Looking for a dreamy road trip?
This enchanting route through Ohio will take you to 11 stunning gardens that look like they’re straight out of a storybook!
1. Inniswood Metro Gardens (Westerville)
Let’s kick off our horticultural adventure at Inniswood Metro Gardens, where Mother Nature seems to have gotten her hands on a box of Crayolas.
This 123-acre wonderland is a kaleidoscope of colors, with wisteria cascading from arches like purple waterfalls and meticulously manicured hedges that would make Edward Scissorhands jealous.
As you wander through the Sisters’ Garden, named after the property’s original owners, you might half-expect to see fairies flitting between the flowers.
The garden’s whimsical design includes a treehouse, a mock cave, and even a “secret” garden – because what’s a fairytale without a little mystery?
2. Hartman Rock Garden (Springfield)
Next up, we’re trading petals for pebbles at the Hartman Rock Garden.
This isn’t your average rock collection – it’s more like a miniature stone city that sprung up overnight.
Created during the Great Depression by Ben Hartman, this quirky garden proves that one man’s trash is another man’s… well, garden.
From tiny castles to diminutive churches, Ben’s creations look like they’ve been plucked straight out of a Lilliputian landscape.
It’s as if the Seven Dwarfs decided to go into real estate development.
Who knew rocks could be so… rockin’?
3. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (Akron)
Feeling fancy?
Let’s pop over to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, where you can pretend you’re British nobility for a day (terrible accent optional).
This Tudor Revival mansion and its surrounding gardens are so posh, you’ll be tempted to lift your pinky while sipping from the drinking fountain.
The gardens here are more meticulously planned than a royal wedding.
From the English Garden to the Japanese Garden, it’s like taking a world tour without the jet lag.
Just don’t get too comfortable – we can’t all marry into the monarchy.
4. Kingwood Center Gardens (Mansfield)
Kingwood Center Gardens is what happens when a garden has an identity crisis and can’t decide what it wants to be when it grows up.
French formal gardens? Check.
English cottage gardens? You bet.
Terrace gardens? Why not!
This horticultural hodgepodge is the legacy of Charles Kelley King, who clearly never met a garden style he didn’t like.
It’s like the United Nations of gardens, where plants from all corners of the globe come together in perfect harmony.
World peace through perennials? We’re here for it.
5. Cleveland Cultural Gardens (Cleveland)
Speaking of global unity, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens take the concept to a whole new level.
This series of gardens celebrates Cleveland’s diverse ethnic communities, proving that variety truly is the spice of life – and gardening.
From the Italian Renaissance Garden to the Chinese Garden, it’s like taking a world tour without ever leaving Ohio.
Who needs a passport when you’ve got pruning shears?
Just remember: what happens in the German Beer Garden stays in the German Beer Garden.
And boy, does this place have stories to tell!
Each garden is a living, breathing history lesson, minus the dusty textbooks and droning professors.
The Hungarian Garden might have you spontaneously breaking into a csárdás dance, while the Syrian Garden could inspire you to start writing poetry in Arabic.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself craving pierogies in the Polish Garden or suddenly feeling the urge to yodel in the Swiss Garden.
It’s cultural immersion without the jet lag or awkward language barriers.
Just be careful not to get too carried away – attempting to recreate the Leaning Tower of Pisa in your backyard might not go over well with the homeowners’ association.
6. Dawes Arboretum (Newark)
Dawes Arboretum is where trees go to show off.
With over 16,000 labeled plants and trees, it’s like a living, breathing botanical encyclopedia.
You’ll find yourself playing “Name That Tree” – a game where everyone’s a winner, except maybe the person who confuses an oak for a maple.
The Japanese Garden here is so zen, you’ll feel your blood pressure dropping with each step.
And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, climb the observation tower for a bird’s eye view.
Just don’t expect the birds to be impressed – they’ve seen it all before.
But wait, there’s more!
The Dawes Arboretum isn’t just about trees and tranquility.
It’s a place where nature puts on a show that rivals Broadway.
The Cypress Swamp, for instance, is like stepping into a prehistoric world.
You half expect a velociraptor to pop out from behind a bald cypress.
And don’t get me started on the Hedge Maze.
It’s like a game of hide-and-seek where the bushes always win.
Just remember to leave a trail of breadcrumbs – or maybe acorns, given the setting.
The best part? Every visit is a new adventure.
The landscape changes with the seasons, giving you the perfect excuse to come back again and again.
It’s like Mother Nature’s own rotating art exhibit, minus the stuffy gallery and overpriced gift shop.
7. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Columbus)
Franklin Park Conservatory is like a greenhouse on steroids.
This glass palace houses plants from every corner of the globe, from desert cacti to tropical orchids.
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It’s like taking a trip around the world without ever leaving Columbus – or needing sunscreen.
The butterfly garden is a particular highlight.
Watching these delicate creatures flit about, you might be tempted to spread your own wings and take flight.
Just remember: security frowns upon visitors attempting to fly through the conservatory.
8. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati)
Who says you can’t teach an old zoo new tricks?
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden proves that animals and plants can coexist in perfect harmony – like a real-life Lion King, minus the musical numbers (unfortunately).
While the animals are undoubtedly the stars here, the botanical gardens hold their own.
From the vibrant tulip displays in spring to the whimsical train garden, it’s a feast for the eyes.
Just don’t get any ideas about recreating the zoo’s landscapes at home – your neighbors might not appreciate a hippo pool in the front yard.
9. Fellows Riverside Gardens (Youngstown)
Fellows Riverside Gardens is the crown jewel of Mill Creek Park, and boy, does it know how to put on a show.
With panoramic views of Lake Glacier and a rotating cast of seasonal blooms, it’s like Nature’s own Broadway production.
The Rose Garden is particularly spectacular, with over 1,500 rose bushes.
It’s so romantic, you half expect Shakespeare to pop out from behind a bush, sonnet in hand.
Just remember: sniffing the roses is encouraged, but leave the pruning to the professionals.
10. Schoepfle Garden (Birmingham)
Schoepfle Garden is the horticultural equivalent of a mullet – formal in the front, party in the back.
The manicured formal gardens give way to natural woodlands, proving that sometimes, the best landscaping is no landscaping at all.
The garden’s founder, Otto Schoepfle, was a newspaper publisher with a green thumb.
He created this 70-acre paradise as a gift to the community, proving that sometimes, the pen is mightier than the trowel.
11. Topiary Park (Columbus)
We’re ending our tour with a bang – or should I say, with a hedge?
Topiary Park in Columbus is what happens when Edward Scissorhands meets Georges Seurat.
This living sculpture recreates Seurat’s famous painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” – in shrubbery form.
It’s art imitating life imitating art, and it’s as mind-bending as it sounds.
As you wander through this three-dimensional painting, you might find yourself questioning reality.
Are we in a park or a painting? Are we the observers or the observed?
Deep thoughts for a garden visit, but hey, that’s the power of topiary for you.
There you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of Ohio’s most enchanting gardens.
Plot your path to adventure!
This map is your key to smooth travels and exciting discoveries.
From rock gardens to rose gardens, from topiaries to trees, the Buckeye State proves it’s got more than just buckeyes up its sleeve.
So grab your gardening gloves (or just your camera) and get growing!