The Perfect Day Trip To Gibbs Gardens In Georgia - Travel By Grain

Gibbs Gardens in Georgia is one of my favorite gardens to visit every year. Every time I go, the gardens are different, with new blooms emerging every season. It’s the perfect day trip to walk around the property and see all the vibrant colors while taking many photos.

Whenever I visit, I never fail to take at least two rolls of film to capture the incredible beauty. The gardens have countless flowers, small waterfalls, bridges, gazebos, streams, and a gorgeous manor house. It is undoubtedly one of the best gems in North Georgia, and it’s not too far from Atlanta and the surrounding Metro area.

To help you plan your visit to Gibbs Gardens, I’ve put together this guide that provides location details, tips, and information about what to expect. For those who love wildflowers and experimental photography, don’t forget to check out my article on Gibbs Gardens’ cosmos wildflowers here.

The Location of Gibbs Gardens in North Georgia

Gibbs Gardens is near the North Georgia mountains in Ball Ground, which is part of Cherokee County. To get to the entrance, plug in the GPS address, and it will take you right there:

1987 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground, GA 30107

You can also find Gibbs Gardens on a map here:

If you arrive from Interstate 575, you will likely pass through downtown Ball Ground. Stop at this quaint little town if you have some free time. There are a few options for shopping and dining. Additionally, you can visit the new brewery, Rock Solid, and enjoy some drinks. If you are a coffee lover, don’t forget to try some delicious barrel-aged coffee at Barrel House Coffee Company. For more information about Ball Ground, click here.

Once you drive through downtown Ball Ground, Gibbs Gardens is approximately 14 minutes away. It is a short, beautiful drive, taking you through farmlands and green pastures with horses. It is always tempting to stop and take a bunch of pictures!

Brief History of the Gardens

Jim Gibbs is the owner of Gibbs Gardens and founder of Gibbs Landscape Company. If you take a drive around Metro Atlanta, you might spot their landscaping trucks.

Jim comes from a family of gardeners and started planting in Gibbs Gardens in 1980. After three decades of hard work and dedication, Gibbs Gardens finally opened its doors to the public! I can only imagine and appreciate the immense amount of effort, time, and passion it took to create something as marvelous as Gibbs Gardens.

Today, Jim’s Manor House, built in a European style, can be found at Gibbs Gardens, making it the largest residential garden in the United States. Jim Gibbs is also a founding member of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, another must-visit attraction in Atlanta.

When Should You Visit

Operating Hours

Gibbs Gardens’ operating hours vary throughout the year. They are usually open from March (sometimes late February) until December. However, they are closed on certain holidays and days of the week, depending on the month. To find more information on their hours, visit their website, as these can change frequently.

March 1 is the anticipated opening date for 2024.

They are closed most of the winter, which is slightly disappointing as I would love to see snow on the grounds and take photos. Despite that, Gibbs Gardens is lovely in any season, but the late winter (when they first open), mid-spring, and early to mid-fall (at peak fall foliage) are the best times to go.

Read below for more information on each season.

Visiting tip: For daily updates on fall colors and daffodil reports, check their social media or sign up for their newsletter. They also have a “What’s in Bloom” section on their website here.

Daffodils, Fall Colors, and Summer Roses

Spring

Gibbs Gardens is famous for its daffodils. Millions bloom each March and April, and the gardens are home to many varieties. If you visit in the first two weeks of March, you’ll see the early bloomers. And if you come back later, you can enjoy the mid and late-bloomers, which usually appear from late March through early to mid-April.

Depending on the weather and growing conditions, they can bloom early in late February. Of course, this timeline is subject to Mother Nature.

Other blooms you will see during spring are tulips, cherry blossoms, azaleas, dogwoods, and roses.

Fall

We also love to visit in the fall for the fall foliage. The fall colors in the Japanese Gardens are spectacular, with the Japanese maples’ vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves. The reflection of the trees in the ponds adds even more color to the already picturesque scenery. For the best fall foliage experience, plan a visit in October (usually around mid-October).

Do you love wildflowers? If so, don’t miss their Wildflowers Colorfest in early fall. You can stand on the edge of seemingly endless fields full of pink and yellow wildflowers. These usually bloom starting in September through early November.

Summer

Summer is also a great time to visit the gardens because it is less crowded than spring and fall. Although it can be hot and humid, many paths are shaded, so it’s not too bad. There are still plenty of flowers, especially roses, water lilies, daylilies, and crape myrtles.

Know Before You Go: Parking, Admission, and Visiting Tips

Parking

Parking is free of charge at Gibbs Gardens. There are various parking sections, but staff will guide you to the appropriate spot. If you visit during peak times, you may need to park further away from the primary entrance.

You can’t have a picnic inside the gardens, but picnic tables are near parking lot #3.

Purchasing Tickets or Membership Passes

It is highly advisable to buy tickets in advance through their website. Though you can purchase tickets in person, there may be long queues, especially during the peak spring and fall seasons. When purchasing tickets online, you can either print them or have them scanned from your phone or tablet at the entrance.

Visit their website for information on ticket and membership prices.

The ticket costs for the year 2024 are as follows:

• $25 per adult
• $18 for ages 65+
• $10 for a child’s ticket ages 3-17
• Children 3 and under get in free

I suggest buying a membership if you plan to visit multiple times a year. The membership card gives you unlimited visits 365 days from the date of purchase and free admission to their Saturday evening concerts in May and June.

While memberships can be slightly expensive ($60 for adults and $30 for children), there is usually a promotion every December and January where you can buy one membership and get one free. This promotion allows us to acquire two passes for only $60, which is pretty good! They usually email you about membership deals around this timeframe if you subscribe to their newsletter.

Remember to bring your membership card so they can scan it at the entrance. Find other membership benefits listed here.

Visiting Tips

You’ll want to allocate at least 3-4 hours to visit the property, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will probably do a lot of walking. Previously, there used to be a tram service available to take visitors around the gardens, but unfortunately, it has been permanently discontinued.

They do not provide golf carts, wheelchairs, or scooters. Read more about accessibility here.

You can only take water inside the gardens as they do not allow outside food and drinks. However, you can purchase items from their Arbor Cafe if you feel hungry or thirsty. The cafe offers a decent selection of salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, and small snacks. Unfortunately, they no longer serve the best lemonade I’ve ever had, which makes me feel bummed whenever I think about it.

A garden gift shop near the entrance also sells seeds, pots, and other garden and home goods. It’s small but cute, and I always stop to browse.

Can you bring your dog? Nope, unless it is a service dog. For more information on service dogs and what you can and cannot bring, visit their page here.

If you’re lucky, you might spot one of the garden cats hanging around the manor house or the garden entrance. Of course, I always take several photos when I see them!

A Glance Inside the Gardens

The gardens are enormous – over 300 acres! I often contemplate buying a membership pass so that I can do some exercising while taking in the breathtaking views here. Maps are available both online and at the entrance.

Although I love all the gardens, my favorites are the Japanese and Manor House Gardens. If you visit during spring, you’ll find daffodils scattered throughout the entire property. However, the most beautiful daffodil gardens are on the hillscape, with the North Georgia mountains providing a spectacular backdrop.

The trek to reach the Manor House is uphill, but it’s definitely worth it because you’ll enjoy the best mountain views. Although you cannot enter the manor house, you can stroll around the gardens, the pool, and the guest house. It’s difficult to resist the temptation of dipping your toes in the pool in summer!

Another favorite spot of mine is the water lily ponds near the entrance. Dragonflies love to hang out in this area, making macro photography fun. And it’s fascinating to see the lilies close up as the afternoon draws to a close.

Near this area, you should keep an eye out for a bluish-green bridge at the entrance. This garden is inspired by the Monet Garden in Paris, France. It’s one of the best spots for a picture and reminds me of Claude Monet’s famous painting Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies. I could easily spend an entire day here!

Photography at Gibbs Gardens in Georgia

As mentioned earlier, if you have a penchant for capturing natural beauty through photographs, be sure to carry abundant film rolls when you visit Gibbs Gardens in Georgia. Even if you choose to use a digital camera or your phone’s camera, I assure you that you will take many photos.

You can bring a tripod, but professional photography and photo shoots (amateur or professional) are prohibited.

Photography tip: There always seems to be a slight breeze in North Georgia, so bring a tripod or use a fast shutter speed for macro photography.

For my latest visit to Gibbs Gardens and most of the pictures in this article, I used my Canon E0S-1N and the Hasselblad 500cm. Although I’m still learning to use medium format cameras, the details in the flower images captured with the Hasselblad 500cm are impressive.

Except for five digital photos, most of the pictures in this post are film. Some of the film photos were taken by Bill Manning Photography, which are noted below the pictures.

Have you been to Gibbs Gardens in Georgia? If so, please share your experience in the comments section below!

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