Are you ready to step into a fairytale?

These 11 whimsical gardens in Ohio will take you on a magical journey surrounded by stunning blooms!

1. Hartman Rock Garden (Springfield)

Imagine if the Flintstones decided to open a theme park – that’s the vibe you get at Hartman Rock Garden.

This quirky wonderland is the brainchild of Ben Hartman, a man who clearly looked at rocks and thought, “You know what? These need more personality.”

During the Great Depression, while most folks were tightening their belts, Ben was out there creating a stone menagerie that would make even the most seasoned geologist do a double-take.

We’re talking miniature castles, a tree of life, and enough concrete critters to fill Noah’s Ark – if Noah had a thing for lawn ornaments.

The garden is a testament to human creativity and the art of turning “one man’s trash” into “everyone else’s treasure.”

It’s like a 3D scrapbook of Americana, complete with patriotic displays that would make Uncle Sam weep red, white, and blue tears of joy.

2. Inniswood Metro Gardens (Westerville)

If Mother Nature had a favorite child, it would probably be Inniswood Metro Gardens.

This 123-acre oasis is like stumbling into a real-life fairy tale, minus the talking animals (though I’m pretty sure I heard a squirrel mutter something about acorn futures).

The Sisters’ Garden is a particular highlight, designed to spark imagination in children and adults alike.

It’s got everything from a secret cave to a tree house – because who says tree houses are just for kids?

I, for one, fully support the idea of adult tree house meetings.

Imagine how much more fun board meetings would be if everyone had to climb a ladder first.

With over 2,000 species of plants, Inniswood is a botanical buffet that’ll satisfy even the pickiest of plant enthusiasts.

And let’s not forget the streams and woodlands – it’s like someone took all the best parts of nature and smooshed them together in one glorious green gumbo.

3. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (Akron)

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is what happens when you combine “Downton Abbey” with “The Secret Garden” and sprinkle in a dash of Midwest charm.

This 65-room Tudor Revival mansion and its surrounding gardens are so fancy, you’ll feel underdressed even in your Sunday best.

The estate, once home to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. co-founder F.A. Seiberling, is now open to us commoners.

And let me tell you, it’s worth every penny of the admission fee.

The gardens alone are enough to make you consider a career change to “professional lounger in beautiful places.”

From the English Garden to the Japanese Garden, it’s like taking a world tour without the jet lag.

And don’t even get me started on the Birch Tree Allée – it’s so picturesque, it makes other trees jealous.

Just remember, hugging the trees is frowned upon, no matter how much you want to show your appreciation.

4. Kingwood Center Gardens (Mansfield)

Kingwood Center Gardens is the horticultural equivalent of that overachiever in high school who was good at everything.

Built on the former estate of Charles Kelley King (who clearly had a thing for alliteration), this place is 47 acres of “ooh” and “aah.”

The mansion itself is a French Provincial-style stunner that’ll make you question your life choices and wonder if it’s too late to become an early 20th-century industrialist.

But the real stars here are the gardens.

From the Perennial Garden to the Courtyard Garden, it’s like Mother Nature decided to show off all her best outfits in one place.

And let’s not forget the peacocks strutting around like they own the place.

Pro tip: don’t try to out-strut a peacock.

You’ll lose, and they’ll mock you with their superior tail feathers.

5. Cleveland Cultural Gardens (Cleveland)

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are like the United Nations of horticulture, minus the lengthy speeches and uncomfortable chairs.

This unique chain of gardens celebrates Cleveland’s diverse ethnic communities, proving that different cultures can coexist beautifully – at least in plant form.

Each garden represents a different nationality, from the Italian Renaissance Garden to the Chinese Garden.

It’s like taking a world tour without the hassle of airport security or the risk of eating something that doesn’t agree with you.

The Albanian Garden might teach you about Skanderbeg, while the Armenian Garden could inspire you to learn the alphabet that looks like a collection of elaborate doodles.

By the end of your visit, you’ll be a regular cultural connoisseur, ready to impress (or bore) your friends with your newfound knowledge of global horticulture.

6. Dawes Arboretum (Newark)

Dawes Arboretum is 2,000 acres of tree-mendous fun (sorry, not sorry for the pun).

Founded by Beman and Bertie Dawes in 1929, this place is like Disneyland for dendrophiles.

That’s tree lovers for those of you who don’t speak “plant nerd.”

The arboretum boasts over 17,000 living plants from around the world.

It’s like Noah’s Ark for trees, if Noah had been really, really into botany.

The Japanese Garden is a zen masterpiece that’ll make you want to take up meditation or at least invest in a mini rake and some decorative sand.

But the real showstopper is the Dawes Redwood Grove.

These California transplants are thriving in Ohio like avocado on toast at a millennial brunch spot.

Standing beneath these giants, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” sequel.

7. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Columbus)

Franklin Park Conservatory is what happens when you mix Victorian elegance with a dash of tropical paradise and a sprinkle of modern art.

It’s like your great-aunt’s parlor, a rainforest, and an art gallery had a baby – and that baby grew up to be fabulous.

Related: This Glow-in-the-Dark Mini-Golf Course in Ohio is a Whimsical Adventure Like No Other

Related: This Tiny Museum in Ohio is Home to the World’s Largest Collection of Trolls

Related: There’s a Weird Barber Museum in Ohio, and It’s as Wonderfully Quirky as It Sounds

The Palm House, built in 1895, is a glass masterpiece that’ll make you feel like you’re in a fancy snow globe, minus the snow and plus a whole lot of exotic plants.

And let’s not forget the butterfly garden – it’s like being in a living, fluttering rainbow.

But the real cherry on top?

The Dale Chihuly glass sculptures scattered throughout the conservatory.

It’s like a game of “I Spy,” but with mind-blowingly beautiful glass art.

Just remember: look, don’t touch.

These aren’t your everyday wine glasses.

8. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati)

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is where the wild things are – and by “wild things,” I mean both the animals and the plants.

It’s like Noah’s Ark met the Garden of Eden, and they decided to throw a party in Ohio.

While the animals might steal the show (I’m looking at you, Fiona the hippo), the botanical side of things is nothing to sneeze at – unless you have allergies, in which case, bring your antihistamines.

The zoo boasts over 3,000 plant species, making it one of the largest botanical collections in the country.

From the vibrant Rainbow Garden to the serene Swan Lake, it’s a horticultural wonderland that’ll make you forget you’re supposed to be looking at animals.

And if you time it right, you might catch the Zoo Blooms event in spring, when over a million tulips turn the place into a technicolor dream.

9. Fellows Riverside Gardens (Youngstown)

Fellows Riverside Gardens is the crown jewel of Mill Creek MetroParks, and let me tell you, it’s a gem that sparkles brighter than your aunt’s costume jewelry at a family wedding.

This 12-acre display garden is like a living, breathing work of art that changes with the seasons.

The Rose Garden is a particular highlight, with over 1,500 rose bushes that’ll make you stop and smell the… well, you know.

It’s like walking through a perfume commercial, minus the impossibly attractive model whispering in French.

And let’s not forget the Dahlia Garden – it’s a kaleidoscope of colors that’ll make you question if you’ve accidentally stumbled into Oz.

Just remember, clicking your heels three times won’t actually transport you home.

Trust me, I’ve tried.

10. Schoepfle Garden (Birmingham)

Schoepfle Garden is the horticultural equivalent of that cool, eccentric uncle who’s traveled the world and has a story for every occasion.

This 70-acre botanical paradise was the passion project of Otto Schoepfle, a man who clearly never met a plant he didn’t like.

The garden is a delightful mishmash of styles, from formal European gardens to a tranquil Japanese section.

It’s like taking a world tour without the jet lag or the questionable airplane food.

The shade garden is particularly impressive – it’s proof that even plants can rock the goth look.

And let’s not forget the Vermilion River that runs through the property.

It’s the perfect backdrop for contemplating life’s big questions, like “How did Otto manage to pronounce his last name?” and “Is it socially acceptable to move in and become a garden hermit?”

11. Topiary Park (Columbus)

Last but certainly not least, we have the Topiary Park in Columbus, which is essentially what happens when you give Edward Scissorhands a whole lot of shrubbery and tell him to go wild.

This seven-acre park is a living recreation of Georges Seurat’s famous painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte” – because why hang art on a wall when you can grow it instead?

The park features 54 topiary figures, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey, and a cat.

It’s like a game of “Where’s Waldo?” but with shrubs.

And let’s be honest, it’s probably the closest most of us will get to being in a French impressionist painting.

As you wander through this surreal landscape, you might find yourself pondering deep questions like, “How often do they have to trim these things?” and “What would happen if I replaced all the figures with characters from ‘The Office’?”

Just remember, no matter how tempting it might be, resist the urge to play hide-and-seek among the topiaries.

The gardeners probably wouldn’t appreciate it.

So there you have it, folks – 11 gardens that prove Ohio is more than just cornfields and football.

Who knew the Buckeye State was hiding so much botanical bling?

Now go forth and get your green on!