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Botanical Gardens in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg botanical gardens are among the state’s most popular tourist attractions, hosting thousands of visitors each year eager to see nature’s rarest plants, flowers, and trees. The exhibits change according to season, so check with every garden before making the trip over if there’s a particular plant you’re eager to see. Most botanical gardens host millions of plants and dozens of displays, so there’s sure to be something for every visitor that stops by.

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We would love to have you visit Walters Gardens, Inc. You are welcome any time of year, but there will be more to see if you come between April and September when our greenhouse and field plants are in bloom. We would appreciate a call ahead to let us know when you'll be coming, and don’t forget your comfortable walking shoes!  We have miles of spectacular greenhouses and growing areas to show you.  We are located at:

Walters Gardens, Inc. 

1992 96th Avenue

Zeeland, Michigan 49464 

Phone: 1-888-925-8377

Each year at the end of July and early August, we host a two week open house as part of the Michigan Garden Plant Tour . When you visit during this time, we'll have special events and displays you wouldn't see other times of year, which makes it a really great time to visit! If you want to catch up with us but can't find the time to make it to Michigan, you might want to check out what Trade Shows we will be at this year.

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Our company has grown from a small farm of less than five acres worked by just a few men to a multimillion dollar corporation with over 250 employees, 1,500 acres of land, and 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Over 19 million perennial liners are shipped annually to independent garden centers, wholesale growers, landscapers, and municipalities across the US and Canada.

Meet Our Team

Michigan Garden Plant Tour at Walters Gardens

2024 Tour Dates: July 29 - August 9

As one of the largest suppliers of perennials in North America, with almost 1,000 classic and cutting edge varieties, we like to think there is something worthwhile for everyone to enjoy when they visit. During the MGPT is an excellent time to visit because we have specially scheduled tour events and displays. This gives you a behind-the-scenes look at our field and greenhouse operations, as well as new perennial introductions.

2024 Trade Show & Events Schedule

Find out when and where we will be for 2024!

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2024 Gardens

Explore the gardens.

Take a look through the eye-catching gardens featured on our 2024 Native Plant Garden Tour.

The gardens are labeled as follows:

The Garden On Petit

Gerety Family Garden

Henschel Native Garden

Reimagining Colonial Revival

The Gottlieb Native Garden

Kuruvungna Sacred Springs

Walgrove Wildlands

Tipton Duvivier Watershed Garden

Casita Manzanita

Lambert & Evans Family Garden

The Hello Yarrow House

The House of the Seven Sages

Garden Butterfly

Hursley & Glass Garden

Kramer-Askew

Jack's Garden

Casa Apocalyptica

Wood Garden

Olivewood Garden

Justice Tujunga Garden

The Forbes Mountain Retreat

Heller-Ashamalla Garden

Ochoa Restoration Garden

Casa Petrichor—The Laboratory

Bonfigli & Hessing

Washington Elementary Native Habitat Garden

Pasadena Corner Garden

New Horizon School Pasadena Peace Garden

Wagner Native Garden

Zamora-Rojas Garden

McCarthy-Reynaldo Garden

The Phelps Garden

Glass Island x Fruitstitute

Peterson-Nadeau Historic Filipinotown

Scott Weich Garden

Sotomayor Arts & Sciences Magnet Farm

Walton Family Garden

Eggers & Small

Atkinson-Skorikov Garden

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Spring 2025

Vegetative liners for growers, landscapers, and independent garden centers, the mast young plants trial garden, plan a day trip to grand rapids, michigan to discover everything new and exciting growing at mast greenhouses., 2021 michigan garden plant tour, a free coordinated open house of leading young plant producers and michigan state university., trial gardens at myp, our “living catalog”.

We’re proud to to offer our customers, sales representatives, and breeders the opportunity to experience our program offerings live at our Trial Garden. The Mast Young Plants Trial Garden serves as our “Living Catalog” and includes all of the varieties offered in our liner program from over 25 key breeders.

The 2024 Trial Gardens features:

over 100 genera

135+ new additions for 2025

1500+ varieties in raised landscape beds, hanging baskets, deco pots, saddle planters, and window planters

500+ unique and custom-designed hanging baskets & patio pot combinations

20 raised beds

Sun & shade trial areas

2024 Feature Trials

Plants Per Pot Trial

Fertilizer Trial

All varieties are sorted by genera and are clearly labeled, offering visitors a unique opportunity to compare size, color, and vigor in order to make informed selections and to select the perfect plant for their needs. MYP also displays custom combinations shown in hanging baskets and in containers throughout the display gardens. Each combination lists each “ingredient” so customers can recreate their favorites!

 Top Garden Performers

See which varieties earned accolades from MYP staff and visitors alike! Click here or the image below to view the 2023 trial garden results. 2024 trial garden results will be available in September 2024.

The Michigan Garden Plant Tour

The Mast Young Plants Trial Garden is also a destination on the Michigan Garden Plant Tour ! This is a free, coordinated open house of leading young plant producers of ornamentals and Michigan State University. The objective of the tour is to educate growers and industry professionals about new and existing garden plants and how they perform in different settings.

Greenhouse growers, landscapers, garden center operators, and nurserymen are invited to participating tour sites during the two week period.

The Michigan Garden Plant Tour takes place during the last week of July and the first week of August each year.

Expect to learn about a wide range of ornamental crops, including popular commercial brands of annuals and perennials. This is a great way to observe plant performance at different locations and grown under various conditions, both in the ground and in containers.

Plan Your Visit

Our Trial Garden is open mid-July though mid-September

Monday – Friday, 8AM – 4PM

Take a day trip and come visit! Schedule your private tour or event today. We offer shaded sitting and meeting space areas with wireless internet. Our knowledgeable and helpful  staff is eager to welcome you to our trial garden and we are happy to assist you with any questions.

Other helpful information for planning your visit:

• Snacks and cold drinks are available for your refreshment 
• An air-conditioned onsite restroom is available for garden guests
• Our acre-and-a-half garden display includes both upper and lower garden sections
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for garden update throughout the summer
• Bus tour groups are welcome and encouraged to make a reservation
• Broker groups are asked to please make a reservation for a private event

Located at 3525 Bristol Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544.

Evening and weekend self-guided tours are available!

For more information, please call us at 800.541.3910 or email [email protected] .

All-America Selections Trial Ground

We have been an All-America Selections (AAS) trial site, featuring seed and vegetative introductions trialed in containers, since 2012.

For more information about AAS, click here.

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Garden Tours & Travel Destinations

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: Plants, Design Ideas, Gardening Solutions & More!

Please check with each organization for current information on days and hours of operation.

Be the first to know about new day trips and guided tours from GardenDesign.com and our partners. Sign up here!

United States Self-Guided Day Trips

Explore some of Los Angeles' best gardens. Walk peaceful pathways, see elegant and inspired collections, and learn more about local plants.

Famous for its miles of sandy beaches and pristine weather, San Diego also boasts amazing gardens. Discover 3 of local expert Debra Lee Baldwin's favorites.

Don't let the desert climate fool you. Explore three of the best gardens in the greater Phoenix area, and you just might be surprised at the array of beautiful plants that grow here.

Discover three unique gardens all located within Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The park offers visitors a picturesque setting with lakes, picnic spots, and trails.

If you're seeking a walk through mossy woods, Asian gardens or a botanical extravaganza to inspire you, you will find many ideas on this adventure.

Get off the well-trodden path to explore some hidden treasures. Walk woodland trails, see birds and wildlife, and get landscaping ideas for your own garden.

Known for its dramatic beauty and mild climate, Tucson is also home to 3 amazing gardens, where you'll find inspiration and practical advice for your own garden.

Utah is filled with fascinating destinations. Explore three of the best gardens in the area, where you'll not only find plant collections, but education and beauty.

Local garden expert Ryan McEnaney has planned the perfect day out for garden lovers, with 3 lavish Minnesota gardens all within the greater St. Paul area.

Boasting interesting architecture and art, Chicago is also home to beautiful gardens. Our local expert shares 3 favorites that any garden lover will enjoy.

Local landscape designer Diana Kirby suggests a fun-packed day exploring three of her favorites, all unique and exciting in their own way.

See plants from around the world, get inspiration for your own water-wise garden, and more at three fantastic gardens on this local day trip in the Denver area.

Visit these Proven Winners® Signature Gardens before or after a trip to Mackinac Island, or any other Michigan destination.

This day trip may take more than a day, but these three must-see gardens are well worth the time. See what garden is described as "a garden lovers dream."

Designated as a National Heritage Area, this region offers peaceful villages, spectacular views, and a wide range of garden experiences on this day trip.

Local landscape designer Jerry Fritz had no hesitation in recommending these three outstanding gardens for an unforgettable day trip in America's Garden Capital.

Step away from the museums and memorials and enjoy a day exploring delightful gardens, as recommended by local landscape designer Barbara Katz.

Georgia may be best known for its peaches, but there are also wonderful gardens to visit, such as the three featured in this day trip for the Atlanta area.

Take a break from theme parks and discover unique plant collections and explore exceptional gardens, including one that is described as "Miami and New York combined".

Sign-up for our travel newsletter to be notified when each new self-guided tour is added - plus other garden travel oppotunites.

International Self-Guided Day Trips

Experience three unique gardens in this Vancouver day trip that starts in the heart of the city, then on to an aerial trail adventure, and ends with a calming Japanese garden.

Visit three distinctly different gardens in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, on this relaxing day trip recommended by local garden expert Helen Battersby.

Enjoy three magnificent gardens in, and near, Halifax—including the oldest Victorian garden in North America, an amazing rock garden, and an historically themed garden.

The walled city of York in northeast England offers so much to the visitor, including three picturesque walled gardens that are not to be missed.

The Peak District National Park is a delight to all those who love the picturesque countryside, with its rolling hills, sweeping views, quaint villages, and historic gardens.

East Anglia is the perfect destination any time of year. See beautiful countryside, medieval and historic market towns, and three fabulous gardens.

Set in the heart of Yorkshire, the Harrogate District is filled with historic castles and abbeys, attractive towns, quaint villages, and exceptional public gardens.

Discover 3 breathtaking gardens set amongst the historic villages and rolling countryside that surround the spa town of Harrogate.

Loved for its fairytale châteaux, bustling market towns, and some of the best wines in the world, it also has much to offer garden enthusiasts.

An unforgetable adventure awaits when you visit these 3 gorgeous gardens in the vibrant, bustling city of Marrakesh.

Visiting Victoria is always an adventure, but it's also a gardener's paradise. Explore three unique gardens that both educate and delight.

Garden Travel Inspiration

Discover some of the best gardens to visit from coast to coast, including Longwood, Denver Botanic, Atlanta Botanical, Descanso, Bellevue Botanical (pictured), and more!

"Have you been to Great Dixter?” is the question on the lips of anyone debriefing a gardening friend who has been traveling in England. Great Dixter has a reputation for being...

On a hot afternoon last summer at Monticello, Peter Hatch walked toward a redbrick colonial pavilion pierced with floor-to-ceiling arched windows, then past neat rows of...

South Africa’s famous National Botanic Garden Kirstenbosch is known as the most beautiful garden in Africa. Its diverse collection of plants...

Twenty first century Philadelphia straddles its historical past and the future in a way that could only happen in America’s horticultural heart...

Make a pilgrimage to Brazil to get a firsthand view of the gardens and public spaces designed by modernist landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx...

On the grounds of a former estate outside of Philadelphia, a cadre of master gardeners presides over an oasis of earthly delights. We've put together...

Artist Helen Marden fell twice for Golden Rock Inn. The first time came in the mid-2000s when Marden and her husband were looking for a new...

RELATED: Top 20 Gardens to Visit in the U.S.

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Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden

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Welcome to the U.S. Botanic Garden!

The U.S. Botanic Garden is a living plant museum. We invite you to return again and again to watch the Garden change through the seasons and explore our  dynamic exhibits . Learn about the many  areas of the Garden  you can visit, and we hope you'll  join us for an educational program !

Shifted Hours July-Aug. 2024

The Garden will shift open hours for the Conservatory to 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. from July 8 – Aug. 30, 2024 to allow the USBG to replace the greenhouse glass roof in the Conservatory Garden Court. Learn more

Admission to the U.S. Botanic Garden is free. No tickets required.

Locations & hours.

• Conservatory

Gated Outdoor Gardens

Bartholdi fountain and gardens, summer evening hours.

The Garden will be open until 8 p.m. on the third Thursdays in June, July, and August 2024. The Garden will stay open until 8 p.m. on June 20, July 18, and August 15, 2024, for visitors to enjoy the golden hour and sunset amidst summer flowers and the USBG plant collection from around the world. Lemonade, botanical non-alcoholic mocktails, and snacks will be available for purchase.   Learn more

Directions and Parking

Find information about arriving at our location, public transportation, parking, and more .

Accessibility

The U.S. Botanic Garden strives to make its facilities and programming accessible to all visitors. Our  Accessibility page  provides more information.

Explore Our Gardens

The Conservatory features plants from across the United States and around the world ranging from desert plants to tropical forests to orchids and is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Tickets are not required.

Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens are open from dawn to dusk daily. They are located across Independence Avenue from the Conservatory, with access from any of the three bordering streets:  Independence Avenue, Washington Avenue, or First Street SW.

The gated outdoor gardens ("National Garden") are open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. These gardens have extended spring-summer hours April 1 – September 15, staying open until 7:00 p.m.

Visit our  Hours and Location page  for additional information and directions.

Safety Guidelines

Masks are recommended for indoor spaces, and groups are encouraged to maintain social distance from other visitor groups. Please stay home if you have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been asked to isolate because of COVID-19 exposure. Find more information in multiple languages  on the CDC website .

Photography and Sketching

Visitors are permitted to take photographs of the public areas at the U.S. Botanic Garden for personal use only. Commercial use of such photographs is strictly prohibited.

• Hand-held cameras, video cameras, or lap easels for sketching may be used at any time, as long as they do not affect the public's enjoyment of, or access to, the Garden.
• We do not allow visitors to do photoshoots or video shoots at the Garden.
• Please read the full  Photography and Art Policy  for more details.

Etiquette for Visiting the Garden

The U.S. Botanic Garden is a living plant museum for everyone to enjoy. Please respect the living collection and be mindful of other visitors. As you walk through the gardens,  here are some "do's and don'ts" to keep in mind .

There is no food or drink for sale at the Garden, though a water fountain and bottle refill station is available. Food and drink is allowed in the Garden, and visitors can use tables and chairs outdoors. We ask visitors to gather and pack out their trash, as there are limited trash bins outdoors.

There is a gift shop in the West Gallery run by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and local small business Rewild with plants and plant-themed offerings. 

Special Events

The U.S. Botanic Garden facilities are not available for weddings or other personal or private functions. Policies governing Congressionally sponsored evening events are established by the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. For more detailed information, see Congressional events .

School Group Resources

For information about school group educational resources, please visit our Field Trip page to plan your field trip.

United States Botanic Garden Campus Map

Photo Gallery

Sunbeams break through the plants in the Conservatory's Tropics house.

Explore the flowers, trees, fountains, and more in our outdoor gardens.

Sunset illuminates the sprays of the historic Fountain of Light and Water in Bartholdi Gardens.

U.S. Botanic Garden Visitor Guide

Read about the U.S. Botanic Garden  before you arrive! Our visitor guide is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. Choose your language to download .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are any spaces air conditioned.

There are several air-conditioned spaces indoors within the Conservatory, including the West Gallery, East Gallery, and South Transition. Please ask a member of the visitor services team upon your arrival for assistance navigating to a cooler pace.

Is there a water fountain / bottle refill?

Drinking fountains and a water bottle refill station are located indoors in the south of the Conservatory near the restrooms.

Are there accessible restrooms and child changing tables?

Accessible facilities and children's changing tables are found in both men's and women's restrooms.

Are dogs allowed?

Leashed pets are allowed throughout the outdoor gardens. Pets are not allowed inside the Conservatory. We welcome service dogs that are trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability in all areas of the garden unless the dog poses a direct threat, is not housebroken, or is not under the control.

Is there a Lost and Found?

Items of value found at the Garden are given to U.S. Capitol Police at the end of the day. If you have lost something and the Garden is closed, please contact USCP at (202) 225-4200.

Can I park at the Garden?

We encourage taking public transportation - the Federal Center SW metro station is just three blocks away. Metered street parking spaces are available within a few blocks of the U.S. Botanic Garden. The Garden does not have its own parking lot or parking spaces. More information

Is there a cafe or restaurant?

There is no food or drink for sale at the Garden, though a water fountain and bottle refill station is available. 

Can I have a wedding / event at the Garden?

The U.S. Botanic Garden facilities are not available for weddings or other personal or private functions. Policies governing Congressionally sponsored evening events are established by the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. For more detailed information, see  Congressional events .

Explore and Discover

The U.S. Botanic Garden creates and offers extraordinary exhibits that delight, educate, and inspire the public to become more active stewards of the plants that support life on earth.

"Season's Greenings" holiday exhibit 2023

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Take a Tour of Martha's Most Beautiful Gardens—and Learn How She Created Each One

From her first home to her current estate in Bedford, N.Y., Martha has dedicated much of her life to creating stunning landscapes along the East Coast.

Melissa Ozawa is the features editor at Martha Stewart Living.

When Martha was four years old, her father handed her a screwdriver and showed her how to wiggle it between the cracks of a cobblestone path in their Nutley, New Jersey, yard to dig out a weed. Within a few hours, she'd cleared the whole path and discovered a lifelong passion for gardening.

Since then, she has filled acres of landscape with everything from colorful perennial borders and fruit trees to thriving rose bushes and an allée of boxwoods. Here, she walks us through four of her homes—past and present—that have shaped her as a gardener, and shares the decisions and details that make each one spectacular.

Turkey Hill: Westport, Connecticut

As a young mom in 1971, Martha moved with her family to Westport, Connecticut, where she embarked on the ultimate DIY project: fixing up a 1805 farmhouse and creating an unforgettable landscape. She started Turkey Hiwith two acres and gradually expanded to six as adjacent properties came up for sale. Those years spent planting and tending perennial borders , orchards, herbs, and a potager gave her what she calls a "college education" in gardening. "I would not be who I am today without the vast knowledge I gained there, on that small bit of paradise," she wrote when she sold the property in 2007.

"My advice to new gardeners is to go to nurseries and find something you love, and just start digging and planting," Martha says. "You're bound to make mistakes—I make lots—but you'll learn from them, and you can always dig up a plant and try again."

Turkey Hill: Colorful Blooms

As she expanded the gardens at Turkey Hill, Martha leaned into creating a colorful palette. "I never thought I would love so much color," Martha says. "But seeing Monet's garden at Giverny in all its glory blew my mind." She planted an exuberant sea of blooms at Turkey Hill that unfurled from April through October. Here, clusters of tulips and daffodils blend with sweet pink bleeding hearts that jubilantly trumpet spring.

Mixing lots of different hues is challenging—shades can clash and overwhelm. One of Martha's secrets is to stick with tried-and-true varieties. "There are certain old plants that you can't get wrong combining, like purple Higo and Siberian irises, orangey-red and pink Oriental poppies, and columbines," she says. "Put them together, and you have a magnificent tableau that you couldn't get with other plants."

Turkey Hill: Vining Plants

Martha is a fan of vining plants— specifically clematis . "The fragrance of pink Clematis montana var. rubens is one of the best smells ever," she says. "I planted it so the vines would cover my kitchen pergola."

Turkey Hill: Pool Wisteria

A narrow path led from the house to the pool, which was framed by a stone wall and perennial borders. A wisteria tree marked the entrance.

Lily Pond: East Hampton, New York

Martha considers her former beach retreat in East Hampton, New York—which she purchased in 1990 and sold a few years ago —a revelation. "Everything grew so easily! It was such a joy to garden there," she says. Amazed at the way plants flourished in the rich, silty loam and mild coastal climate, she filled her yard at Lily Pond with a riot of roses , including heirlooms, climbers, and English varieties. Before she sold the property, she transplanted them to her current estate in Bedford, New York, giving her grandchildren a thorn-free space in which to play outside the house.

Lily Pond: Foliage Galore

After Hurricane Sandy destroyed trees and plants in the sideyard, Martha decided to rethink this stretch. Keeping the palette tight, she layered the beds on either side with varieties of cut-leaved Japanese maples, such as Acer palmatum var. dissectum "Red Dragon," and a mix of perennials, from feathery ferns to large-leaved hostas. With the exception of a few blooms, like lush stands of white hydrangeas, foliage reigns over flowers. "It's now a beautiful contemplative garden," she says.

Lily Pond: Gravel Path

The gravel path in the shady side garden leads to an elegant latticed gate, which opens to the property's backyard and pool.

Lily Pond: Container Plants

A large strawberry pot (with pockets on the sides) filled with giant alocasia, purple scaevola, chartreuse creeping Jenny, and trailing silver dichondra sits by the pool.

Lily Pond: Moss-Covered Walkway

This mossy brick walkway runs behind the pool and is flanked by tall hornbeam hedges, low-growing ferns, and bright hostas.

Bedford: Bedford, New York

When Martha bought this 153-acre property in 2000, she found herself in vast, empty fields with only a small smattering of trees—"a blank canvas," she says. Today, Bedford is bursting with flora and fauna. She's planted a dramatic boxwood allée, thousands of trees ( including a fruit orchard ), prolific plots of vegetables , flowers, and shade plants . She also fenced off paddocks for her horses and donkeys, added greenhouses, and built a pool.

"My father taught me that you can do it all from scratch, starting from seeds or cuttings, and if you nurture them, they will produce," Martha says. "I still do this: I grow trees from saplings and boxwood from rooted cuttings, and pretty much all my flowers are from seeds sown in the greenhouse. I enjoy seeing them develop. I think a gardener learns more this way."

Bedford: Daffodils Galore

Martha's farm is always evolving, she says. Storms take down trees, turning a shady spot into a sunny one. Overly vigorous plants get pulled and alter the look of a border, pests force plots to move, and new interests ignite a flurry of plantings. And that's the thrill of gardening: You are constantly learning and adapting.

To create this swath of daffodils, Martha mapped out waves of cultivars, plotting about 100 bulbs in each group. Every spring, the flowers explode in drifts of yellow and white, multiplying each year.

Bedford: Border Garden

Before it became unwieldy and took over her pergola border , purple nepeta grew beautifully on Martha's property. It's since been replaced with more alliums, Camassia, and grape hyacinth, and she's edged the front with small boxwood shrubs she raised from cuttings.

Bedford: Dappled Shade

Two weeping katsura trees provide dappled shade for white alliums, clematis, and peonies.

Bedford: Autumn Colors

In fall, the farm is ablaze in gold and red foliage.

Bedford: A Variety of Plants

Every January, Martha dives into a stack of seed and plant catalogs to find unusual cultivars and species to grow next. "For me, gardening is all about scent, color, and variety, variety, and more variety," she says. Instead of ordering just one type of baptisia, for instance, she'll choose several to try out new colors and test cultivars to see how they fare. In her flower garden—which is inspired by Turkey Hill's—she fills the beds with multiple kinds of roses, irises, dianthus, phlox, columbines, and self-seeding poppies, which have the "nicest way of popping up in unexpected places," she says.

Bedford: Potted Begonias

One side of Martha's greenhouse is devoted to all kinds of begonias—tuberous, rex, semperflorens, fibrous, and her favorite, rhizomatous.

Bedford: Boxwood Allée

A 650-foot allée of undulating boxwood lines the path to the stables. She prunes the shrubs every autumn to keep them comely.

Bedford: Winter Care

At the start of winter, Martha's gardeners shroud her boxwoods in burlap to protect them from strong winds and heavy snow.

Skylands: Mount Desert Island, Maine

In 1997, Martha purchased her summer home on Mount Desert Island in Maine. "This is the only place I ever bought that had an established garden," she says. Designed in the 1920s by Danish-born landscape architect Jens Jensen for Edsel and Eleanor Ford, the property is filled with fir and spruce trees towering over carpets of moss , stone pools, meandering paths, and mile-long driveways that vanish into the scenery. Martha takes her responsibility as a steward of this American treasure seriously: "I revel in the fact that I have a landscape designed by someone of such importance, who in my mind made absolutely no mistakes whatsoever," she says.

Martha spends several weeks each summer at Skylands with her family and plenty of friends. "I love to water the plants in the early morning, or walk around and just take it all in," she says.

Skylands: Potting Overwintered Plants

Every year at the end of May, Martha heads north with a truck loaded with trays of small succulents and large agaves, aloes, and palms that she has propagated and overwintered in her Bedford greenhouses. She and a group of green-thumbed friends make a weekend of it, potting Martha's containers on the "cracked ice" terrace.

Skylands: Circular Driveway

The circular driveway at the entrance of the house encircles an abundance of greenery in various hues, heights, and textures.

Skylands: Statement Plants

A detail of a granite trough planted with echeveria and senecio.

Skylands: Scenic Views

When the sky is clear, Martha can see Seal Harbor from the terraces of the house, which was designed by New York architect Duncan Candler.

Skylands: Lillies and Sphynx "Guards"

Martha Stewart

Lilies fill Martha's large terrace, which she says is "guarded" by two glazed terra-cotta sphinxes designed by Émile Muller in the 19th century. "The two are stored indoors and taken out as soon as the warmer weather arrives," she says.

Skylands: White-Pine Needles

Martha covers the paths in white-pine needles every spring (a local tradition). The coppery color complements the bright-green moss.

Skylands: Cutting Garden

Martha uses the walled cutting garden to grow vegetables for fresh summer meals, as well as flowers like dahlias, snap-dragons, and lilies for arrangements .

Skylands: Sculptural Design

La Rivière , a bronze sculpture by French artist Aristide Maillol, rests below the stone terrace in a bed of ferns, moss, and other lush ground covers.

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Boongala Gardens are the perfect example of an Aussie rainforest

They say fairies live in rainforests – deep in the moist, humid and shady environment, sheltered under lush, green and glossy foliage, where plants live on air, vines twist and curl up trees, and twinkles of light come from flowering orchids. They’re magical places and can be as vast as the Amazon in South America or as small as your backyard – like  Boongala Native Gardens and Rainforest at Kenthurst in Sydney’s north-west. Unlike the Amazon, this was built by hand, with every plant – all natives – lovingly picked, planted and tended. It casts a million spells!

This garden and native rainforest is only open for a short time period during Spring each year. For 2024, Boongala Gardens is open from the 30th of August until the 7th of October. You can visit from Friday to Monday within this time period at 76 Pitt Town Road, Kenthurst. Visit Boongala Gardens

The history of Boongala Gardens

Going back about 20 years ago, Boongala rainforest, north-west of Sydney, was weedsville – until plants-person Mal Johnston had a vision that the land on his property sloping down to a creek in a gully could be transformed into a rainforest.

In the years since, he’s put in a wealth of rainforest plants, starting with tall, sun-loving trees that would eventually form the canopy to protect the shade-loving understorey plants, including shrubs, groundcovers and climbing plants that use the mature trees for support.

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Plants that are in the aussie rainforest.

Rainforests thrive in tropical or temperate climates with high rainfall. A closed and continuous tall tree canopy creates a moist, humid, and shady environment for moisture-loving understorey plants

This includes ferns, epiphytes—plants that grow on other plants and get water and nutrients from the air—and long-stemmed, woody vines that are rooted in the soil and use trees as vertical support to climb up in search of direct sunlight. 

Dendrobium gracillimum orchid

This fragrant orchid is beautiful in both colour and shape. With yellowing leaves dotted with a deep purple, this small flower is perfectly adapted to the NSW rainforest climate.

Dendrobium kingianum orchid

Commonly known as the pink rock orchid, this species is endemic to eastern Australia. It is usually seen growing on rocks, and flowers from late winter and into spring.

Livistona palm

This is an image of the fruit of the Livistona palm, which is a large fan palm that can grow up to 25m in height. Often called the cabbage tree palm, this plant is commonly found in Aussie rainforests, and works well in tropical and temperate conditions.

Jenny Dillon is the garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens. She studied horticulture and landscape design at the world-renowned Ryde Horticultural College to solidify her appreciation of gardens, stemming from having grown up in regional and rural New Zealand, where agriculture and horticulture is a way of life.

Rachel Iorfino is a content producer for Better Homes and Gardens who specialises in gardening and lifestyle content. With a Bachelor's degree in English and Visual Arts under her belt, Rachel excels in storytelling through her writing and content creation. Rachel is known for her love of native plants and flowers, and will always recommend an Aussie alternative to installing a turf lawn in your backyard!

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Department of Horticulture Michigan Garden Plant Tour

Mast young plants.

Discover something special growing at Mast Young Plants’ trial garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Our ‘living catalog’ trial garden features all the varieties MYP offers from over 25 breeders in our liner program. Displays are located in sun and shade areas, and varieties are clearly labeled and variously sorted by genera and color. Enjoy the unique opportunity of comparing the size, color, and vigor of your favorite varieties alongside exciting 2024 introductions.  The 2023 trial garden features more than 1,500 varieties in raised landscape beds, hanging baskets, deco pots, saddle planters, and window planters as well as 500 unique, custom-designed combination planters.

Photo Gallery

Garden Hours

• Garden Hours: Mid-July through Mid-September, 8 am to 4 pm
• RSVPs appreciated: [email protected] or (800) 541-3910
• 500 unique, custom designed hanging basket and patio pot combinations.
• 135+ new for 2024 varieties from the world’s best and most well-known breeders, displayed in both sun and shade settings. Use our custom full-color new variety trial guide to jot notes about the items that catch your eye.
• All-American Selection Trial Grounds
• Vegetative Cut Flowers Trial: join the cut flowers trend and choose your favorites
• Summer Survivors Trial: we’re finding out which varieties not only survive but thrive from spring planting all the way into September
• Snacks, beverages, shaded seating areas & wireless internet

Learn More Online

• www.mastyoungplants.com
• www.facebook.com/mastyoungplants
• Instagram: @mastyoungplants
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mast-young-plants
• Trial Garden Results: Visit our website after October 1 for complete trial garden results including category top performers, fan favorites, and feature trials results.

Nearby Hotels

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Rapids-North 358 River Ridge Drive NW Walker, MI 49544 Phone: 616-647-4100

Hampton Inn Grand Rapids-North 500 Center Drive NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 Phone: 616-647-1000

Contact and Location Information

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 616-784-0583 or 1-800-541-3910

Enter your address for driving directions: (example: 123 Main St. East Lansing, MI 48824)

Michigan Garden Plant Tour