Gibbs Gardens is more than 370 acres, with 18 seasonal gardens and 6 feature gardens – Daffodil, Inspiration, Japanese, “Le Jardin,” Manor House, and Waterlily.
Seasonal colors start in early April and continue through November. Seasonal changes include azaleas, cherry blossoms, crape myrtles, daylilies, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, rhododendrons, roses, and wildflowers. The Gardens provide a calendar so visitors can plan their trip around their favorite blooms. I visited the first week of June and was able to enjoy all the major flowers except daffodils and tulips.
In addition to the gardens, there is a stream flowing through the middle of the valley, ponds, mini waterfalls, sculptures, and bridges.
Visiting and Accessibility
There are two main sections: the Valley Gardens and the Manor House Gardens. Gibbs Gardens recommends allowing an hour and a half to tour each section.
Gibbs Gardens
2024 Price: $25 per person
Valley Gardens
The Valley Gardens include the Monet Waterlily Gardens, Grandchildren’s Sculpture Gardens, The Pleasance, Japanese Gardens, Fern Dell, “Le Jardin” Color Garden, Rose Gardens, Daylily Gardens, and Wildflower Meadow.
Most of these Valley Gardens are universally accessible. The paths are level and wide. Only the lower elevations of the Wildflower Meadow are wheelchair accessible. There are also over 100 benches to rest or relax on.
Manor House Gardens
The Manor House Gardens include the Daffodil Gardens, Inspiration Gardens, Native Azaleas, Nature Canopy Walk, Rhododendron and Hydrangea Gardens, Rose Arbor, Sunken Garden, and Woodland Shade Gardens.
These gardens are not universally accessible. There are some paths on the ground level which are easy to traverse; however, this section has many hills and terraces. Due to the steep natural terrain of the Inspiration Gardens, all wheeled transportation is prohibited entry.
The Gardens
We started with the Waterlily Gardens. So many different varieties and colors dotted the five ponds. There is also a replica of the bridge at Monet’s Garden outside Paris.
The Japanese Gardens were my absolute favorite! Also called Tsukiyama, the 40-acre area is the largest Japanese Gardens in the nation.
There are 7 ponds with benches, bridges, and boulders. These ponds reflect the sky and surrounding landscape, including colorful Japanese maples.
Then the Wildflower Meadow had spirals and levels of poppies and larkspur. It made for a backdrop of red, white, and blue. There were robins, grasshoppers, dragonflies, and a ruby-throated hummingbird zooming between blooms.
After the meadow, at the top of the hill is the Daylily Gardens. One long bed has pastel shades while the other beds have a mix of apricot, orange, pink, purple, pink, red, yellow, and white.
The Manor House is a mix of European architecture with 7 levels of terrace gardens. From the house there is a lovely view of the North Georgia mountains in the distance.
Sculptures
After the waterlilies was the Grandchildren’s Sculpture Gardens. Sally and Jim Gibbs have 11 grandchildren and have collected sculptures to represent each grandchild and their personalities.
The Japanese Gardens also contain beautiful sculptures – figures and 40 handcrafted stone Japanese lanterns.
People left coins at the Buddha statues as offerings for good luck.
More sculptures are spread throughout Gibbs Gardens, especially of animals.
Gibbs Gardens is a stunning botanical treat. It is perfect for families and nature lovers alike. We spent hours wandering and soaking in the sights.