Gibbs Gardens: A Guide to Spring Flowers near Atlanta

Gibbs Gardens

I cannot remember where or when I first heard of Gibbs Gardens, but it was many years before my first visit. Gibbs Gardens is a remarkable showcase of landscape and garden design that will wow everyone from non-gardeners to experts alike.  Flower Magazine recognized Gibbs Gardens as one of “The World’s 10 Best Places to See Daffodils.” I was determined to see them. 

Ball Ground, Georgia

We visited the Friday of the 4th weekend in March.  The garden has a Ball Ground address, but it is located in Cherokee County roughly between I-575 and GA SR 400.  It took us about an hour to drive there from intown Atlanta.  We drove through downtown Ball Ground, which is adorable. 

There are a few restaurants and shops that I would like to go back and visit.  Frankfurt Doner & Meats serves Doner Kebabs, which is a Turkish dish similar to Greek gyros.  I enjoyed this meal as a street food when I visited my friend in Berlin during college.  I would also like to eat at the Ball Ground Burger Bus.  This restaurant has been recommended to me multiple times.  I have also head good things about Wilkes Meat Market, which we passed just after we exited I-575. 

Arriving at Gibbs Gardens

I read the gardens’ website, which recommended purchasing tickets ahead of time, as it is frequently very busy in the spring.  My husband and I did not believe that would be the case as it was not the actual weekend yet, however when we arrived at 11am, it was very busy.  A gallery of trees and daffodils lined the entrance road to the garden. Attendants were directing traffic as we reached the first parking lot.  The first lot was full, so they directed us to the second lot.  There was a third lot beyond that.

We walked to the Welcome Center, which housed Ticketing, restrooms, and the Seasons Gift Store.  If we had purchased online tickets, we could have shown the code on our phone entered directly into the gardens.  Purchasing our tickets hardly took any time at all, however if you are visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, I think that it would be a good idea to follow the website’s recommendation.  The garden does allow water bottles and offered a water bottle filler in the Welcome Center near the restrooms.

As we exited the ticketing area, a docent provided us with a map and general directions on our next steps.  The map included a seasonally appropriate path depicted in red.  Signs with red arrows as well as numbers helped to ensure that we knew where we were and that we were moving in the correct direction. 

Waterlily Gardens & the Monet Bridge

Everyone was there to see the daffodils and the majority of visitors made the daffodils their first stop.  We took a slightly different path and headed to the Waterlily Gardens and the Monet Bridge.  I wanted to see Giverny in France, however I was disappointed to find out that the gardens were not open during the winter.  My mother went during the summer and was successful in her quest to see Monet’s gardens.  Based on her description, Giverny may be the most spectacular place she has ever visited. 

The Waterlily Gardens and the Monet Bridge are the next best thing available in Georgia.  Waterlilies filled the ponds interwoven into the garden.  Cypress trees grew along the edge of the ponds and populated the shore with Cypress knees.  I have an affinity for Cypress knees, so I enjoyed this southern twist on Monet’s Waterlily Garden theme. 

Japanese Gardens

We followed the red arrows that corresponded with the path on the map to the Japanese Gardens next.  Japanese features including pagoda like structures and Japanese-style sculptures punctuated this section of the garden.  Ponds were woven into the design creating a stunning and harmonious landscape without the use of flowers.  The simplicity of the Japanese garden is marvelous in the spring. Japanese maples trees studded the landscape. I am sure that the maple trees create spectacular color in the fall. 

Arbor Café

As we wrapped up at the Japanese Gardens, it was approaching noon and I was hungry, so we followed the stream back to the Arbor Café.  The garden does not allow any outside food or beverage, however they have a café available that offers a menu of simple sandwiches.  The menu included a grain bowl, pimento cheese & veggies, an Italian wrap, a chicken salad sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich, and a hot dog.  Chips were available as a side.  Dessert offerings included large cookies and a cooler with King of Pops.   

We each ordered the pimento cheese platter, an unsweetened ice tea, and we shared a large chocolate chip cookie for dessert.  A gravel patio was available near the café with plenty of seating.  The trees provided a comfortable amount of shade.  Daffodil bulbs that could be planted in the spring were available for sale.  Quite a few people were interested in purchasing them.  Happily, we ordered our lunch on the early side.  A long line developed at the café shortly after we picked up our lunches. 

Daffodil Gardens

The garden was busy, but it was not too crowded to enjoy.  As people began to make their way to the café, we wrapped up our lunch and headed towards the hills to see the daffodils.  There were some spectacular tulips to see along the way. Daffodils covered two large hills.  We climbed to the top of the first hill enjoying the daffodils in bloom along the way.

There were signs calling out each type of daffodil.  The early-season daffodils had already bloomed.  The mid-to-late season daffodils were blooming when we visited.  Some late-season varieties had not bloomed yet.  The daffodils on the second hill were quite the sight from a distance.  At the top of the first hill, there was a view of the North Georgia Mountains in the distance. 

Gibbs Manor House

We made our way back down and started up the second hill of daffodils, passing through the Rhododendron and Hydrangea Gardens as we followed the signs to the manor house.  We passed through the rose arbor, which was planted with stunning spring tulips. 

The path led us up to the front of the manor house.  There was a lovely pool to the right with pool bathrooms that were open to the public.  The path led us around the back of the house.  The home looked occupied and as we wrapped around it towards the kitchen, indeed, we saw the owners sitting inside. 

Out of Season Gardens: Inspiration Gardens & Rose Gardens

At that point, we headed back down the hill through the Inspiration Gardens, which did not have anything special to offer for the spring season.  We looped back around the Waterlily Gardens to see the tulips blooming adjacent to the Rose Gardens before making our way back to the Welcome Center.

We spent almost 3-hours visiting the garden and could have likely spent more time, however we needed to return to the city to pick up the kids from school.  The gardens recommend allowing 3.5 – 4 hours for your visit. 

Visiting the Gibbs Gardens throughout the Year

We really enjoyed our visit to the garden.  The cashier at the Welcome Center told us to save our receipt and that we could apply it to a member ship if we decide to come back.  I do not expect to be back within the year, however if you have more free time or live nearby, I think that a membership would be worth investing in.  The garden is not open year-round.  It closes for the winter at the beginning of December and opens in March for daffodil season.  The website includes a Bloom Calendar to help you time your visits. 

Daffodils & the Spring Season at Gibbs Gardens

Daffodils typically bloom for about 6 weeks and various varieties bloom at different times including early season, mid-season, and late-season.  If I purchased a membership, I would come twice during daffodil season.  I would visit right after the gardens opened to see the early season daffodils.

Then I would visit again towards the end of March. to see the mid-to-late season blooms along with the cherry blossoms and tulips.  Tulips bloom from March until early May.  The dogwoods and traditional azaleas typically begin blooming in early April.  Late spring puts on a show of irises, native azaleas, encore azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.

The Summer Season at Gibbs Gardens

In the summer, expect to see waterlilies, daylilies, and crape myrtles in bloom.  Roses, annuals, and perennials keep the garden in color all summer. 

The garden also includes a Fern Dell.  We saw ferns throughout the garden, however, they were just beginning to uncurl in late March.  I imagine that they are at their peak in summer. 

Fall Color & Monarch Butterflies at Gibbs Gardens

The wildflowers begin to show their color in September and into early October.  Wildflower Meadow includes millions of Sulphur and Garden Cosmos bloom on 15 acres through early October.  The flowers attract thousands of Monarch butterflies as they migrate from the US to central Mexico. 

Peak color for the Japanese Gardens happens in mid-October through early November.  There are over 3000 maples trees and 200 different varieties planted.  This event is called Japanese Maples Colorfest.  There are over 200 varieties of maple trees.

Planning your Trip to Gibbs Gardens

Who would enjoy the Garden

My husband and I visited the garden as a day date. I had a vacation day that was going to expire at the end of the month, so we played hooky from work after we dropped the kids off at school. While we were there, we saw groups of senior citizens out with their friends as well as couples. We saw extended families with grandparents, parents, and young children together. We saw grandparents touring the gardens with young grandchildren, and we saw parents with young children. They were all enjoying the garden and taking lots of photos – particularly the families there with small children.

As it was a school day, we did not see many school-aged children. I suspect that older children and teens may not enjoy a day in the garden so much. Expect to walk a lot as you tour the gardens! I walked almost 17,000 steps that day and close to 7 miles. Wear comfortable shoes. You can enjoy the garden without walking such a distance. Climbing to the top of the daffodil hills are a hike. The garden appeared to have rescue carts available to bring back guests who had walked too far and needed help returning to the gate.

When to Go to Gibbs Gardens

The garden is closed on Mondays and potentially additional days depending on the season.  Check the Gibbs Gardens website for current pricing and hours. We went on a Friday morning at the end of March and the garden was very busy. It did not take long to purchase our tickets at the gift shop, however, I recommend that you purchase tickets in advance, on-line if you visit on a weekend or the afternoon. You can bypass ticketing and simply show the code on your phone to enter the gardens directly. I think that the earlier you arrive, the better!

What to Bring to Gibbs Garden

No outside food can be brought into the garden except for bottles of water. You can refill your water bottle at the Welcome Center. A couple of picnic tables are available in the third parking lot on a first come, first serve basis where outside food can be eaten. You can purchase food at the Arbor Café inside the gates. Consult the Gibbs Gardens website for information regarding appropriate dress, food & drink, photography, restrooms, and pets

Getting to Gibbs Gardens

Plan to drive to Gibbs Gardens. It is located in a remote, but beautiful area outside of Ball Ground, Georgia. There are a series of parking lots and parking attendants available to direct you. The garden website notes that Uber or Lyft will drop you off at the garden, however, they will not return to pick you up. Do not attempt to pre-schedule an Uber of Lyft – in my experience prescheduled remote pick-ups are canceled at the last minute.

How much time to spend at Gibbs Gardens

We spent 3 hours visiting the gardens, but we were a little rushed at the end. We needed to get back to the city to pick up our kids at school. The garden website recommends that you allow 3.5 – 4 hours to tour the garden. If you only visit the Manor House Gardens, allow 1.5 hours to tour it. If you visit the Valley Gardens on its own – which includes the Monet Waterlily Gardens, the Japanese Gardens, the Rose Gardens, and more – expect to spend 1.5 hours touring this area.

A Garden for all Seasons

My husband and I really enjoyed our day out at Gibbs Gardens. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys walking in beautiful outdoor spaces. Lunch at the Arbor Café was good too. I would love to return and spend a little time in downtown Ball Ground. Have you been to Gibbs Gardens? Are you planning to go? Let me know in the comments!

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