Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a public garden located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It covers 52 acres (210,000 m2) and contains a variety of gardens and plant collections, including a wildflower garden, a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and a children's garden.
The arboretum was founded in 1933 when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began construction of the garden on the grounds of the abandoned Knoxville Zoo. The botanical garden was added to the arboretum in 1972. The gardens are open every day except Christmas Day.
In the 1780s, the KBGA property was granted to David Wessel Howell by our new nation as a reward for his service during the American Revolutionary War. The Howell family has been caretakers of this land for many years. David Howell planted an orchard and began selling fruits and vegetables to local settlers in the early 1800s. He also began selling trees, seeds, and plants needed to start farms and gardens. Ten years before Tennessee became a state, Howell was a reliable source of agricultural goods for local families and businesses.
David’s farm slowly grew over several generations. In the late 1870s, David’s great-grandson Sampson Sylvanus Howell began to sell ornamental plants in addition to the edibles they had been selling for nearly one hundred years.
The Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum occupy the former Howell Nursery grounds. This expansive commercial garden supplier produced trees and shrubs for two centuries. The gardens and trails have been improved, attracting visitors. Some people describe the adjacent early 20th-century neighborhood as the “Garden District.”
The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a great place to visit for people who appreciate nature and stunning gardens and a great place to spend an afternoon with the family to enjoy nature and get some fresh air. There are several gardens to explore, as well as a children's garden, nature center, and arboretum. The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum also offer educational programs, events, and workshops throughout the year.
There are plenty of things to see and do, and the garden is large enough that you can always find somewhere new to explore. The garden is home to many different types of plants and trees, and there are also a few ponds and walking trails. There is also a nature center, which houses a variety of animals native to East Tennessee. The garden is open year-round, and admission is free for members and kids 12 and under.
Contact us
(865) 308-8693
russell@junkfam.com