(This article first appeared in the August print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Summer is winding down.
But at public gardens, every time of the year offers something beautiful to see.
A couple of area gardens are worth a day trip to take in the flora of western Kentucky and spend a little life-affirming time outdoors on a late summer or fall day.
Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
Located on the Henderson side of Owensboro, this garden continues to grow and add to its well-known daylily and rose gardens and the many other theme areas that have been developed gradually.
In fact, there are now 12 acres of things to explore by plant lovers and Garden Clubs, by families looking for a leisurely outing and by those visiting for special events including weddings, receptions and other social activities.
Building on a seed of an idea from the Daviess County Master Gardeners, the garden began in 1993 when Owensboro residents Dr. and Mrs. William Tyler donated 8.5 acres to the city of Owensboro for a public garden.
Motorists driving on Second Street near the west city limits of Owensboro could see a couple of silos that were eventually decorated with garden motifs to call attention to where they could find the entrance to the botanical garden.
But in recent years, with the acquisition of the historical WeatherBerry House and additional property, the garden’s entrance has been moved to Second Street in a new visitor’s center, though the silo landmarks are still there.
The botanical garden has 13 themed areas connected by paved walking paths.
The daylily garden has more than 800 varieties and in June the WKBG hosts “Dazzling Dallies Festival” showcasing this flower at the peak of their blooming season. They offer a daylily dig bed.
Specialty gardens in addition to the rose garden include an iris garden, an herb garden and Japanese memorial garden.
Scattered throughout the garden are giant wind and metal bug sculptures along with a giant basket sculpture.
The Moonlite Children’s Garden contains an interactive playhouse and an educational conservatory greenhouse.
Also, a relocated 1890s country doctor’s home houses an herbal medicine exhibit, a classic English cottage and an antique ticket booth.
In August (this year Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) the garden hosts “Butterfly Festival,” showcasing the Monarch with educational talks and tours, crafts, storytelling and other activities.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and veterans and $2 for children and students, but on each first Saturday of the month admission is free. A garden audio tour is available and accessed with a smartphone.
The garden is located at 2731 W. Second St. Information: WKGB.org.
Mahr Park Arboretum
Located on the Henderson side of Madisonville, Mahr Park has a collection of native trees, diverse plant life and abundant wildlife and is the community’s public garden.
The parkland was gifted to the city of Madisonville in 2009 by Dr. Merle and Glema Mahr, and it officially opened in 2016 to offer the public a range of recreational and educational activities, miles of scenic trails along Lake Pee Wee, a Nature Play Area, fishing ponds, a kayak launch, dog parks, a disc golf courses and places to have a picnic while exploring the natural world.
The historic Mahr home serves as the visitor’s center for this official stop on the Kentucky Garden Trail.
The arboretum features a seven-acre pollinator garden, a butterfly garden and native plant collections. In the pollinator garden in late summer, you might see butterfly weed, cardinal flower, coneflower, coreopsis and wild bergamot.
Special garden events include an illuminated home air balloon show coming up on Aug. 28. Other events include a summer solstice guided night hike in June, a guided pollinator hike in July, a Harvest Fest in September and Hay Bale Trail in October. Other guided hikes take place during the year.
Admission to Mahr Park Arboretum is free. It is located at 465 Mahr Park Drive in Madisonville.
Others around the state
Need more outdoor time in a garden spot? Here are a few other places to consider:
• The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, 100 acres on the campus of University of Kentucky in Lexington. Info: Arboretum.Mgcafe.UKy.edu
• Bernheim Forest & Arboretum, 16,000 acres near Clermont, Ky. Info: bernheim.org
• Doran Arboretum at Murray State University. Info: MurrayState.edu
• Waterfront Botanical Garden, downtown Louisville. Info: WaterfrontGardens.org
• Baker Arboretum, Bowling Green (know for its conifers and maple trees.
Info: JerryEBakerFoundation.org.
