June—a great time to visit Gibbs Gardens

By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens
Photographs courtesy of Gibbs Gardens

June magic fills Gibbs Gardens as the 376-acre estate garden transforms into nature’s most spectacular bouquet. Flowers of all sizes, shapes and colors bloom everywhere—from fields of poppies, larkspur and coreopsis in the Wildflower Meadow to fields of daylilies, stands of Magnolia blossoms—and a feast of roses everywhere.

“We keep planting a wide variety of roses—floribunda, grandiflora, Knockout shrub roses, Drift roses and Heirloom roses—to accent and expand existing plantings” explained Jim Gibbs, owner/developer/designer of Gibbs Gardens.

In the Valley Gardens, just beyond Le Jardin, hundreds of Knockout rose bushes in graceful rows of color stretch across acres of vibrant green grass to form the Rose Gardens.

“Last year we added 135 Heirloom roses for their color and elegance at the east end of the Rose Gardens and hundreds of Drift and Knockout roses are in bloom along the hills of the Inspiration Gardens,” he said.

Gibbs created an amazing and unique display of roses in the gardens around the Manor House. The 130-foot-long classical wood arbor covered with blush pink New Dawn roses seems like a scene from a fairy tale. Pink rose petals flutter from the arbor to the walk-through path, creating nature’s rose-scented carpet.

An allée of Byers Red Crepe Myrtles provides shade for visitors viewing the Daylily Gardens as thousands bloom from June through August. Massive plantings of daylilies in pastel shades and red, orange, yellow, purple, white, apricot and pink flowers display their beauty in long curving beds.

At the Monet Water Lily Gardens, tropical and hardy water lily blooms create eye-fooling reflections in the ponds. The five ponds showcase more than 140 varieties of waterlilies in their natural environment.

An allée of more than 100 fragrant Southern Magnolia (Magnolia Grandiflora) is located between the Japanese Gardens and the Wildflower Meadow Gardens. Gibbs expanded the original Wildflower Meadow to create a 15-acre sanctuary for bees and butterflies, especially Monarch butterflies that travel directly over North Georgia twice a year as they migrate between Canada and Mexico. Gibbs chose Flanders poppies for this garden because their strong, vivid colors—bright orange, red and salmon shades—attract butterflies as they fly across North Georgia during their northern migration to Canada.

Adding stark contrast to the poppies, blue, lavender and purple larkspur, bright orange asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed and bright yellow coreopsis lure the butterflies to a delicious lunch at Gibbs Gardens. The meadow will be replanted late summer for the Monarch’s fall migration south.

Annuals and perennials are planted throughout the gardens—from the unique and inspiring arrangements lining the entrance Flower Bridge to sweeping borders of white caladiums and begonias lining the beds that lead to the Manor House Gardens. Visit Gibbs Gardens to experience the beauty, serenity—and enchantment of nature.

Honored with the National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence, Gibbs Gardens has been named one of “The 10 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. 

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

Article URL:
https://www.GardenSMART.com/?p=articles&title=June_a_great_time_to_visit_Gibbs_Gardens