Although the well-known gardens in Ohio such as Cleveland Botanical Garden, Krohn Conservatory and Franklin Park Conservatory are certainly stunning, its the lesser-known gardens that make you feel like you’ve uncovered a hidden gem. Here are 11 of our favorite lesser-known gardens that we think you should make a point to visit this spring:
- Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens (Akron)
Doug Chapman/Flickr This stunning tudor mansion and garden is a must-see. The elegant gardens include a birch walk, a rose garden and a Japanese garden. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is located at 714 N Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303.
- Wegerzyn Gardens (Dayton)
Ted/Flickr This beloved garden in Dayton is bordered by the Stillwater River and includes rose, federal, English and Victorian gardens. It is truly enchanting. Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark is located at 1301 E Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414.
- Dawes Arboretum (Heath)
marada/Flickr This stunning garden is open all year round and features various collections, including a Cypress Swamp with a boardwalk and a Japanese garden. It is located at 7770 Jacksontown Rd., Heath, OH 43056.
- Hartman’s Rock Garden (Springfield)
CIndy Funk/Flickr Ok, so this one isn’t exactly your average garden—but it’s pretty awesome. Observe a mixture of history, religion, and Depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry “Ben” Hartman between1932 through 1939. This garden is located at 1905 Russell Ave., Springfield, OH 45506.
- Kingwood Center Gardens (Mansfield)
photojc123/Flickr This French Provincial house and garden serves as a center for horticultural education. It is open from April-October. Kingwood Center is located at 50 Trimble Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906.
- Holden Arboretum (Willoughby)
Kevin T. Quinn/Flickr Visitors can observe this beautiful garden all year round. Holden Arboretum features a display garden, a crabapple collection, a hedge garden, a butterfly garden, a rhododendron garden, and conifer and magnolia collections. It is located at 9550 Sperry Rd., Willoughby, OH 44094.
- The Chateau Laroche (Loveland)
Mike Dray/Flickr The grounds of what is commonly referred to as the Loveland Castle features a lovely garden (complete with suits of armor and a stone dragon) along the banks of the Little Miami River. Tour the hand-built castle for just $5 and explore the garden out back. The Loveland Castle is located at 12025 Shore Rd., Loveland, OH 45140.
- Schoepfle Garden (Birmingham)
Jeff Lugar/Flickr Owned by Lorain County Metroparks, this delightful garden borders the Vermilion River. Schoepfle Garden features a formal garden, a shade garden and natural woodland. Schoepfle Garden is located at 11106 Market St., Birmingham, OH 43604.
- Fellow Riverside Gardens (Youngstown)
Jack Pearce/Flickr This beautiful garden can be found within Mill Creek Metro Park. It includes a terrace, a pavilion and collections of roses, irises, day-lilies and heaths. Fellow Riverside Gardens is located at 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509.
- Topiary Garden (Columbus)
jinjian liang/Flickr This quaint, seven-acre park in Columbus features one of Ohio’s most unique gardens, where art and plant life blend. Topiary Park is located at 480 E Town St., Columbus, OH 43215.
- The Secret Garden (Waynesville)
Rhonda W./Yelp Did you know Ohio has a Secret Garden? (Well, sort of.) This unique garden decor and hardware shop features a memorable, hodge-podge sort of garden of its own with plants and products from local artists. The Secret Garden is located at 4107 E State Rt. 73 Waynesville, OH 45068.
Have you been to any of these gardens before? What (and where) is your favorite garden in Ohio? Share your thoughts, photos and experiences with us via our Facebook page!
Doug Chapman/Flickr
This stunning tudor mansion and garden is a must-see. The elegant gardens include a birch walk, a rose garden and a Japanese garden. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is located at 714 N Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303.
Ted/Flickr
This beloved garden in Dayton is bordered by the Stillwater River and includes rose, federal, English and Victorian gardens. It is truly enchanting. Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark is located at 1301 E Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414.
marada/Flickr
This stunning garden is open all year round and features various collections, including a Cypress Swamp with a boardwalk and a Japanese garden. It is located at 7770 Jacksontown Rd., Heath, OH 43056.
CIndy Funk/Flickr
Ok, so this one isn’t exactly your average garden—but it’s pretty awesome. Observe a mixture of history, religion, and Depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry “Ben” Hartman between1932 through 1939. This garden is located at 1905 Russell Ave., Springfield, OH 45506.
photojc123/Flickr
This French Provincial house and garden serves as a center for horticultural education. It is open from April-October. Kingwood Center is located at 50 Trimble Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906.
Kevin T. Quinn/Flickr
Visitors can observe this beautiful garden all year round. Holden Arboretum features a display garden, a crabapple collection, a hedge garden, a butterfly garden, a rhododendron garden, and conifer and magnolia collections. It is located at 9550 Sperry Rd., Willoughby, OH 44094.
Mike Dray/Flickr
The grounds of what is commonly referred to as the Loveland Castle features a lovely garden (complete with suits of armor and a stone dragon) along the banks of the Little Miami River. Tour the hand-built castle for just $5 and explore the garden out back. The Loveland Castle is located at 12025 Shore Rd., Loveland, OH 45140.
Jeff Lugar/Flickr
Owned by Lorain County Metroparks, this delightful garden borders the Vermilion River. Schoepfle Garden features a formal garden, a shade garden and natural woodland. Schoepfle Garden is located at 11106 Market St., Birmingham, OH 43604.
Jack Pearce/Flickr
This beautiful garden can be found within Mill Creek Metro Park. It includes a terrace, a pavilion and collections of roses, irises, day-lilies and heaths. Fellow Riverside Gardens is located at 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509.
jinjian liang/Flickr
This quaint, seven-acre park in Columbus features one of Ohio’s most unique gardens, where art and plant life blend. Topiary Park is located at 480 E Town St., Columbus, OH 43215.
Rhonda W./Yelp
Did you know Ohio has a Secret Garden? (Well, sort of.) This unique garden decor and hardware shop features a memorable, hodge-podge sort of garden of its own with plants and products from local artists. The Secret Garden is located at 4107 E State Rt. 73 Waynesville, OH 45068.
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