If battling the weather, weeds, and Japanese beetles in your own garden is growing weary, why not plan a visit to a botanic garden or arboretum?
Indiana has a number of public gardens where you can expand your palette of gardening ideas. Botanic gardens and arboreta are essentially living museums with plants as the exhibits. Public gardens are great sources of information about plants that can be grown in your area. Many public gardens have lecture series, tours and other special events as well.
The following brief list of gardens includes some of the larger public collections in Indiana. Hours of operation will vary, so it is wise to call ahead or visit the Web site to find out the specific hours for the particular site.
Central Indiana
White River Gardens
Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46222
317-630-2001
http://www.whiterivergardens.com
Indianapolis Museum of Art & Oldfields Estate
1200 West 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208-4196
(317) 923-1331
http://www.ima-art.org/
Garfield Park Conservatory
2450 S. Shelby St.
Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 327-7220
http://www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org/
Holcomb Botanical Garden
Butler University
4600 Sunset Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
(317) 283-9413
Jerry E. Clegg Foundation Botanical Gardens
1782 North 400 East
Lafayette, IN 47905
(765) 423-1325
Oakhurst Gardens
Minnetrista Cultural Center & Oakhurst Gardens
1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway
Muncie IN 47303
(800) 428-5887
Hayes Regional Arboretum
801 Elks Road
Richmond, IN 47374
(765) 962-3745
http://www.hayesarboretum.org/
Purdue University Horticulture Gardens
1165 Horticulture Building
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1165
(765) 494-1296
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/hort_gardens.html
Northeast Indiana
Foellinger-Freimann Conservatory
1100 South Calhoun St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 427-6440
http://www.botanicalconservatory.org/
Huntington College Arboretum
2303 College Ave.
Huntington, IN 46750
(260) 356-6000, ext. 2001
Northwest Indiana
Gabis (formerly Taltree) Arboretum at Purdue NW
450 W 100 N
Valparaiso, IN 46385
https://www.pnw.edu/gabis-arboretum/