I don't go lower than 3 stars often but this is one of those times…read more We were hanging in Knoxville doing a few things before heading to our cabin. We checked out the museum, a food spot, a few spots around town, and this (garden)? They have a ton of space and there is a thoughtful layout. The trail to walk through a forest area is probably the best thing about the place. Worth a stop? Maybe, but realize that this botanical gardens has a long way to go before it's ready for primetime. Being a smaller market, I assume it's a funding issue. There were some workers/volunteers there trying to make the place alluring and presentable. This will be an asset to Knoxville as/if it gets built out with a clear vision.

Late Sept, 2023. We were using Pigeon Forge as a base to explore the Great Smokies when we decided…read moreto take a road trip to Knoxville. We tend to enjoy outdoor spaces, so the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum was on our itinerary for the day. Driving the short distance from downtown through residential neighborhoods, we certainly wouldn't have found the Gardens without our GPS -- and even then we questioned whether we were going the right way! Upon reaching, the plentiful parking spots were nearly full. It turns out that there was a wedding reception going on so a (relatively small) part of the gardens was closed to the public. We started in the Visitor's Center, where a very helpful staff member (or volunteer?) told us about the gardens, gave us a map, told us what areas were off-limits, and sent us on our way. Note that there are restrooms in the visitor's center. The gardens are located on 47 acres of the former Howell Nurseries, and feature walking paths, display gardens, unique and historic horticulture, and over two miles of distinctive stone walls and timeless buildings. The Garden is privately owned and operated and supported through donations and membership. Admission was FREE. We enjoyed walking around the well-maintained gardens but, given that it was already late September, there were few plants in bloom. It was a peaceful place to walk and to relax, and to enjoy a view of the Smokies in the distance. If we lived in the area, we would likely return at different times when flowers are blooming, and full likely attend some of their events. For instance, on Nov 14th, there's a class on "Forages Wreath Making", wherein participants walk around the gardens to forage for plants and materials to make a festive and natural holiday wreath.

Took a drive to take a walk @ the gardens with my mom yesterday. Yeah ironic to drive to walk, but…read morece la víe. It was a beautiful day...we had to do a little searching for a parking lot, but hey, not surprising, the students have priority right? We finally found an acceptable spot and started to stroll around. It really was/is a beautiful area with many cool statues and sitting areas. The shade is so valuable when walking around. The flowers and foliage was quite beautiful and fragrant...

Simply amazing. A delight for many senses. The artistry behind the layout is breathtaking. One of…read morethe very best facilities in the USA. Spring time was enriching and rewarding.

This place is massive! You could easily spend the entire day here and still not see everything! I…read morewas really impressed by how well-organized it was, especially for such a large space. The selection was great, and while prices were a bit on the higher side, that's expected when you're supporting a local business rather than a big box store like Home Depot or Lowe's. You also pay for quality of the plants and service, so don't let the prices scare you. My only complaint is the limited selection of perennials. They had tons of houseplants, annuals, and other varieties, but the perennial section felt a bit lacking. Still, the overall experience was amazing. One tip: if you get easily distracted or overwhelmed, maybe visit once just to look around, then come back with a list. I made the mistake of trying to browse and shop at the same time and ended up leaving empty-handed because there were just so many options. (Not a bad problem to have--just be prepared!) The staff was also super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Wife brought home 3 packs of plants...so 36 total. I noticed some of them already looked in bad…read moreshape and basically dead, to the point where it was just rotten stems or none at all. We sent pictures and were told they just looked dried out, so I watered them all down...well that seemed to pretty much finish them off. The shady thing is my wife didn't know anything about it, so they picked them out for her.

I recently utilized the services of Nature Craft Home to help me with my new garden, and I am…read moredelighted to provide them with a well-deserved four-star review. Their performance exceeded my expectations, and I am highly pleased with the outcome. They were able to accommodate my busy schedule and showed up punctually on the designated day, which is always appreciated. The way they were able to help with my garden exceeded my expectations and was definitely worth the price!!

From the owner: Unlike conventional landscaping companies, we are pioneers in embracing a unique approach that…read morepromotes sustainability and ecological balance. Our approach is rooted in several core principles: -Food-forward landscaping -Native plant selection -Sustainable practices -Food donation initiative -Education outreach

We had some time in Downtown Knoxville and decided to check out the mansion. The staff are super…read morenice, and we enjoyed talking with them. We were given a tour with just our family which was really cool. We all really loved the tour. It was great for our son who could touch a lot of objects. They also had a table to try and write with a quill. I would recommend the mansion if you love history.

This is a very well landscaped and very well preserved mansion, that was Built-in 1792. Governor…read moreWilliam Blount and his family resided here.The mansion sits up on a Hill overlooking the Tennessee river. There are some very old antiques inside the mansion and most of the mansion is all original. All of the rooms were pretty large and had high ceilings about 10 ft. There are beautiful gardens out side and around the building. This mansion is located downtown Knoxville and the courthouse is right down the street. It was very cool to see how they lived way back then with no electric. They had candlelight chandeliers and wood burning stove. All their equipment they used to make their clothes and their food was all original as far as I know. There was 3 or 4 outside buildings as well that was used for their equipment and their work.

I have purchased annuals here that were great and a couple of perennials as well. You t has been a…read morefavorite nursery even though it isn't inexpensive. On my last visit, however, I noticed that a significant percentage of the shrubs that overwintered there now seem to have leaf spot or some other form of fungal infection. They are definitely not the only nursery with the problem, and I'm fighting it in my own yard. I won't be bringing home any new plants showing infection though.

Very rude! Not helpful at all in finding azaleas or other plants. This is not the first time this…read morehas happened. I'll go to other nurseries that are more helpful and willing to answer any questions.

Southern Shade Landscaping, LLC did an amazing job on my patio! The design was creative, balanced…read morebeauty with functionality, and every detail was executed with precision. The crew worked diligently, kept everything tidy, listened carefully, and delivered a result that exceeded expectations. I highly recommend them for your hardscape and landscaping needs!

I highly recommend Southern Shade Landscaping! The owner Stephen Witt is a creative landscape…read moredesigner who listens to your dreams and desires. Southern Shade is a small company that takes pride in the quality of their work. We have a new home with a long narrow lot and a downward sloping hill with wonderful views. It has been transformed with a short faux rock wall on the back and one side. Two paver stone patios that are just gorgeous, drainage issues rectified and lovely plantings throughout! Stephen and his foreman, Austin do all the work themselves. They only work one job site at a time, so we did have to wait several months to start our project, but it was defiantly worth the wait. If you need landscape work done, call Southern Shade and start the process. You'll love the results!

I expected more, the beers were all cans but my wife loved it since it was next to the river and we…read morespent time down there. I expect a beer garden to have beer on tap, but don't let that put you off.

Beautiful simple and relaxing location to enjoy a cold can of beer by a roaring creek. So peaceful…read more You want to stay for hours. They have some food items you can purchase like warm pretzels and different options of beers and soda cans. Nothing in draft unfortunately. Worth it to stop here.

I happened to be in the area on vacation looking for a good place to hike. I definitely found what…read moreI came for. This place has it all. Paved roads, for those who want to take it more easy. Dirt roads. Some way off the beaten path, for those who wanna make it a little hard, climb up some rock stairs. It was really fun. It was quite an adventure. More than I have had in a nature center in a while. I stopped at the gift center, which was very quaint. I love the little stones they had. It was a bag of them for six dollars I believe. The quality of the tumbled stones seemed very nice as well for such a price. I would definitely go back to this area and visit once more if I happen to be here on vacation!

We were passing through Knoxville and were looking for a place to exercise and give our dog a good…read morehike we came across this place!! Amazing!! The trails are well kept and the one we took was a loop trail so we found our way back to the nature center very easily, but there were maps along the way and a map at the beginning you can take a photo of. I wouldn't miss this place. It's super nice.