The good: The staff is very nice and helpful. Particularly the groundskeeper/horticulturalist, Robert, who described many of the bansai trees and their age, soil and process and care. The restrooms are very clean. Admission is reasonable at $10 per adult. No cash accepted. Plenty of walkable area and trails, many places to comfortably sit and enjoy this slice of nature. This was a pleasurable distraction from the busyness of the surrounding commercial area. There was also a nice covered area for observation of the koi pond and waterfall features, which would be great in a mild rain shower. The butterfly tent area sounds amazing, but we were too early for the season. The gardens are set up for educational purposes for children, which is nice. The bad: some areas are in desperate need for weeding, Robert said a large group of volunteers were coming out this weekend to help with weeding. There were many poison oak plants and poison ivy plants in some areas where kids might roam, especially, or adults too. The trails could be marked better, even though maps were available at the main admissions shop and a couple on property. Generally, this seemed newer rather than well established, but it is on its way to a nice gardens area and even now is a great spot to spend a couple of hours or more in nature! read more

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The garden is very inviting. It's not very expensive to come and see all the beautiful plants that grow in Georgia. They have a waterfall upon a Koi Pond another Koi pond and just plenty of flowers and birds to just enjoy. as well as a butterfly house. They have plenty of programs for kids and adults live music throughout the year overall it's a very relaxing place nuzzled in the city of Marietta Kennesaw Mountain. read more

Smith Gilbert Gardens is my recent find in Kennesaw! SGG is Kennesaw's botanical garden that is set in a residential area. It's unusual among the Metro gardens in that it is sprinkled with quite a few, 30 outdoor sculptures in only 17 acres, has a bonsai exhibit AND a seasonal butterfly exhibit! I visited SGG for their butterfly exhibit and was pleasantly surprised to find a decent Bonsai exhibit and interesting grounds. It's a self-guided tour of well thought out woodlands and gardens but their map isn't the best. The paths and plants are periodically sprinkled with signs.... some helpful and many missing. But their sculptures are all marked and helped me navigate the grounds. On one of the hottest days in Atlanta, the canopies provided welcome shade, occasional cool breeze and many singing birds. The Bonsai exhibit is the largest I've seen in Georgia and was very well maintained. The Butterfly exhibit is inside a netted outdoor room. It was filled with mostly monarchs and few other butterflies. There was an attendant outside collecting tickets and a couple of guides inside to help view different stages of butterfly life cycle. Victoria, one of the guides was a wealth of knowledge at such a young age (teenager?) and explained that it takes 4 generations of Monarchs to migrate from Mexico to Canada! She said the first 3 generations live 5 weeks but the 4th generation Monarchs live 9 months. Unexpected and interesting! It was hot, humid 90s and the butterflies were very active :)) The Butterfly exhibit is only open for the month of July! They charge an extra dollar in addition to SGG's admission of $10pp. but it's well worth it! The youths 17 and under are half price and children under 2 are free. Parking was ample and handicapped parking is across from the house/entrance. Though the grounds are not handicap or stroller friendly. Smith Gilbert Gardens is worth a visit and the staff were friendly. My favorites of this visit were monarchs and discovering a new artist, Ed Chrisman. Go outside and Discover! read more

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We had a beautiful time at the gardens! Plants. Sculptures. Interactive activities. There was so much to see. So many paths to walk. Numerous places to sit and rest. We had a ball! read more

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Beautiful gardens! Sweet and friendly staff all over the grounds. Plenty of parking available. Clean restrooms (I didn't see a changing table available in the restroom outside). Very affordable ticket prices - $10 adult, children 3-17 were $5 and children 2 and under are free. You can conveniently purchase tickets online and show ticket from your phone to the staff member inside gift shop. During summer months, remember your sunblock and definitely bug spray. I saw a few parents with strollers but I'm glad I didn't bring mine as the woodland paths weren't entirely flat and some of the paths through the garden are a bit too narrow. All of the plants, trees, bushes had labels with their names which I appreciated. Butterfly garden is pretty neat! You can learn some fun facts about butterflies and caterpillars. The staff member (or possibly a volunteer) gave out some flowers for guests to hold and attract butterflies. Tons of butterflies floating around! Bonsai garden was very well maintained and fun to check out. A few play structures for kids. Tons of art structures and sculptures which was very cool to see. Gift shop inside Hiram Butler house had some popsicles and beverages for purchase. read more

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If you have an hour to spare, visit! I was lucky enough to go while the butterfly exhibition was taking place. If you've ever had a butterfly land on your hand and thought, wow cool! Imagine it happening over and over and over. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and friendly, the gift store is full of things for adults and children. Oh and they have a Bonsai garden that I will definitely be back for. read more

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Smith-Gilbert Gardens is a fantastic place. If your soul loves beauty, growing things, peace & quiet, or any combination of the above, you've got to check it out. It's a garden on several acres nestled amidst a residential area on Pine Mountain Road; if you didn't see the sign, you could pass it numerous times and never know it's there. The garden is built around the Hiram Butler house, one of the earliest European-American settlers after the land lottery that resulted from the tragic forced Cherokee removal. Two gentlemen, Mr. Smith and Gilbert (one of them is a doctor, but I can never remember which one!) eventually purchased the property and built it into the garden it now is before handing it over to the city of Kennesaw as a garden. Enough with the history: the place is fantastic. There are numerous garden sections: a coniferous section, a Japanese section, a crevice garden (the first of its kind in Georgia), an annual and perennial section, a vegetable garden section, a rose garden, and the famous bonsai garden. There are numerous trails with lots of benches. They feature two coi ponds, and in July, they have the "garden with wings" butterfly exhibit. It's an absolutely fantastic place, and well worth the $7/head admission (or just get an annual membership and plan to come back). So much beauty! I'd be amiss if I didn't mention the birds. The garden is an official Audobon recognized spot (I can't remember the official designation), and if you're willing to sit for a spell, there are innumerable birds to see and hear. Not to mention the lovely smells at any given time of year! And the garden is diverse enough to have something for every time of year, whether the camelias or tree colors in the fall, the flowers in the spring, or the calming rippling sounds of the ponds or small waterfall in the summer. Definitely check it out! read more

Smith-Gilbert Gardens - One bench of many at Smith-Gilbert Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kennesaw, Georgia

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We visited on a Saturday during the late-summer drought. So I'll admit up front that this was probably not the best time to visit. However, it was when we had time, so we stopped in. You enter the grounds from Pine Mountain Road. There is a 4-space interim lot where you park to check-in and buy your wrist-band ($10 for adults) and get a map. The staff was quite friendly. You then proceed around back to park in the larger lot. There are a number of areas to visit and it is fairly concentrated. You might walk a bit over a mile in total if you ranged over the entire set of paths. Nearest to the parking lot is a bonsai tree area, which they said was one of the largest in the Southeast. There were a lot of the small trees on display. Next to that is a fruit / flower / vegetable garden. This has one or two play areas for young kids also, but was not really in full bloom at the time. Adjacent to these areas is a historic home which is also the offices for the staff. You can walk around the interior. They also use it for event-rentals, it appeared. There is a winding path that takes you around 2/3 of the perimeter of the grounds. There are a number of tree specimens with signs. There are also periodic sculptures spread along the path (some more interesting than others). Towards the end of the path at the base of a hill is a large koi pond. They were setting up for a wedding under a tent when we visited. It was in a moderately-sized meadow where they also have a large rose garden, some of which were in bloom. If you are an avid gardener or have a particular interest in bonsai trees, this would be a good place to visit. I don't think most school-aged kids would be that interested in it. I'm glad we stopped by, but I doubt we'd make the long drive back up there. read more

If you are looking for a good reset button you have found it! This is a tranquil location especially the koi pond. Great spot for photography or to host an event. The garden is not exciting for kids but they may find joy in the bonsai tree collection or the butterfly house. Admission was $10 for adults and free for children 2 and under. read more

Smith-Gilbert Gardens - Koi fish pond - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kennesaw, Georgia

If you have a gardens membership BEWARE! We have a membership with the Atlanta Botanical gardens and the Smith-Gilbet Gardens is listed on the website for the RAP program for reciprocal benefits. When purchasing the membership we were told it has reciprocal benefits for all gardens listed in the RAP program but some gardens do have a 90 mile exclusion that they enforce (so if your home gardens us over 90 miles away and they enforce it the membership will not work). When we checked the website the Smith Gilbert Gardens does show that they enforce the 90 mile exclusion bit we were within the 90 miles so it should work. When we got there to use the membership the lady said Atlanta gardens is too close and they don't except that membership. According to the lady working our home garden has to be over 60 miles away. And sense they enforce the 90 mile exclusion (which we were aware of) it also has to be within 90 miles as well?? So narrow a 30 mile radious? No where on the membership information for garden members does it say anything about a 60 mile rule as well added the 90 mile exclusion. I swear she made this up (we have used this pass for another garden within 60 miles with no issue) and she then claimed to have no idea about the 90 mile exclusion which is clearly listed on all the membership info (and clearly listed for their garden online) when I brought that up. The only reason we visited this garden was because we had the membership and we got the info from the membership site. This garden should not be able to be listed on the RAP sheet if they DO NOT ALLOW RAP benefits. Was not worth the drive or price for us. read more

I am not a gardener by any means, but I've admired beautiful landscapes for a long time, and I'm a budding wannabe gardener. (I have inadvertently killed a lot of plants.) I've enjoyed visiting the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for the last four years and I was awestruck by the Dessert Botanical Gardens in Tempe, AZ a few years ago. These are both mammoth, well-established, well-marketed gardens that host probably hundreds of thousands of people every year and for good reason. But this spring, I visited a different type of garden: the Smith-Gilbert Gardens, a 17-acre public garden site in my backyard. I first noticed it a few years ago when the gardeners stuck a coarsely handwritten "Gardens Open" cardboard sign in the ground by the street. The hours were weird so I never visited until recently when a professional sign went up out front announcing expanded hours. A friend and I and my one-year-old trekked there not knowing what to expect. When we pulled in, we were greeted by a friendly and talkative volunteer who took our cash (CASH ONLY). He had to go inside "the house" to make change. He then notified us that we were "in" for the day. If we wanted to leave, grab some food, and bring it back for a picnic, that was encouraged and recommended. We were directed around back to a parking lot and told to walk back up to the front to start. Unlike the well-known gardens previously mentioned in this review, this place has no signage and there are paths all over the place. It's kind of hard to know where to start. But that's sort of the beauty of it. It just feels so, well, organic. Our first stop was the amazing conifer garden. I never thought conifers could hold my attention for so long. We soon learned that my friend enjoys the large, fluffy and full conifers which remind me of Java The Hut from Spaceballs. I prefer the spindly little guys that sort of have a Dr. Seuss quality. I mean, we had a 20-minute conversation about conifers!! And we are not seniors. Our walk throughout the gardens was scenic and peaceful. We admired various statues in the garden's permanent collection. And then we came upon an art class set up with easels painting a little man-made waterfall, stream, and koi pond. The koi were practically the size of Shamu. Our two-hour tour ended at the Bonsai house. We skipped the rose gardens because the little one was ready for lunch but from a distance, they looked really beautiful. Throughout our self-guided tour, we ran into at least two, maybe three volunteers who offered guidance, a kind word, and a smile. And then we ran into the master gardener who informed us that the Gardens are actually 40 years old and maintained by himself and a core of volunteers. We also noticed that the Gardens host various gardening classes and plant sales. My friend and I plan to go back in a couple weeks and to bring a picnic this time. ON BRINGING CHILDREN: On another note, I brought a stroller, but ditched it. This place is all gravel and stones, so we took turns toting the little one. I do not consider this a negative at all. Just something to be aware of if you're bringing a little one. read more

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Really nice garden. I was there with kids and they really enjoyed our visit there. Also butterfly house was impressive. read more

Smith-Gilbert Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kennesaw, Georgia

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First let me just say that I definitely enjoyed myself at the garden. It was a very tranquil place with interesting artwork, beautiful scenery, and a good layout. I especially enjoyed a small open front building with wooden seating that faced a waterfall in the distance and some gorgeous trees. I would definitely like to visit again. I would love to be taken here on Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, ANY day. The only "down side" is that I wish I had read the review about the stroller before going. I called ahead and was advised I would be able to navigate with a jogging stroller but that wasn't comfortable. Given that my baby is 8 months old, I wasn't able to carry her the whole time in a Moby Wrap or have her walk either. Strollers are a no go. We used a jogging stroller and parked it to check out most things. A friend used a regular stroller with the 4 plastic wheels and was hardly able to navigate. read more

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Me, my fiance and two others went here yesterday to get some good engagement photos. The photographer brought his girlfriend, so in total we spent $60 on entry tickets. It was difficult getting a good spot for photos because there were flowers in only two spots. Most of the property is brown and dead and the butterfly exhibit had no butterflies. Plus, we were harassed at every turn by staff because they said someone called on the phone asking about getting married there. Since we were dressed up, they assumed it was us. They were quite belligerent. The one following close behind us in a golf cart everywhere that we went said, "If I hear a single 'I do," we will remove you from the property immediately and you will not be allowed to return." It was beyond aggravating. We do not recommend this establishment! The African-American girl was very pleasant, but the other three, caucasian ladies were terrible to us. read more

What a WONDERFUL way to get outside and see some beautiful landscape!! We took our time and took about 2 hours to walk the area. We especially loved the bonsai tree garden and koi ponds! read more

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I didn't know this garden existed, it's an absolute hidden treasure, owned by by the city of Kennesaw. A small garden compared to others in the area, but it has been kept well and planted well, I was excited to see what I'm going to find around the corner next. The Roses at Atlanta Botanical Garden was done for the season, but what? it's in full bloom here at Smith Gilbert. The edible garden was small but interesting. The bubbles area was fun, making huge bubbles. My favorite is the tea house by the koi pond, comfortable large table and chairs over looking the garden, I couldn't resist so I had my packed lunch here with a friend. The staff were very friendly and inviting, I'm looking forward to the next visit. read more

The gardens is in-between owners and a bit sad on the maintenance front at the moment. Despite the city being a riot of spring blooms, it was surprising to find so very little color in the gardens. Many of the plant and tree labels are missing, but you can email a photo to have them identified. My wife was very disappointed and said on a previous autumn visit it was much more beautiful. It's still a nice garden and the price is reasonable. Hopefully the city will invest in the gardens and restore it to its former glory. read more

It was our first time and we took my parents and our grandkids. Everyone had a great time. The kids (ages 2 & 4) enjoyed seeing the butterflies and walking/running the trails. My mom, who is a master gardener loved all the different plant areas. The staff was friendly and the facilities were nice. If you enjoy plants and nature, then I highly recommend! read more

I have visited the gardens on three occasions, in different seasons, and found it consistently interesting, charming, peaceful, and beautiful. Even in the "off" season, there are lovely evergreens to enjoy and it's a nice walk even when not much is in bloom. The koi pond is probably my favorite, though it's a tough contest between that and the fragrant, extensive rose garden. There is a small gift shop in the main house, and a sweet little library of garden reference books. This is a nice place to take a solitary walk, a romantic stroll, or a family outing. If it weren't so hot in August, I'd consider this as my Special Treat for my upcoming birthday, but I'll wait for cooler days later in September or so. read more

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Such a beautiful peaceful place! So cheap too! $7 per adult! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our favorite parts were the bonsai collection and the rose garden. This time of year was a great time to go! Cool weather but warm sunshine! We even brought a picnic! One of the best dates we've ever been on! read more

Lovely gardens w/ giant koi fish, humming birds, butterflies, bonsai trees, etc. General admission is well worth the price. Unfortunately I tried to go to a special event today and wish the parking details were communicated better on the website- I had to reverse out of a one-way driveway, go to a different park, & look for a shuttle (which was never found). To summarize, for special events it might be easier to take Uber or Lyft. read more

A lot of the flowers were dead. Very small. Nothing too unique here. Sculptures were pretty amateur. It was pretty cheap to get in - $7 per adult but $5 would've been more appropriate for what was offered. Paths weren't very stroller friendly. Overall we were a little disappointed but I guess it's just a small local garden so I shouldn't have gone in with ATL botanical garden expectations. read more

This was a TERRIBLE experience. I would NEVER go back and NEVER recommend anyone to visits especially if you have children. I found the Smith-Gilbert gardens as a recommendation on Atlanta parent and thought the butterfly exhibit would be a fun experience for my toddler and newborn-boy was I wrong!!! The two women in the butterfly exhibit were extremely rude upon entering. Most of the time that we were in the exhibit they were too busy talking to each other to even engage with us, and by the way we were the only ones in there. One employee seemed pissed off at me even came she was looking for us to do something wrong. Even walk into a part of the exhibit which was about a 20 x 20 room . If you don't like children, or people for that matter, don't work a job where you engage with them. Beside the terrible butterfly woman, there were very few flowers and the map make the grounds seem nice size which it is not. If you want to see your garden go to the Atlanta botanical Garden. Don't waste your time or money at smith- Gilbert gardens. read more

I am struggling gardener and since I pass this place on my way to and from work, thought I'd try it out. Brought my camera and walked around peacefully for a couple of hours. The veggie garden was great and they donate the food! The rose garden is inspirational along with an amazing bonsai garden. I wasn't aware of so many variates! If you're into photography or gardening or just a leisurely stroll, this is your place. The main old house is a nice treat to walk through and the people are extremely warm and helpful. read more

It's such a perfect slice of heaven in Kennesaw. I was told it used to be privately owned but has been owned by the City of Kennesaw for 5 years now. When you go to the little white house to pay your admission, you'll notice some artisan goods sold. You'll be handed a map to guide you and it's neat discovering the little nooks gardens tucked away in the perimeter. It's not as large as what's in Altanta, but a whole lot larger than I expected! It was very relaxing to stroll through it. read more

bumped it a star...some herbs are growing in and the iris, camelias, and roses are beginning to bloom...absolutely beautiful!!! My favorite lunch spot (no, they don't serve food, but they have tables and benches throughout). read more

Kennesaw's own Secret Garden! Well it's not really a secret, but it is somewhat hidden off Pine Mountain Rd. If it weren't for the sign at the end of the entrance I never would have known it was there (or that it actually covers 16 acres!) The staff was very friendly and inviting. I think it would make a beautiful venue for a wedding or garden party. Definitely check it out! read more

I love going to gardens and this is my favorite, anywhere. The natural setting all around makes it feel like my own secret garden. It's beautiful in every season. There are private-feeling places to sit and enjoy. It's so wonderful, I'm tempted to keep this secret to myself, but my better-self wants to share. read more

It was so beautiful! We went to see the butterflies with our daughter and everything was so much fun!

Excellent place to spend the day! We visited on a very warm day but with the tree covered trails & water fall it was quite pleasant! I recommend this place to everyone. Groups, families and couples. Very well maintained property that has been renovated over the years. Super friendly staff was available for questions that come up about the plants & trees on property. The house on property has some history as well! read more

Absolutely wonderful! Lots to see and so peaceful on the walks. We took 3 grandchildren 4, 4 and 2 years old, The two 4 years old girls loved doing the scavenger hunt. They all loved the children's area with the bubbles and digging tools. We brought a picnic and they have a nice little area to picnic in. Very reasonably priced. My husband and I want to go back again and in all different seasons. It was great taking the kids and seeing them enjoy the koi and statues and meadow. It will be a different experience to go just as adults and take more time to enjoy all the gardens at a more leisurely pace. I am looking forward to going again soon! read more

This is a lovely garden albeit a bit neglected. The bonsai garden is really interesting and has beautiful specimens which can captivate your attention. The pollinator gardens need a lot of work. Someone had been weeding there and left piles of debris, the mustards were really overgrown and there was a lot of empty space. The koi pond was a very nice sanctuary filled with bird songs and singing water. The evergreen garden had a nice number of specimens all of which were labeled. If you wish to take a nice stroll amongst a variety of mature trees, Smith-Gilbert Gardens is the place to go. The Rose garden had a nice sampling of different rose varieties - most very fragrant. Hidden in various gardens are assorted artistic endeavors, some of which were really well done. Given the gardens are really close to home it is worth another trip just to see how it looks once the gardeners have put their hand to the grounds. At least we will give it one more try. read more

I have been visiting this beautiful arboretum/garden since it first opened with very limited hours several years ago. It was beautiful then and has only improved with the tireless efforts of staff and volunteers. No matter what time of year one visits, there is something lovely to admire whether it is a bloom, colorful leaves, or the shapes and textures of hardwoods and conifers. The water features are so relaxing and there are plenty of places just to sit and relax along the way. And how about the bonsai collection-----just incredible! Did I mention the lovely Hiram-Butler House filled with so much character? This is a wonderful place to have a picnic, too. Sign up for their informative and entertaining email newsletter and "Friend" the garden on Facebook so you can see some lovely pictures. If you become a member of the garden, you have reciprocal privileges at many gardens and arboretums around the US, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden. If you live close to the garden like I do, another advantage of membership is that you can pop over for a brief visit just to get away from the busyness of life! read more