Kennesaw's Hidden Botanical Garden Treasure

After years of passing Smith-Gilbert Gardens on my way to work, we finally turned off Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw for a visit. And we’re glad we did because we enjoyed exploring the compact garden. Plus we picked up some great additional benefits by purchasing a family membership.

For the unfamiliar, Smith-Gilbert Gardens is a compact, 16-acre botanical garden. It features more than 3,000 plant species, award-winning rose and conifer sections, an incredible collection of bonsai trees and a seasonal butterfly exhibit that delights all ages. The gardens started as a private project of Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert. The pair purchased the 150-year-old Hiram Butler house and surrounding property in 1970 and began the diverse botanical transformation.

Tucked away on Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw, GA, the Smith-Gilbert Gardens was established in 1970 as a private venture. Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert purchased the 150-year-old Hiram House and began the diverse botanical transformation.

Well-marked trails and plants guide visitors through the various garden sections. Favorite stops include 30 permanent sculpture exhibits beautifully set into the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately, COVID pandemic cancelled group tours, but hopefully these volunteer-led excursions will begin again in 2021.

Tiny Trees

We started our visit in the bonsai garden, admiring the locally grown and lovingly manicured exhibit of these tiny trees. From individual plantings to tiny forest replicas, the beauty and tranquility captivated our eyes and camera lens.

**The nationally-recognized bonsai garden features individual plantings and forest replicas, locally grown and lovingly manicured.**

Since the butterfly garden was not open yet for our late-Spring visit, we moved on to the walking trails, to the delight of our active grandkids. We started in the perennial garden, meandered through the blooming rose garden, then crossed the expansive meadow before proceeding to the woodland walk trails. Coaching them to stay on marked trails, they acted as advanced lookouts to find sculpture exhibits which dot the gardens. That little game kept them well entertained, as they located and reported their findings excitedly. Meanwhile, we took extra time to stop and figuratively smell the roses and other blooming plants.

**Sculptures dot the gardens, set into the landscapes. We coached our grandsons to stay on the trails, but to go ahead and scout for these. Meanwhile, we stopped to smell the roses and other plants.**

Fragrant Blooms

Since the butterfly garden was not open yet for our late-Spring visit, we wandered in the perennial garden, meandered through the blooming rose garden, then crossed the expansive meadow before proceeding to the woodland walk trails. All along the way, the late-Spring blooms surrounded us.

After 30 minutes of leisurely walking through fragrant blooms, we crossed into the camellia gardens. Shortly, the grandkids found the seating in the covered viewing area. They enjoyed a short break and earned a special treat from Gigi after all that walking! Snacks quickly devoured, they jumped into action again when we hinted that we might find a hidden waterfall and colorful koi in the nearby crevice garden.

**The grandkids found the covered seating area, enjoyed Gigi’s special treats, then were off again in search of a waterfall and koi in the nearby crevice garden.**

Before walking back to the car, we challenged them to put on a one-person play about their favorite animals or plants on the stage at the Little Theatre in the Woods. The boys were intrigued but unsure, so grandpa went first. Suddenly, they couldn’t wait to share their stories on stage. After two acts from each, it was time for the final curtain and a family exit, stage left.

We challenged the grandsons to stage a one-person play about their favorite animals. They were unsure, so grandpa went first. Then, they couldn’t wait to share. After two acts each, we all exited, stage left.

Summer Treat: Butterfly Garden

Since we were too early on our first visit, we’re planning a July return visit to Smith-Gilbert to experience the Butterfly Garden. This seasonal treat features pollinator plants and lots of beautiful butterflies native to or migrating through Georgia. Our grandkids love finding and trying to identify the colorful insects, while we always try to capture their spread-winged photos while they do nature’s work on the blooming plants.

Road Trip Benefits

We purchased a family membership to Smith-Gilbert to make return visits and bring along others to experience this hidden treasure. The following week, we packed our Smith-Gilbert membership card for a 4,700-mille road trip through the Rocky Mountains, the desert Southwest, Texas and the Deep South. That’s because a Smith-Gilbert membership includes reciprocal benefits through the American Horticultural Society’s admission program. Thus, we added several free garden visits at some of our stops, including: