“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
Psalm 94:19
Happy Thursday my friends. After sheltering at home for almost two months, the hubby and I took a little excursion last week. For several years, I have been hearing and reading about Gibbs Gardens. We have passed by their signs numerous times on the way to Highlands, but were never able to stop. The gardens had only opened recently, maintaining compliance with the COVID-19 restrictions. Tickets were not available on site and had to be purchased on line. Some of their operations were not available, such as the Arbor Cafe, gift shop, and tram. Not to worry, we could certainly afford to miss a meal and would always choose to walk rather than ride a tram. Social distancing would not be a problem with almost 300 acres to explore. We left early for the two and half hour drive to Ball Ground, GA keeping in mind the time difference.
We could not have asked for a more perfect day, with bright blue skies and temps around 65 degrees. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful as we arrived. At the entrance to the gardens, we were met by lush flower boxes attached to the wooden fence. The flowers were so vibrant and healthy as they fell onto the walkway. I can only imagine how many gardeners are employed to keep everything pristine. I am sure as these annuals become root-bound and need to be replaced, the task is handled quickly and efficiently.
Upon entering the gardens at the welcome center, we were treated to a beautiful area planted with annuals.
Jim Gibbs traveled for fifteen years covering the nation and world as he visited famous gardens of every style and decided he wanted to design and build a world class garden. As the founder and owner of Gibbs Landscape Company in Atlanta, he only had to look at his family…generations of dedicated gardeners and farmers to trace the roots of his passion for horticulture and landscape architecture.
Mr. Gibbs spent six years searching for a suitable site with a strong source of water and beautiful mature trees covering a rolling topography. His dream came true in 1980 when he purchased 292 beautiful acres. On March 1, 2012, after 30 years of development, he opened Gibbs Gardens to rave reviews from horticulture experts as well as the media and thousands of visitors.
Foxgloves were in bloom and they are such a charming flower as they stand so proud in the garden. I plan to try my luck growing them as an annual next spring.
Butch was intrigued with this unusual chair made from a stump.
Near the entrance to the cafe were several barrels that were planted so beautifully. I tried to take note of the different flowers and fillers that were used.
Pansies were planted in brilliant displays of color. I developed a new appreciation for them after seeing them en masse.
Mr. Gibbs has designed 24 ponds, 32 bridge crossings, and 19 waterfalls for his world class gardens.
In the Waterlily Garden, five ponds showcase over 140 varieties of waterlilies. Japanese Maples and thousands of daffodils provide additional seasonal interest in the Waterlily Garden.
Monet’s Garden at Giverny, outside Paris, delighted Mr. Gibbs. The bridge with its rolled steel beams, rails, and arbor, was measured and reproduced with the same radius.
I have made it to Paris a couple of times but not to Claude Monet’s Giverny. At least now I have seen it through Mr. Gibbs eyes!
The Waterlilies begin to bloom mid May until November, we were just a bit too early. The Daffodil Gardens are the first to bloom each year with more than 200 varieties and 20 + million daffodils planted to bloom consistently for 6 weeks covering 50 acres of hillsides and valley. Can you imagine 20 million daffodils?
Each of the five ponds in the Waterlily Gardens originates from the flow of underground springs. No artificial liners or concrete were needed for construction, creating the largest natural display of waterlilies in the nation.
An island was built to support the bridge for its proper span. Monet’s choice of color was incorporated.
The selected varieties of waterlilies vary in size, shape, and color. They are from world-renowned hybridizers.
Meandering paths follow each of the Waterlily Gardens. I could have wandered in this area all day!
With more than 70 acres, the Fern Dell is one of the largest in the nation. Millions of ferns form a dense carpet in the woodland glade
A pond in the Japanese Gardens provides stunning reflections.
I hope you have enjoyed our walk in Gibbs Gardens. I will be sharing part two in the coming days. If only we lived closer, I would love to see each of the gardens at their peak. I must say that spending a day in these beautiful gardens lifted my spirits.
Thank you for your visits and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Info: gibbsgardens.com
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Thank you for this beautiful tour and inspiration.
My pleasure!
It was a pleasure to open your blog this morning and read about your visit to Gibbs Gardens. We live in Helen, Georgia and visit the gardens often. You definitely must visit during every season of the year! Your gardens are beautiful as well, and I am thankful you share them through your writing and pictures!
June, how wonderful that you visit the gardens frequently. I hope to return in the fall!
What a beautiful garden, thanks for the tour. I had to look it up and it is 3-1/2 hours from me, a bit too far for a day trip, but my MIL lives north of Atlanta, so we might give it a try on our next visit.
Hopefully you can visit sometime, Carole!
What a lovely place!
Those reflective photos – esp the Waterlily Garden – those are the money shots! Gorgeous!
Thank you Rita. I wish I could go every month in order to see everything in bloom!
Beautiful Pam and Butch. I love visiting gardens and had never heard of this beauty. I think of the many years it took and the love of gardening it took to bring us this most wonderful place. From DuPont gardens, to Biltmore gardens, this stands among the best. So glad you decide to visit this Spring and share it with us,
Alice, I am amazed at this one man’s dream and working 30 years to bring it to fruition!
This was quite the treat this morning. The beauty has a way of consoling the soul. I cannot imagine the work it has taken to develop this into such a showplace. The Waterlily Gardens and bridges are really amazing. I loved the beautiful foxgloves as you first entered the gardens. Visiting gardens is one of my very favorite things to do. Any trip that Bob and I take I research to see if there are gardens in the area. Biltmore just opened their gardens this week for local pass holders by appointment only. Bob and I hope to go tomorrow. Beautiful photography. Bob would have been intrigued by the chair also. A day spent in a garden is a day spent close to our Creator.
Dianne, I know you will enjoy your visit tomorrow to Biltmore. I’m have been three different times and the gardens are exquisite. If you ever get the chance, I recommend Gibbs Gardens!
Breathtaking!!! I am so glad seeing such beauty…Thank you for this gorgeous tour!
Thank you Maristella!
Pam, Gibbs Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit! It is even more incredible to think it was one man’s personal vision! As beautiful as it was in the summer with thousands of daylilies blooming, the staff said to come back in the Fall to see the maples in their glory. James Farmer had incredible foxgloves this year in his Perry, GA garden. He said for best results, plant them as plants in the Fall instead of seeds. I want to give it a try!
Roxanne, how wonderful that you have been. We plan to go back in the fall. I have loved seeing James Farmer’s foxgloves in coral (Carl). I love his gardens!
Pam, The pictures are outstanding of this gorgeous garden! Another place on our list to visit thanks to your travels. Thank you!☺️ So happy you had an opportunity to take a day trip & relax a bit & then share with us. The stump chair is interesting and unique. The Japanese gardens are beautiful and the colorful annuals are amazing! Looking forward to seeing more. Have a wonderful day! Clara♥️
What gorgeous gardens. I love all of the colors, and the bridge is amazing! Happy Thursday, Pam!
The gardens are truly amazing. Thanks for stopping by to visit!
Wow! I’ve never heard of this place before. When I saw the title i thought you were referring to the Gibbs Garden Center that’s somewhere near Snead? We passed recently heading to the Sipsey Wilderness.
I would love to go to THE GARDEN! When is peak season?
Thanks so much for sharing!
Stacy, I highly recommend it . Go to their website to see all the varieties of plants and trees. Peak season is late February until November. It depends on what you are most interested in seeing. I wish I could go every three weeks.
Pam, this is absolutely stunning. I have never heard of this place, and definitely want to go see it when possible.
It is worth a trip for sure!
How beautiful Pam!
It truly was, thank you Cath!
I will eagerly look forward to part two! This is just beautiful, so lush and full. The pink foxgloves wowed me! They’re fabulous. And that stump chair is very cool! The Giverny garden is especially beautiful and does bring back memories!
Thank you Jeanie, it was a delightful visit!
Such beauty, Pam. And your photography skills are quite evident. Gorgeous photos. I know you thoroughly enjoyed your day and it is wonderful you have such a magnificent garden within driving distance to you.
Have a lovely day and weekend.
Sandra, it was gorgeous and I hope to return in the fall!
Pam, anonymous is me. I have no idea how that happened.
I knew it was your comment my friend!
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful treat! Thank you so much 🤗
My pleasure and thank you Sue!
What a wonderful way to spend the day after being so close to home for so long. Until a few years ago we lived 2 hours away from Gibbs. Tried to take a trip each of the 4 seasons every year. Always beautiful and inspiring. When Mr Gibbs is home he loves to sit outside on his porch and chat. Very nice, interesting man who loves for you to visit his garden
Jeannie, we so loved our visit and hope to return in the fall. Amazing that one man envisioned all of this!
Lost my comment
I am so sorry!
What a glorious display of spring at its finest! The watery reflections you captured are outstanding. I can’t even wrap my brain around 20 million daffodils. What a treat it was to have a little getaway and visit in person! ♥
Mary, this is just what I needed. It was amazing!
Pam, your pictures are gorgeous. I wish we were as close as you are to Gibbs. I sent the link to this post to my friend that has a house there. I’ve always wanted to go and maybe we can.
I look forward to Part 2.
I am looking at the comment box now and it has my name and says: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I still do not know how I acquired a word press account.
Hopefully you can go. Thank you Bonnie and the WP account is interesting 🤣
Oh Pam,
This was a day trip that we all dream of! I can only imagine what this outing did for your soul.
Well, goodness, this is one spectacular Garden. It is slightly reminiscent of the Dallas Arboretum but I do believe that these gardens are much larger and actually look as though they have more species of plants.
I adore the photo of the Foxglove!
Oh the Water gardens, bridge and I believe those are Japanese Maple? To think that one man envisioned this…spectacular!
Jemma
Jemma, one man’s dream over a long period of time came to fruition! It truly is magnificent! Thank you my friend!
Oh Pam, the vibrancy of the colors of God’s creation really do take our breaths away … especially when we pause to still ourselves, to be totally present to right where we are in the moment instead of always rushing on to the next thing.
Thanks for always sharing beauty and inspiration, friend …
Thank you Linda!
Oh how beautiful! Thank you so much for a lovely tour. And your amazing photography. The reflections in the ponds are stunning! And those Foxgloves remind me of my grandmother’s gardens. Oh how I love Foxgloves!
I really enjoyed myself. Thank you dear Pam! Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you dear one. Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Dear Pam, I am impressed to see all this that you don’t show. That beauty!!! I couldn’t say which of the images I liked the most. I love the nature and beauty of flowers, these living beings that God has not given to enjoy his presence.
I also love the stump molded wood chair … it’s wonderful!
I am very happy that you have enjoyed nature as beautiful as these gardens.
A hug
Estimado amigo, gracias por acompañarme en nuestro recorrido por el jardín. Los jardines son realmente magníficos, con tanta belleza y llenos de la creación de Dios. Butch y yo esperamos volver durante el otoño. ¡Te deseo un delicioso fin de semana! Abrazos ♥ ️
Visits to beautiful gardens are one of my pleasures. There are several in Maine that I make a point of going to each year. You can’t beat what nature so freely gives.
Nature has abundant gifts to enjoy!
Oh my stars what an incredibly beautiful spot! Such a great way to get outside, wow…your photographs are breaktaking, I love the ones reflecting the flowers and foliage in the water. Thank you for the virtual trip to Gibbs Gardens, what a delight!!
Jenna
Jenna, the gardens are beyond amazing. We hope to return in the fall to see all of the maples.
Oh, how beautiful! Just gorgeous! I pinned several of your photos to my “gardening” page. SO, so pretty to look at, and it just calmed my frazzled nerves tonight to come visit with you, sweet friend. Your blog always brings such joy to my heart and to everyone who visits here. You are a gift to this dark world. Many blessings to you!
Thank you Cheryl. Wishing you joy-filled Sunday!
Heavenly gardens Pam. I could look at gardens all day. The beauty of the flowers and surroundings is gorgeous. A wonderful virtual getaway for those of us stuck at home. We really haven’t ventured out. The reflections from the water are so calming. Happy Sunday.
Thank you Linda. The gardens were gorgeous!
Hi Pam, Beautiful! My husband and I watched a P Allen Smith epidsode that highlighted the gardens 5 years ago. We planned a trip for our anniversary the next year. I am reliving our trip through your beautiful pictures. You have great photography skills! I have always wanted to go back in the fall but haven’t had time yet. I really hope you get to go! I don’t get to comment often, but love you blog!
Thanks so much for commenting. I wish I could go every month, but I will be content to hopefully make it this fall! Have a delightful week!
Beautiful indeed. We are very blessed working for Chick-fil-A Corporate. Gibbs installs and maintains our landscapes and gardens. Sweet surprised each Spring.
How wonderful and to work for Chick-fil-A, my favorite fast food. Happy Tuesday!