Things to do / Travel Guide
The southern Appalachian Mountains is a region filled with botanical gardens and arboretums of all different sizes. Some are just side-of-the-road affairs, while others are spectacular and large sites. Most take advantage of the mountainous and hilly terrain, fashioning whole ecosystems out of the rough material.
Western Virginia Gardens
The sites in Western Virginia emphasize wildflower meadows and indigenous plants. For the wildflowers you can visit May-October, with peak viewing in June and July.
- A pleasant privately-owned botanical garden is that located on the property of Valley of Virginia Antiques.
Aside from the vast stores of antiques and collectibles, the owners have created and tended extensive wildflower meadows and nature trails. There's a water-lily pond in the center, with dogwoods, redbud, and other low trees and shrubs surrounding it. Valley of Virginia Antiques is in Fairfield, located between Staunton and Lexington, accessible from either I-164 or I-81.
In Harrisonburg , the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, was created for and by the students of James Madison University for both enjoyment and educational purposes. The University is located near Shenandoah National Park and is open to all, so enjoy and learn!
Specializing in pine trees and other native flora, The State Arboretum of Virginia, is located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, near Winchester, Virginia.
Western North Carolina Gardens
Affiliated with to the University of North Carolina in Asheville, The North Carolina Arboretum, is a living laboratory surrounded by mountains and with a stream running through it. It's a work in progress featuring a variety of landscaped gardens.
Botanical Gardens in Roanoke, Asheville, Smoky, Blue Ridge, Shenandoah and Southern Appalachian Mountains
Botanical-Gardens
Daniel Boone Native Gardens - Boone, North Carolina
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