North Carolina Botanical Garden

This botanical garden is very well laid out and everything is labled. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Wear comfortable shoes because trails are mostly dirt and gravel. You can enter the Paul Green cabin where he wrote. Paul Green wrote the Lost Colony play performed on Roanoke Island. He wrote other plays and movie scripts as well. All of the garden is reflective of areas around North Carolina and plants and trees found here except for the herb garden. One of favorites is the carnivorous plants and the plants/trees found in the Western part of the state. There are mulutiple parking lots. Bathrooms are well marked and located in 2 spots in park.

Small garden but very nicely done. Some shady areas, but also very hot in the sunny areas so plan your day accordingly. Small parking spaces, but we found one in the shade so that was nice. Indoor building had AC, gift shop sold seeds for some of the plants and they had a large selection of nice gifts for the gardener in your family. Beautiful place. So many butterflies and loved the history of the cabin!!

Buildings here are absolutely beautiful and we'll maintained, restrooms incredibly clean. Really enjoyed the nearly exclusive use of so many local plants - saw more hummingbirds than I've ever seen before! Plenty of butterflies as well. Also interesting to see the many eco-friendly methods being used to help water and maintain the space. I appreciated the design and intent of the herb garden section - this area appeared a bit older and in need of care however. But the bits of signage in the herb garden indicating what many of the various plants had been used for was quite fascinating!

A bit underwhelming in a few areas though: not enough signage around the area indicating what plants are which; paths and planted areas were less 'manicured' than other botanical gardens I've been to, with some just appearing to be more random weed patches than anything else; because of the age and condition of the space, the herb garden seemed to be in need of more care than other parts of the garden.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden was my best self-guided experience and highly recommend it. Their layout is extensive, clever and charming, with winding paths to take you through the various botanical theme areas and gardens. The greenhouse is a joy in their exotic diversity, especially the stunning varieties of orchids. Best of all, the garden connects with an extensive natural area of long trails that provide for exploration and exercise if you have the time. Surprised to encounter snakes, amphibians and all sorts of flying insects. Thoroughly examined the Allen Education Center and is full of knowledge and fun facts! Not to mention Susan Brabeau's stunning paintings displayed in the art exhibit and the Paul Green Cabin does not disappoint either. With all that it has to offer, this alone makes the trip worthwhile.

If you want to see all the flora of North Carolina all in one place, this is where to visit. It's free! The gardens are well-tended and it's packed with plant life from all over the state. The meandering paths are fun to explore, and the maps are very clear. Sometimes it's hard to pick out which plant the labels are for. Don't bring your dog, but do bring some bug spray.