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Gardens Feed the Soul: Highlands Botanical Gardens
Written By: Winter Gary | Issue: 2021/06 – June
The vast collection of green treasures at the Highlands Botanical Gardens can be explored with the aid of Horticulturist Rachel Martin, or discovered on your own. To schedule a tour, call (828) 526-0188.
With the start of June comes a season of beauty and ecological richness at the Highlands Biological Station.
Our warm, pleasant climate mixed with the refreshing rain showers that frequent the Plateau welcome the return of early summer blooms and all the native insects, birds, and mammals that flourish with their presence.
It also marks the perfect time to visit the Highlands Botanical Garden and explore its treasures! The Garden is open to the public each day from dawn to dusk and is free of charge. Overall, the HBS campus offers a variety of botanical displays for our community to enjoy including a historical garden, bog garden, homeowner demonstration garden, pollinator garden, and more.
For those interested in a more structured visit, HBS Horticulturist Rachel Martin, along with summer staff, offers Botanical Tours seasonally. These tours can be catered to an individual’s or group’s interests. She can lead you on an excursion in search of southern Appalachian carnivorous plants while highlighting their importance or help provide inspiration for your next planting project while showcasing native plants perfect for your needs.
These tours are free of charge, but donations are always appreciated. For more information about HBS’s Botanical Tour offerings, visit highlandsbiological.org.
Interpretive guided tours of the Botanical Garden are also available for private groups throughout the year and can be arranged by appointment. Talks on various botanical topics are available to local garden clubs and other organizations.
To schedule a tour or a talk, contact Rachel Martin at (828) 526-0188.
The Highlands Botanical Garden is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University (WCU). Please note that in accordance with WCU’s policies, and for the safety of both HBS guests and staff, face masks will be required during all in-person tours.
