- Open year round 7 days a week
- Closed for major holidays and Austin City Limits Festival
- Zilker Botanical Garden tickets are required for entry
- Tickets can be purchased online or at entry
- Themed areas include Japanese garden, rose garden and dinosaur garden
- 2220 Barton Springs Road
- (512) 477-8672
- zilkergarden.org
Zilker Botanical Garden is a 28-acre site that opened in 1955. It includes several themed areas, such as a Japanese garden, a rose garden, and a butterfly trail. The garden also has over 100 types of native and exotic plants, as well as various birds and animals. This garden is a great place to visit and learn about different plant species and observe wildlife.
Zilker Botanical Garden tickets are required for entry. Tickets can be purchased online, and are also available at the garden’s entrance. The garden is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, and offers a range of special events and programs throughout the year. Hours may vary seasonally. The garden is closed for major holidays and the ACL Fest.
The garden also offers a variety of educational programs, including guided tours, workshops, and classes. In addition, the botanical garden hosts special events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and holiday events. Zilker Botanical is managed by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, and it is supported by donations from the community and by the Austin Civic Garden Center.
Besides its beautiful plants and flowers, Zilker Botanical Garden also offers a range of amenities, including picnic areas, restrooms, and a gift shop. Zilker Botanical Garden does not have a cafe, though there is a coffee truck on site.
One of the popular areas at Zilker Botanical Garden is the Japanese garden. It has a bamboo teahouse, a rustic wooden bridge called a “Bridge to Walk Over the Moon,” and streams and ponds filled with koi fish.
Isamu Taniguchi created the Japanese garden at Zilker Botanical Garden. He was born in Japan in 1897 and moved to California with his family. They became tenant farmers. Taniguchi was arrested and put in a detention camp during World War II because he was born in Japan. This affected his life, his family’s lives, and his livelihood.
After Isamu Taniguchi was released from detention at the end of WWII, he moved his family to the Rio Grande Valley to continue farming. In the 1960’s, he retired in Austin where his son Alan had become an architect and eventually dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture.
The elder Taniguchi built the Japanese Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden by hand as a symbol of peace. He constructed the paths, ponds, waterfalls, and streams in 18 months and gave the garden as a gift to Austin in 1969. The garden opened to the public that year.
The Japanese Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden is a place for relaxation and contemplation. Visitors are encouraged to take their time and enjoy the sights and sounds of the garden. It features plants and trees, stone lanterns, stone pathways, and stone water basins, which are common in traditional Japanese gardens.
Another popular area at Zilker Botanical Gardens is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. This unique area showcases plants and animals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (145 million to 65 million years ago). It features plants that are thought to have been similar to those that lived during this time, as well as sculptures and displays of animals that roamed the region. This garden is a great place to learn about plants and animals from the past.
For many visitors, the Rose Garden is a favorite spot at Zilker Botanical Garden. The rose garden is a beautiful and fragrant area. It features a variety of roses in different colors and types, especially in the Spring and early Summer. The garden has over 500 rose plants, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, and miniature roses. The roses are carefully tended and pruned, and they are known for their abundant blooms and beautiful fragrances.
The Rose Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden has other plants and flowers in addition to roses. It also has benches and seating areas where visitors can sit and enjoy the sights and smells of the garden. The garden is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and other special events. It is a great place to sit and enjoy the beauty of the roses.
Whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a peaceful and relaxing place to spend the day, Zilker Botanical Garden is a great place to visit. Zilker Botanical Garden tickets are well worth the cost of entry.