Discover Spring Magic At Gibbs Gardens

By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens
Photographs courtesy of Gibbs Gardens

Spring begins at Gibbs Gardens as millions of daffodil blooms blanket valleys, hillsides, and fields across 376 acres. “Gibbs Gardens stages the county’s largest daffodil extravaganza,” wrote Flower Magazine (Feb. 2024, 2023) naming the gardens one of “The World’s 10 Best Places to See Daffodils.”

Vivid colors of tulips and pansies.

More than 60 varieties of early-, mid- and late-blooming daffodils appear every two weeks for a full six weeks of flowers in every shade of yellow—from almost white to peach and deep gold. Early Sensation—the first daffodils to bloom—and February Golds usher in the coming of spring.

The huge number of daffodils is enhanced by the intricate planting designs developed by Jim Gibbs, owner/developer of Gibbs Gardens. In 1981, he began planting 50,000 daffodils every year, designing huge daffodil beds with swirling artistry to create streams of daffodils flowing down the hillsides.

More than 50 acres of daffodils planted in intricate designs.

In fall 2021 Gibbs added 370,000 bulbs to the millions already planted. “We planted the new bulbs in a unique design to give visitors the experience of daffodil blossoms displayed in 10-foot-wide rivers of color—flowing waves of golden-yellow blossoms covering acres and acres of hillsides,” Gibbs explained. “Each hillside is vertically divided into separate, narrower streams based on the color and bloom time of each daffodil variety.”

Tulips overlook Monet Bridge in the Waterlily Gardens.

Just The Beginning

Daffodils are just the spectacular beginning to Gibbs Gardens’ unforgettable spring experience. Thousands of tulips—40 different types of early-, mid- and late-blooming tulip bulbs—create a riot of color throughout the Gardens. For 2024, Gibbs added 15,000 tulips to Le Jardin, his new color garden.

“Tulips are famous the world over for their bright, vivid colors,” said Gibbs. “We spend a lot of time designing the serpentine beds, then coordinating tulip colors to create the most sensational displays for garden visitors.” Gibbs likes to plant tulips in sweeping S-curves of color for dramatic contrast against acres of bright green grass. Tulips have to be replanted every year; unlike daffodils, tulips in the South don’t divide every year. Only diligent spraying keeps the deer from devouring all of Gibbs’ tulips.

Gentle pink blossoms of cherry trees brighten wooded paths.

As daffodils, then tulips, slip into bloom, they are joined in mid-March by more than 200 cherry trees, including the same Yoshino cherries seen in Washington, D.C., and Kwanzan cherry trees along with forsythia, quince, spiraea, and dogwood for a spring welcome like no other.

Gibbs Gardens is a one-of-a-kind experience—with 24 garden venues set against a 376-acre backdrop of 24 ponds, 32 bridge crossings, 19 waterfalls, and forested, rolling hills.  

Intricate planting designs of tulips, pansies and assorted flowers create dramatic color contrast.

World-Class Destination Garden

Honored with the National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence, Gibbs Gardens has been named one of “The Best Places in the World to See Daffodils,” by Flower Magazine; “Georgia, swathes of splendor,” by Georgia Daffodil Association; “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America” and a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Explore Georgia and the “100 places to visit in North Georgia before you die.” Gibbs Gardens always has something new in bloom. The six feature gardens and 18 seasonal color gardens offer unique and continuous delights for garden lovers of all interests. To learn more about Gibbs Gardens, go to gibbsgardens.com.

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