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    Zilker Botanical Gardens

    4.1 (349 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Zilker Botanical Gardens Photos

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    Holly S.

    This was truly a magical place. My mom and I went here today and I really enjoyed the beautiful landscape and plants and flowers. The rose garden was starting to bloom and there were some impressive yellow roses. I enjoyed the bonsai garden, it was peaceful and calming. Definitely worth stopping by when you're visiting Austin. Admission is very reasonable for $8 (adults).

    cassandra a.

    Parking was $6, but aside from that, this place was completely free which honestly surprised me in the best way. I guess I've just gotten used to everything costing money these days, so this felt like a real treat. The gardens were beautiful even though it's basically winter. I can only imagine how much more stunning they must be in the spring when everything is in full bloom. The absolute highlight for me was the walk up to the waterfall, such a peaceful, beautiful spot. I also loved the huge wind chime. It was unique and added such a calming vibe to the experience. Overall, this is a lovely place to wander, relax, and enjoy nature. I can't wait to come back in the spring to see it at its peak.

    Jodi M.

    Free the day after Christmas! Found some free parking right by the main entrance. Dogs on leashes welcomed. What a nice treat to just be. Especially when today 12/26 is 84degrees! Quiet, appreciative of Mother Nature, kids running around NOT on devices. People talking, smiling, interacting. There's something for everyone and all ages here. Bring some comfy shoes the gardens are big, lots of places to sit and just take the beauty in. Can't wait to be back in the spring! Thank you team at the gardens! This is a gem filled with love, peace, hope and a welcomed space for ALL! I love showcasing the history of Immigrants to Texas and how they represent the true American spirit by honoring their roots and making sure to grow the community where everyone belongs for generations after them. Thats the Texas spirit I really identify with. My fav's were the prehistoric gardens, the beautiful ginkgo tree with its bright gold leaves falling in the warm breeze today, the bird dino tracks you can walk and the Japanese gardens, reminds me of my great grandma's garden she made when she immigrated from Japan to Kealakekua Hawaii. The gardens have bathrooms, a small central center with a tiny gift shop and small assortment of drinks. They have a picnic area to the side if you want to make a day about it while you stare into the heart of downtown ATX. Come visit for solo quiet time, family time, a date, a friendly walk with your bestie or your furry fur baby.

    View
    Nicole Erin B.

    Absolutely beautiful place to walk around and enjoy nature. The Japanese garden had a quaint koi pond with a truly relaxing atmosphere. There's also a nice rose garden. Plenty of photo opportunities available. We spent about an hour and a half walking around enjoying the day.

    Small waterfall
    RoseMary F.

    The Botanical Gardens is located in the popular City of Austin. It's a great place to escape from the busy pace of life, it's a gift from Mother Nature. The facility spans more than 20+ acres. I enjoyed the Japanese Garden, Koi Pond and Pergola with beautiful plants and trees. There is a small waterfall here, I did not make the hike to the larger waterfall. AMENITIES (in Alpha order): Auditorium Community Events Exercise Classes Gift Shop Hartman Prehistoric Garden Nature classes Restrooms School Tours Volunteer Opportunities Wellness Program You must add this to your list of things to do when visiting Austin. Sincerely, Rosemary (Southern California)

    Julia S.

    Zilker would probably be a lot more vibrant in the summer and spring seasons compared to the fall, but either way we had a good time. We showed up during a shift change so it took a while to purchase our admission tickets, however once we did it was smooth sailing. We were able to walk the entire gardens in less than an hour but ended up sitting and chatting for another hour or so. My favorite area was the Japanese tea house section, and I liked the little bridge / ponds. Most other patrons were older folks, parents with their children, or other out of town visitors. It was fairly quiet throughout the gardens - with many people snapping pictures of the wildlife and greenery.

    Andi S.

    Watch out for coral snakes! That said, it's a really beautiful garden. I really appreciate how shaded it is as a break from the hot Texas weather. Many beautiful blooming flowers even on the tail end of summer. Butterflies, koi, lizards, and unfortunately, we did run into a snake. The visitor center has guides for adults and pamphlets to encourage kids to explore the garden looking for hidden details.

    Oh my gosh, from the time we drove into the garden... Everything is beautiful, well kept and enjoyable to every sense!! The gardens are so well kept and there was a surprise around almost every turn. Something new, something beautiful, something surprising! Absolutely wonderful!

    Carmon D.

    It was a lovely space. However, several sections didn't seem cared for as attentively as one would hope for a botanical garden. I favored others in the area more.

    Rose Garden
    Airon A.

    Zilker Botanical Garden is within Zilker Metropolitan Park in the heart of downtown Austin. They have several themed gardens including Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Hartman Prehistoric Garden, and Rose Garden. The garden is an Austin icon with several memorable landmarks that I recall visiting as a child. These include the historical pioneer village with a blacksmith shop, school house, log cabin and well. The iconic Butler Window aka brick keyhole in the rose garden that is the perfect photo op. I was visiting for the Bands in Bloom summer music concert series in the rose garden. This was the perfect backdrop for the concert in the garden with all the blooming flowers. This particular evening Rob Baird was performing. Was a great evening of good music and natural beauty. They also host other paid or free events at the garden that can be viewed on their website. With the beautiful blooming flowers, walking paths, live oaks, streams, and ponds, the Garden offers a peaceful escape from daily life.

    Gazebo
    Nathaniel B.

    Spent a nice afternoon exploring the nature of Zilker botanical garden. Entrance fee was only $8 for non-Austin residents but there were discounts for residents and students. Each section had a theme including the Japanese gardens and succulent garden. Enjoyable place to hang out.

    Lillies
    Lola M.

    Such a cute spot. My boyfriend and I love to go on walks around the lake every weekend to de-stress and this time I wanted to mix it up a bit and walk around somewhere different, I'm originally from Austin so had been before on some field trips with school but that was years ago so I was interested to see if I remembered much. I loved walking around here. It was absolutely beautiful and we were lucky enough to go in a super nice day- not too hot not too cold. We walked around and saw a bunch of stuff such as beautiful koi ponds, bushes full of monarch butterflies, a cute dinosaur part, etc. overall, it was such a good idea to stop and walk around here for an hour instead of around the lake for a bit of a change of pace. Since we are both Austin residents it was only $12 for both of us, which seemed like a great deal for all the lovely stuff we saw in the time walking. My favorite part was definitely the butterfly bush and koi ponds.

    Bhagyashree B.

    A beautiful garden blooming with lush green trees, herbs and exotic plants right in the heart of Austin. There's a cute Japanese garden with a soothing waterfall and walking bridge, so many great spots to take pictures. Kids are sure to enjoy the fish pond. It's a great place to be close to nature even when within the city limits. You can even see the downtown from here! The park is distributed into several different areas such as prehistoric era with dinosaur statues, butterfly garden, children's play area, blacksmith shop and more. Most of the area is stroller friendly, a plus for parents with young kids. There's parking available right next to the garden and you can usually get a lot of you wait for a few minutes. People are always coming and going here. There's additional parking across the street in the main Zilker Park area too and a short walk to the botanical garden.

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    Review Highlights - Zilker Botanical Gardens

    My personal favorite was the Japanese Garden, especially after learning the history of how it was put together.

    Mentioned in 52 reviews

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    Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum - Ottoman Foods

    Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum

    4.3(118 reviews)
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    Southern Love Landscaping & Design

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    4.9(49 reviews)
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    We started with a backyard that was essentially unusable--mostly dirt and dead grass--and ended up…read morewith a space we actually want to spend time in. They handled the full transformation: Texas native plants, fresh sod, irrigation, lighting, a new patio with poured concrete pavers, a pergola, and decking built around our above-ground pool. The result feels intentional, cohesive, and well suited to both the climate and how we use the space. We worked with their designers to develop the plan, and that process was smooth and collaborative. They listened, had good instincts, and were happy to iterate with us until the design felt right. From first contact to breaking ground took about three months, which felt reasonable given the scope. Once construction started, everything moved fast--the entire project was completed around two to three weeks. Most importantly, we're extremely happy with the outcome. The yard is beautiful and dramatically more usable than before. Jason and Nikk were a pleasure to work with throughout: friendly, proactive, communicative, with good taste and a strong sense for design. I'd happily recommend them to anyone looking to upgrade their outdoor space.

    My husband James and I reached out to four different landscaping companies for a bid on a project…read moreto add gravel, place some rock along one side of our driveway, and fill a large bald spot on our lawn. While all the companies, including Southern Landscaping and Design, were nice and responsive, I feel the need to share our experience regarding their pricing. The quotes we received from the first three companies ranged between $9,000 and $11,000, which seemed reasonable for the scope of work. However, Southern Landscaping and Design came back with a quote of just over $28,000--nearly three times the amount of the other bids. I'm sure they do great work, but this level of pricing feels excessive and difficult to justify. I wanted to share this as a heads-up for anyone considering them. It's always worth getting multiple quotes to ensure you're paying a fair price.

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