6 Beautiful Botanical Gardens In and Around Kingsport, TN

With the full bloom of the spring season fast approaching, one colorful thing to look forward to are the buds, blossoms, and blooms at botanical gardens near Kingsport.

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a beautiful destination about an hour and a half from Kingsport. The 47-acre gardens provide walking trails winding past stone walls and terraces, vintage buildings, and historic horticulture and through diverse display gardens with colorful hybrid witch hazel and Lenten roses in bloom. The gardens are open daily until dusk. Admission is free.

Roan Mountain State Park Rhododendron Gardens

At Roan Mountain State Park, you’ll be surrounded by its magnificent natural gardens filled with brilliantly colored purple-magenta Catawba rhododendron. During peak blooming season in June, soak up the scenic beauty and panoramic views with a scenic hike along the Appalachian Trail. If you plan your visit in June, you can enjoy the Rhododendron Festival from Friday, June 21, to Sunday, June 23.

Ardinna Woods Arboretum and Butterfly Garden

A beautiful respite in Jonesborough, the Ardinna Woods Arboretum provides an oasis of beauty and butterflies. Opened in 2011, the arboretum is filled with over 70 species of trees. The assortment of wildflowers and plants serve as a buffet for birds, butterflies, and wildlife. Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the arboretum. You can also take a scheduled guided butterfly tour and watch the colorful beauties flit from flower to flower. Ardinna Woods is open year-round and is free to the public.

Ivan Racheff Park and Gardens

In Knoxville, you can take a nice day-trip drive to enjoy 3 acres of natural beauty at the Ivan Racheff Park and Gardens. While visiting, you’ll have access to the Japanese tea house, the children’s garden, the relaxing koi pond, wildflower garden, gazebo, and more as you make your way to the historic home. There are events scheduled during the year, such as a plant sale in April, a profusion of blossoms during the Dogwood Festival, an October bulb sale for spring plants, and a Greens Tea with a variety of fresh arrangements and wreaths for the holidays plus refreshments.

Daniel Boone Greenway Arboretum

About an hour’s drive away in Harrogate is the Daniel Boone Greenway, which has 4 miles of trail for hikers and bikers. Along the Greenway, you’ll find the arboretum, with more than 60 species of native trees. While making your way along the trail, you’ll pass through Harrogate City Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, a vintage railroad tunnel, and the Lincoln Memorial University Campus. The Greenway is accessible year-round; no pets are allowed.

Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum

Stroll along the path bordering the Little Pigeon River in Sevierville and be impressed by the majesty of the more than 70 trees at Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum. Each tree has an information plaque beside it describing its attributes. The path is an ideal opportunity to walk, run, or jog among the statuesque natural pillars.

Get into the spirit of the season with a visit to area botanical gardens. Be immersed in natural beauty and serenity while savoring the beauty that abounds in nature.

Image via Pixabay

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