The warm weather over the past week has been hinting at all that blooms, sprouts and grows lush in the Carolinas. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (DSBG) houses thousands of unique plants and flowers that will entice your sense of spring, even in the dead of winter. DSBG is located in Belmont, NC about a 40 minute trip west of central Charlotte.
DSBG hosts a large collection of gardens, an orchid conservatory, fountains with leaping water, a woodland trail, willow maze and many other flora-laden acres to wander through (wear sneakers or comfy shoes!) The garden’s paths make it easy to navigate with a stroller and little ones in tow. You can take advantage of the many spots to sit down and enjoy a picnic with your family while you take in the colors around you. You may see artists sketching the natural beauty of the gardens, or even catch a wedding in progress – my husband and I got married there! During the visit our daughter enjoyed seeing the funky looking flowers, and listening to her commentary left us in stitches. She was amazed that flowers could grow so big, or so pointy, or so purple! It was a great place to bring kids because they are able to run and jump and play as they discover each area, and she was particularly smitten with the waterfalls and jumping water.
Programs like “Insect Explorations” and “Garden Detectives” cater to kids curiosities about the garden and the world around them. Not to be forgotten are lecture series and presentations for Mom and Dad about horticulture, birding, photography and more. In March they will be welcoming Peter Rabbit and his garden adventure, and during the holidays they create a wonderland with decor. DSBG also hosts birthday parties and just announced an expansion to include a children’s garden with a maze, cave, aviary and more. When we visited they were hosting an art exhibition in the pavilion, and we met one of the featured artists. I was impressed with their gift shop, it had some unique finds for the nature lover.
Adults are $12, kids 4-12 are $6 and kids under 4 are free. If you need to conjure some spring-like feelings in the middle of the winter, or decide see all the new blooms in the spring, DSBG is a fun and educational family trip.
In addition to everything mentioned above, the Garden is getting ready to build Lost Hollow: The Kimbrell Children’s Garden. For more information you can go here: http://www.dsbg.org/news_detail.php?id=505 and for sketches to see what Lost Hollow will look like, visit our Pinterest page: http://pinterest.com/stowegarden/