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Visiting Tips
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| Rhodo with Visitor |
Cymbidium Cluster |
Late Spring Terrace |
• If you are hoping to bring a group of more than about 15 people, please see our guidelines below.
• There is plenty to see year-round, but if you are interested in particular plants see the list below for general times of peak bloom/interest.
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January - February
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Orchids in the Greenhouse - this time of year you will find the largest variety of different types blooming. Our yearly orchid sale is the week of Valentine's.
The Winter Garden in the Susie Harwood Garden - enjoy seeing the ornamental barks, evergreens, and even blooms on the Japanese flowering Apricot, Wintersweet, and Witch Hazels.
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| Late February - March |
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The delights of the Winter Garden continue in the Harwood Garden and include early bulbs, Camellias, Edgeworthia, Mahonia, Hellebores, Cornelian Cherry, and many more.
The spring ephemeral wildflowers begin blooming in the Van Landingham Glen, beginning with trout lily, bloodroot, and Hepatica, followed with trilliums, phlox, bluebells, wild geranium, green-and-gold and others.
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| Early - Mid April |
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Spring Wildflowers continue in the Van Landingham Glen with mayapples, anemones, jack-in-the-pulpits, trilliums, foamflowers, woodland phlox, emerging ferns, columbine.
The Harwood Garden transforms into a fresh, green paradise over the month of April - with dogwoods, redbuds, azaleas, emerging japanese maple foliage, silverbell, styrax, viburnums, and spring bulbs and perennials.
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| Late April - Mid May |
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This is the peak time for rhododendron and native azaleas in the Van Landingham Glen. Each year the rhododendron "season" is slightly different, but anytime during late April - early May visitors will find a variety of these amazing plants in bloom.
The pitcher plants and the pogonia orchids at the Greenhouse begin flowering and the perennial terrace emerges into glory. The Harwood Garden continues to be lovely this time of year with azaleas, viburnums, and perennials.
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| Late May - Early July |
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The Harwood Garden welcomes a fresh wave of bloom with hydrangeas, daylilies, japanese iris, water plants, and hardy tropicals.
The carnivorous plants at the greenhouse are fully out and growing, and the courtyard and outside beds are full of colorful annuals, tropicals, and vines. Remember, the inside of the greenhouse is lovely year-round.
The Van Landingham Glen provides a shady, woodland respite - a way to feel a little of the mountains in the piedmont this time of year.
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| Late July - Early October |
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The carnivorous plants and outdoor tropicals at the greenhouse remain colorful and blooming all the way into October!
In the Harwood Garden -the butterfly garden, water garden, Asian garden, and hardy tropicals are all nice throughout the summer and early fall.
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| November |
Fall leaf and fruit colors turn the Van Landingham Glen and Harwood Garden into a kaleidoscope of autumn colors. Especially worth seeing are the berries of the Idesia trees in the Harwood Garden. Sasanqua camellias bloom now.
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| December |
December is a great month to visit the greenhouse with its orchid collection, tropical pitcher plants, desert room, dinosaur's garden, and tropical conservatory.
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• Please sign our visitors’ log, located just inside the greenhouse entryway. An information board listing upcoming events, general information and membership brochures, and a donation box (thanks for your support!) are located in the greenhouse entryway, as well.
• There are restrooms and a water fountain located in the greenhouse building, but none in the outdoor gardens.
• We have three main plant sales a year, but at any time we usually have a few plants for visitors to choose from for purchase. We do not have a gift shop or vending machines, but the bookstore, cafeteria, coffee shop, and soda machines are all nearby - within a couple minutes walk on campus.
• The Greenhouse is handicapped-accessible. Due to the varying terrain and gravel and mulch paths, the outdoor gardens are not accessible to those with limited mobility.
• The two outdoor gardens have seasonal brochures with maps located at their entrances.
• Be aware that we are located on an active, growing campus. Monday – Friday, at certain times of the day, traffic can be a bit congested. Some of the most active (traffic) times are 9:00 – 9:30, 3:20 – 3:45, 4:50 – 5:30.
• Although there is some directional signage on campus for the gardens, it can be easily overlooked, especially for first-time visitors. If you are planning a first visit, we suggest you follow the directions provided on our directions page.
Some guidelines for unguided groups visiting the Botanical Gardens
Group visits: Although we would like to be able to provide guided tours to all groups, we know this is not possible. Therefore, we invite groups of less than 30 persons to self-tour (just as individuals would), but we ask that you let us know the date and time of your anticipated visit. We have a unique resource, but a small staff, limited space, and limited parking. Therefore, our facilities cannot accommodate groups of more than 30 at one time. If you are interested in a guided tour for your group, see here.
Groups of 10-30: Call Paula Gross at 704-687-2555 – you may leave a message stating when you will be visiting.
Groups larger than 30: If possible, bring smaller groups at different times. Otherwise, we highly recommend Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont (20 mi west of Charlotte). Their web address is www.dsbg.org, phone 704-825-4490.
Visitors are Welcome to:
- Take photographs or make drawings, as long as plants are not disturbed.
- Gently touch and smell plants.
- Sit on our various wooden and rock benches.
- Walk on all the gravel or mulched pathways.
- Pick up fallen leaves,flowers or seed pods IF they have fallen naturally from the plants onto the paths (not in the beds).
- Please leave everything else undisturbed.
Please refrain from:
- Climbing on trees, shrubs, or rocks.
- Picking flowers,leaves, or fruits from plants.
- Digging holes, collecting soil or rocks, or turning over logs or rocks.
- Running or biking anywhere in the Gardens.
- Wading or playing in the pond or creek.
- Moving or disturbing sprinklers or other irrigation.
- Taking our labels or signs. Please write down any information you wish to have later.
- Conducting "experiments" or leaving materials in the gardens (without prior permission).
We hope you enjoy your visit and return often!
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Tips for visiting
