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For green thumbs and armchair gardeners alike, Columbus is a horticultural haven.
Paying a visit to one of Central Ohio’s garden getaways is a tranquil way to spend the day, whether you’re a seasoned gardener looking for inspiration or simply enjoy wandering amid remarkable greenery. Here’s a rundown of garden attractions close to Columbus, plus a few that are worth the drive. Many offer tours and special events; call ahead for details.
Adena Mansion & Gardens
847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, (740) 772-1500, ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw01/index.shtml
An hour south of Columbus sits the estate of Thomas Worthington, the sixth governor of Ohio and a U.S. senator. Around 300 of the property’s original 2,000 acres remain, populated by a restored mansion, five outbuildings and formal gardens, which include three terraces of flowers and vegetables and a grove of shrubs and trees. Visitors also may explore a museum and education center that houses interactive exhibits depicting Ohio life in the early 1800s, when Adena was built.
Chadwick Arboretum
2001 Fyffe Ct., 292-3848, chadwickarboretum.osu.edu
Ohio State’s 60-acre horticultural haven is home to 17 gardens teeming with everything from bamboo, willows and buckeye trees to hostas, conifers and roses. Also on the grounds is a rain garden, research lake, prairie garden, the landscaped Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza and an inlaid stone labyrinth that presents an opportunity for a meditative walk.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, (216) 721-2056, cbgarden.org
A trip to Cleveland can be enriched with a visit to the city’s public gardens and glasshouse, located in University Circle near the Cleveland Museum of Art. Visitors can explore the deserts of Madagascar and the tropics of Costa Rica inside the conservatory, then wander through topiary, rose, woodland and Japanese gardens outside.
Columbus Park of Roses
3923 N. High St., 645-3300, parkofroses.org
One of the largest municipal rose gardens in the U.S., these 13 acres of manicured lawns and pristine flowerbeds are located within Clintonville’s Whetstone Park. Around 11,500 roses of more than 400 varieties are spread across three distinct planting areas, such as an Earth-Kind garden featuring select varieties that don’t require pesticides, fertilizers or a lot of maintenance. In addition to all the roses—including climbers, miniatures and hybrids—there’s also an herb garden, perennial garden and prairie.
Dawes Arboretum
7770 Jacksontown Rd. S.E., Newark, (740) 323-2355, dawesarb.org
More than 15,000 plants flourish across nearly 1,800 acres at this Licking County attraction, founded in 1929. A Japanese garden, cypress swamp, beech and buckeye collections, magnolias and a conifer glen are among the specialized sections of the grounds, which also are home to a bonsai collection, wetlands, the Daweswood House Museum and eight miles of hiking trails.
Franklin Park Conservatory
1777 E. Broad St., 645-8733, fpconservatory.org
Built in 1895, the conservatory is a Columbus institution located within the 88 acres of Franklin Park east of downtown. Four hundred species of plants inhabit climatic zones including a Himalayan mountain range, Pacific Island water garden and desert dotted with cacti and succulents. A collection of colorful Dale Chihuly glass works dot the horticultural displays. The conservatory also boasts exhibitions—including the 17th annual Blooms & Butterflies, running through July 4—along with special events, tours and classes.
Gardens at Gantz Farm
2255 Home Rd., Grove City, 871-6323, parks.grovecityohio.gov/gantz
Located in Gantz Park near the historic Gantz farmhouse, this Grove City attraction has three themed areas packed with greenery, particularly herbs. Fashioned after a typical 19th-century farmhouse kitchen garden, the Garden of Yesteryear features heirloom vegetables, old fruit varieties and multipurpose herbs such as lavender, valerian and comfrey. The Garden of Today explores the use of herbs from a modern standpoint, while the Garden of Tomorrow showcases herbs used for landscaping rather than culinary or medicinal purposes.
Green Lawn Cemetery
1000 Green Lawn Ave., 444-1123, greenlawncolumbus.org
While a cemetery might not immediately come to mind as a garden attraction, Green Lawn’s grounds aren’t just a historic final resting place—they’re a sanctuary for plant and animal life as well. Dotted with monuments and other architectural points of interest, the cemetery’s more than 360 acres include three state champion trees, a native prairie, a butterfly garden, a stone-edged pond and numerous opportunities for bird-watching.
Inniswood Metro Gardens
940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, 895-6216, inniswood.org
More than 2,000 species of plants take root across Inniswood’s 121 acres, which include streams and woodlands in addition to landscaped flower beds and themed gardens. Among these are rose, herb and rock gardens, plus the Sisters’ Garden, dedicated to the Innis sisters who once lived on the property. Visitors can traverse three miles of trails and paved pathways and step inside Innis House, site of a horticultural reference collection and occasional art exhibits.
Kingwood Center
900 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, (419) 522-0211, kingwoodcenter.org
Built in 1926 and opened as a public garden in 1953, Kingwood Center’s 47 acres are planted with several themed gardens as well as collections of roses, daylilies, peonies and bearded and Siberian irises. An on-site greenhouse nurtures tropical plants, succulents and aquatic greenery, while the seasonal garden’s beds are replanted with annuals for bright blooms throughout the warm months.
Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, (513) 421-4086, cincinnatiparks.com/krohn-conservatory
Tropical and desert habitats are reconstructed inside this Art Deco glasshouse, where plant species from around the world—including palms and orchids—are showcased. A gift shop is on-site, and special events such as plant sales and a butterfly show are held throughout the year.
Ohio Governor’s Mansion and Heritage Garden
358 N. Parkview Ave., 644-7644, governorsresidence.ohio.gov
Surrounding the home currently occupied by Ted and Frances Strickland is a re-creation of Ohio’s major ecosystems, from prairies and woodlands to bogs and sand dunes. The grounds contain trees planted by past Ohio governors and plantlife associated with Ohio botanists and historical figures, including Johnny Appleseed.
Ohio Herb Education Center
110 Mill St., Gahanna, 342-4380, gahanna.gov/departments/parks/herbcenter.asp
Fittingly located in Gahanna, the “Herb Capital of Ohio,” this educational facility hosts classes and workshops and offers publications and products dedicated to increasing knowledge about the culinary, medicinal and decorative applications of herbs. The nearby Geroux Herb Garden, at 206 Hamilton St. next to Gahanna’s city hall, is one acre of gardens divided into themed areas such as meditative, scented and biblical herbs.
Secrest Arboretum
1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, (330) 263-3761, secrest.osu.edu
Hailed as an outdoor laboratory and educational display garden, the second of Ohio State’s two arboretums is located 95 miles northeast of Columbus at the university’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. In existence for more than a century, the arboretum contains a boxwood collection, water garden, butterfly and hummingbird garden, oak plantation and many other specialized areas.
Topiary Park
480 E. Town St., 645-0172, www.topiarypark.org
A three-dimensional re-creation of “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” Georges Seurat’s Postimpressionist masterpiece, is sculpted from yew shrubs in this park at the corner of East Town Street and Washington Avenue downtown. Fifty-four topiary people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey and a cat are juxtaposed with real trees, flowers and a small pond, allowing garden-goers to lose themselves in a whimsical, life-size landscape painting.
Kimberly Byce is a freelance writer in Columbus.
