kitchen is overseen by chef Jason Paolini, a veteran of Hopkins’ Resurgens restaurants. He’s expected to introduce new menu concepts that align with the Garden’s “plant-to-plate” mission. The restaurant is also the home of a few new features this year, including timed tickets that greatly reduce capacity and some one-way paths through the rotunda, where visitors are greeted by illuminated bugs and oversized flowers.
Gift Shop
Visitors are encouraged to explore the gardens with unlimited daytime admission and invitations to exclusive exhibition premieres. The garden also inspires guests to grow with classes in everything from gardening and botanical illustration.
The gift shop is a treasure trove of unique gifts, from pottery to jewelry and hand-crafted soaps and candles. Shelves stocked with books on local history and gardening tips line the walls.
The garden has events and exhibitions throughout the year, from orchids during Orchid Daze to scarecrows at Scarecrows in the Garden to nearly two billion lights during Garden Lights, and Holiday Nights. The Garden is a non-profit organization supported by the generosity of its members and friends. Donations directly support the Garden’s operations, plant displays and collections, and engaging educational programs for children and adults. Continue reading about Fernbank Museum.
Driving directions from WiseGuys Pro-Wash to Atlanta Botanical Garden
Driving directions from Atlanta Botanical Garden to Fernbank Museum