Public Gardens across the United States are coming into full bloom
Now that the April showers have begun to fade the gardens of Kansas are no exception. The state is the home to several beautiful Arboretums and Botanic Gardens that are worth exploration. Here are just a few of the gardens worth checking out.
Botanica, The Wichita Garden: Wichita
Open in 1987 as a collaborative effort between the Wichita Area Garden Council and the city of Wichita this beautiful garden quickly became a popular spot for tourists and locals. The 17.6 acres of garden include an aquatic collection, a butterfly garden, butterfly house featuring a pansy exhibit, tropical greenhouse, rose garden, sensory garden, Shakespearean garden, and acres of woodland. There is also a Children’s Garden that features a musical maze, a rainbow and sunflower fountain, monster woods, and a 1949 Carousel from a former local amusement park. Explore more about the garden at botanica.org.
Bartlett Arboretum: Belle Plaine
In 1910, Dr. Walter E. Bartlett, a physician, and naturalist from Belle Plaine, Kansas, purchased 15 acres of land on the edge of town with the idea of creating a park and athletic facility. He quickly went to work building a dam and creating a lake, which quickly became a home for waterfowl. He planted trees along walkways and drives to create shaded spots for people to enjoy walks and drives through nature. Upon his passing in 1937, his son Glenn took the over the helms of the park. He shared his father’s passion for trees and nature and became a professional landscape architect and horticulturist. He took that passion and redeveloped the Bartlett Arboretum into a destination location. To learn more about the arboretum and all of its gardens, go to barlettarboretum.com.
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead: Overland Park
This is the perfect outing for families with little ones who need to burn off a little energy. Not only are there beautiful, fragrant gardens to explore there is also a petting zoo and rides available too. Open seven days a week, this attraction is designed to resemble a family farm. The farm includes over 200 animals, multiple vegetables and flower gardens, a one-room school house, a fish pond and pony rides. The 12-acre farm opened in 1978 as the “Children’s Farmstead,” and was renamed in 1985 after a local police officer who was killed in the line of duty. The farm has over 477,000 visitors annually and offers group and school tours by appointment. For additional information check out their website at opkansas.org.
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