Located on 96 acres not far from the University of Memphis and about a 15-minute drive from blues-y, bustling downtown Memphis, the Memphis Botanic Garden offers something for every plant and garden lover. Towering magnolias? Of course! Beautifully arranged collections of daylilies, roses and conifers? Certainly. A Japanese garden and a 2.5 acre children’s garden are also among the 30 specialty gardens that make up this southern gem.
I visited the garden in June as part of the annual Fling, a garden tour for bloggers, podcasters, social media influencers and anyone else who writes and photographs gardens for the public. We were able to tour some stunning private gardens, but this public space was definitely worth a visit for anyone vacationing around Memphis.
An Urban Oasis
The garden bills itself as an urban oasis, which fits its location in an older neighborhood of Memphis. It has the feel of a large park with walkways connecting the gardens, so it’s easy to wander from one space to another, letting your feet and eyes take you where they will. I started out admiring the huge magnolias just outside the patio off of the visitor center. Southern magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) bloom in May and June in Memphis. These are not the same types of magnolias we grow in the North, which are generally hybrids of Magnolia stellata and Magnolia kobus and tend to bloom in early spring.
Beyond the magnolias was a circular rose garden, with dozens of southern-hardy roses. At the center of the garden was a dramatic fountain and beyond that a conservatory. From there, you can wander toward “My Big Backyard,” a fun children’s garden with a tree house, a splashing area and lots of interesting plants, art and climbing options for kids. I moved toward the daylily circle, which was one of my favorite spaces in the garden. The daylilies were in bloom—a month or so earlier than they would be in Minnesota—and were arranged along a circular walk, with coneflowers, amsonia and other perennials nearby.
In short order, I had to scoot across the garden to the Japanese garden, where we were having a group photo taken (complete with Elvis sideburns and sunglasses!). The Japanese garden was serene and featured a beautiful red bridge. After the photo, I checked out the urban home garden and a formal garden before we had to head out to the next stop on our tour.
If I were visiting on my own, I’d allow a good half day at the Memphis Botanic Garden, and stay for lunch in the cafe. (There is also a small but very nice gift shop, where I may have dropped some cash.) I’d pair the garden with a visit to some of the nearby sites, such as the Memphis Children’s Museum or the University of Memphis Art Museum. You could also add a stop at one of the local Gibson’s Donuts outlets, which are a Memphis icon. Now, if it were me alone all by myself, well, I would head down the road a half mile to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens for more plant and art fun.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
The Flingers went to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens at the end of our first tour day in Memphis for some refreshment and garden viewing. Unfortunately, the art gallery was closed. It hosts a variety of special exhibits and its permanent collections includes more than 2,000 objects, with an emphasis on late 19th and early 20th century paintings and ceramic objects, especially those of the impressionist era. I would have loved to see that and will keep it on my list for another visit to Memphis.
The gardens were a delightful consolation. They included a large cutting garden, plus pleasant walks through a woodland space, a butterfly garden and conservatory. The Dixon—the house, grounds and art collection—were a gift of Margaret Oates Dixon and Hugo Norton Dixon, long-time Memphis philanthropists. I especially enjoyed the cutting garden, which was bright with perennial and annual plants for bouquets.
If business or fun takes you to Memphis, consider a stop and these lovely botanic gardens.
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