- Austin Botanical Garden Located Close to Nature Center and Barton Springs
- Rose Garden Has Been Backdrop For Special Moments Since 1950’s
- Isamu Taniguchi Created Japanese Garden As Symbol of Peace
- Plants From Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods In Prehistoric Garden
- Peaceful Setting Overlooking Downtown Austin
- Website Link
- 2220 Barton Springs Road
- (512) 477-8672
- 3 Miles from Downtown Austin
Austin Botanical Garden Located Close to Nature Center and Barton Springs
The Austin Botanical Garden is located in the Zilker Metropolitan Park close to other Austin attractions like Barton Springs and the Austin Nature & Science Center. Hundreds of native and exotic plants are displayed throughout the Garden’s 28 acres.
Zilker Botanical Garden Austin is open 7 days a week except for holidays and some special events in Zilker Park like Austin City Limits Festival. Tickets for the Austin Botanical Garden can be purchased online or at the entrance. The entrance is off Barton Springs Road and usually there is plenty of parking in the parking lot. Additional parking is off Stratford Drive. You pay or show your online ticket at the admission kiosk in the parking lot.
Restrooms and information like maps are available at the Garden Center adjacent to the parking lot. There are a lot of stairs going up and down over a large area and wheelchair access is limited at Zilker Botanical Garden Austin.
Besides beautiful plants and flowers, Zilker Botanical Garden Austin also has picnic areas, restrooms, and a gift shop. The Garden does not have a cafe, but there is a coffee truck on site. Austin can be hot, especially in the summer months, so be sure to bring your water bottle!
Zilker Rose Garden Has Been Austin Favorite For Special Occasion Photography Since 1950s
If you are looking for a special spot for a photo unique to Austin, the keyhole Butler Arch in the Rose Garden has been the classic Austin backdrop for engagement and other special occasion photos for over 50 years. The arch was originally part of an Austin mansion built in 1887 and was donated to the City of Austin in 1971 when the mansion was demolished.
The Zilker Rose Garden has over 500 rose bushes of all kinds. Besides photography, the garden is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and other special events. Professional photography in the Austin botanical garden requires a photo session pass for $50 that includes two admission tickets.
Taniguchi Japanese Garden Created As Symbol of Peace
One of the most interesting features at the Austin Botanical Garden is the Japanese Garden built as a gift to Austin in 1969 by Isamu Taniguchi. Taniguchi was a Japanese immigrant to the United States who was interred in a concentration camp in California during World War II.
After being a farmer for most of his life, Tanichuci retired to Austin where his son Alan was dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture. At the age of 70, Isamu Taniguchi transformed three acres of rocky hillside over 18 months at no cost to the City of Austin into paths, ponds and waterfalls.
Despite his imprisonment during World War II, Isamu Taniguchi felt that America had given his family tremendous opportunities. He built the garden not only as a symbol of peace, but as a thank you to the University of Texas and the City of Austin for the success of his son, Alan.
The Japanese Garden at Austin Botanical Garden has all the elements of traditional Japanese gardens including a bamboo tea house, a rustic wooden bridge called a “Bridge to Walk Over the Moon,” stone lanterns, stone water basins and streams and ponds filled with koi fish. The bridge in the Japanese Garden is another favorite place in Austin for special photos.
Plants From Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods In Prehistoric Garden
The Hartman Prehistoric Garden is a great place for young scientists or anyone interested in dinosaurs to learn about plants and animals from the past. This unique area showcases plants and animals similar to those that lived in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (145 million to 65 million years ago). This part of the Austin botanical garden also has sculptures and displays of animals that lived in the Austin area during prehistoric times.
Serene Setting Overlooking Downtown Austin
With koi ponds and trails in themed gardens to explore, Zilker Botanical Garden Austin is a great way to spend a few hours whether you are looking for a peaceful spot to take a break, need a great backdrop for photos or just love plants. The butterfly and hummingbird gardens are full of insects and birds in the spring and usually through most of the year. There are several scenic overlooks from the garden where you can get a beautiful view of downtown Austin that you can’t see anywhere else.
The Garden also offers a variety of educational programs, including guided tours, workshops, and classes. It is also worth following the Austin Botanical Garden on social media for notices on special events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and holiday events.