8 Beautiful Botanical Gardens Around Columbus

Hannah Scott:  The Topiary Park is a truly unique Columbus gem! The plants in this public garden are sculpted to recreate Seurat's famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of LaGrande Jatte. It's beautiful, whimsical, and a lovely place to spend a couple hours with your family and a picnic.

Hannah Scott:  OSU welcomes the public to enjoy its on-campus arboretum and gardens, used by the university for research and education. Families can have a picnic, take a nature walk, and do some catch-and-release fishing in the lake.

Hannah Scott:  This favorite Columbus family attraction is home to indoor gardens with over 400 plant species inside the glass conservatory greenhouse. There are several traveling exhibitions and a stunning display of Chihuly glass artwork. Be sure to check out the 2-acre Children's Garden, where a myriad of programs and activities for kids and families are offered and included with the price of admission.

Kelly R.:  Columbus is home to one of the largest public rose gardens in America, with more than 12,000 roses and 13 acres to explore. The Formal Rose Garden reaches peak bloom in June and September. Picnicking on the park lawns is permitted.

Hannah Scott:  The three gardens located next to the historic Gantz farmhouse work together to tell a story: The Garden of Yesterday (a kitchen garden of herbs, fruits, and vegetables), The Garden of Today (an herb and container garden), and the Garden of Tomorrow (a visual landscape). The grounds are also home to the Gantz labyrinth, a path laid out in a circular motion for visitors to walk while meditating.

Hannah Scott:  Beautyview Gardens is a Display Garden of the American Daylily Society, located at the private residence of Bob & Sue Cochran. During peak season (late June and July), visitors are welcome to drop by and see the thousands of blooms -- around 400 varieties of daylilies, plus hostas, native perennials, and plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds!

Hannah Scott:  Inniswood is a delightful collection of botanical gardens and trails that span 123 acres. You'll find over 2,000 species of plants as you explore the grounds, including native wildflowers and wildlife. Families will love the children's garden with its interactive water stations and other outdoor play areas designed to inspire the imagination.

Hannah Scott:  This impressive arboretum near Columbus has nearly 2,000 acres of preserved land with hiking trails, a Japanese garden, an Observation Tower, and thousands of plant species. Check out the Discovery Center in the lower level of the Visitors Center while you're there for hands-on nature activities for kids!