Beautiful Botanic Gardens in Baltimore, Maryland

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Baltimore? Need to breathe the fresh air and experience the wonder of nature after a long winter? The city of Baltimore is home to two stunning botanic gardens, steeped in history and overflowing with natural beauty sure to inspire gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Here's a guide to two botanic gardens in Baltimore that you won't want to miss...

Cylburn Arboretum

The Cylburn Arboretum began as the summer home of Baltimore businessman Jesse Tyson, who began construction of Cylburn Mansion in 1863. Completed in 1888, the mansion is an opulent structure built of gneiss, and featuring a mansard roof, a tower, and an Italianate cupola. In 1954, the estate became the Baltimore city park known as the Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center. Over the course of time, the grounds evolved to become a botanic garden and in 1982 the Cylburn Arboretum was born. The botanic gardens at Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore cover 207 acres of land and include 22 outdoor gardens, a woodland area, and Cylburn Bog. Trails wind through the woodland and bog area offering a quiet escape from Baltimore city life.

What to See at Cylburn Arboretum:

Although you won't want to skip any of it, some favorites at this Baltimore botanical garden include the Garden of the Senses, where plants grow only to waist height which allows physically-challenged visitors to touch and smell the plants easily, the Butterfly Garden, the Stu Kerr Memorial Children's Garden, the Larrabee Habitat Garden, and the gorgeous Victorian-style Formal Garden. The botanic gardens at Cylburn Arboretum also offer various programs such as nature story hours for children, gardening and birding lectures, plant sales, guided walks in the gardens and natural areas, family-friendly activities, and concerts. A nature museum is also located on the grounds of this Baltimore botanic garden.

How to Get to Cylburn Arboretum:

Cylburn Arboretum is located at 4915 Greenspring Avenue, in the Greenspring section of Baltimore, Maryland. This Baltimore botanic garden is located one block from Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and less than one mile from another favorite Baltimore destination, Pimlico Racetrack. Cylburn Arboretum is easily accessible from I-83.

Hours of Operation for Cylburn Arboretum:

Cylburn Arboretum is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Admission Costs for Cylburn Arboretum:

Admission to this Baltimore botanic garden is free. Additional fees may apply for some special events at Cylburn Arboretum.

Cylburn Arboretum Contact Information:

For more information on this Baltimore area botanic garden, call 410-367-2217. www.cylburnassociation.org

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

Also a facility of the Baltimore city parks, the Howard Peters Rawlings (HPR) Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore is a historic conservatory (the Conservatory building dates back to 1888) and botanic garden located within Druid Hill Park in northern Baltimore.

What to See at HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore:

This historic conservatory and botanic garden features five stunning indoor gardens (the Desert House, the 1888 Palm House, the Mediterranean House, the Orchid Room, and the Tropical House) as well as 1.5 acres of outdoor gardens featuring 35 flowerbeds. This Baltimore botanic garden also hosts special events such as art exhibits and musical presentations, a Spring Flower Show, a Fall Chrysanthemum Display, a Holiday Poinsettia Display, and "Plants and People" Sundays featuring family-friendly events such as plant clinics, gardening workshops, children's story hours, and science demonstrations.

How to Get to HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore:

The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore is located at 3100 Swan Drive within Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Enter the park from Gwynns Falls Parkway, make an immediate right turn and the Conservatory is on the left. This Baltimore botanic garden is easily accessible from the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83).

Hours of Operation for HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore:

The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round from 10am to 4pm.

Admission Costs for HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore:

Admission to this Baltimore botanic garden is free. Additional fees may apply for some special events at HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore.

HPR Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore Contact Information:

For more information on this Baltimore area botanic garden, call 410-396-0008. Click here to view the website for the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore.