Kansas Gardens

Bartlett Arboretum: Box 39, Highway 55, Belle Plaine, KS 67013 (316)488-3451.

This important 20 acre Arboretum was begun in 1910 and contains displays mature trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers, native and exotic, that tolerate the Kansas climate. An extensive formal garden includes courtyards, hedge-bordered beds, terraces, sunken areas and fountains.

Botanica,The Wichita Gardens: 701 N. Amidon, Wichita, KS 67203 (316)264-0448.

This wonderful botanical garden on the banks of the Arkansas River features a rainbow of fascinating gardens, including an Entrance Garden, a Wildflower Woodland, an Evaluation Garden, a Teaching Garden, an Entry Garden, a Wildflower Meadow, a Shakespearean Garden, a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, a Butterfly Garden, a Centennial Pavilion, a Pinetum, a Juniper Garden, a Rose Garden, a Rockery Garden, a Fountain Garden, an Aquatic Collection, a Peony Collection, a Three Season Perrenial Border, a Terrace Garden, a Woodland Walk, a Greenhouse, a Woodland Glade and a Butterfly House.

City Park Rose Garden: Poyntz Ave. and 11th Street, Manhattan, KS (913)587-2757.

Visit the "Little Apple" and, while you're there, enjoy the Rose Garden in City Park.

Deana Rose Children's Farmstead: 138th and Switzer Road, Overland Park, KS (913)897-2360.

While the children are amusing themselves, the parents can enjoy the seven acre park featuring an old-fashioned garden, a butterfly garden with a butterfly house, a vegetable patch, low-water maintenance flowers, herbs, ground covers, a shade garden and winding brick walkways.

Dyck Arboretum of the Plains : Hesston College, 177 West Hickory Street, P.O. Box 3000, Hesston, KS 67062 (620)327-8127.

The Arboretum exhibits special collections including trees, shrubs, and perennials native to Kansas or adaptable to Kansas, a Great Plains Wildflower Garden, Pinaceae (26 taxa), other Conifers (12 taxa) Viburnum (15 taxa) and Lilac (13 taxa).

International Forest of Friendship Trail: Route 59, Warnock Lake, P.O. Box 99AE, Atchison, KS 66002.

The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, established the Forest to honor and commemorate their first president, Amelia Earhart. Trees representing all 50 states and over 35 foreign countries in which Ninety-Nines reside are included in the forest. Memory Lane, a trail through the forest, is embedded with plaques honoring more than 700 men and women who have contributed to the history of aviation

Kansas Landscape Arboretum: Highway 82, Lake Milford, Wakefield, KS 67487 (785)461-5760.

This 193 acre Arboretum displays more than 1000 species of exotic and native woody plants and can be viewed by roads which connect tree collections or three nature trails for walking. Other features include a bird sanctuary and a pond oasis.

Kansas State University Gardens: Leasure, Manhattan, KS 66502 (785)532-6170.

The University Gardens include the Historic Conservatory, a Cottage Garden, a Daylily Garden, an Iris Garden and a Rose Garden.

Municipal Rose Garden: Huron Park, Kansas City, KS.

This living history museum with several historic buildings includes 2-1/2 acres of botanical gardens that can be viewed on a self-guided tour.

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden: 8909 W. 179th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212 (913)685-3604.

This 100 year old 300-acre park features woodlands, prairie and gardens. Of special interest is the Erickson Water Garden with four waterfalls, the Marder Woodland Garden, the Rotary Children´s Garden, the Prairie Medicine Garden, an old English-type maze with shrubs, and a bog area with over 100 natural plantings designed to attract birds and butterflies.

Reinisch Rose Garden and Doran Rock Garden: Gage Park, 4320 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604 (785)368-3838.

This All America Rose Selections accredited garden exhibits over 6,500 plants and 400 varieties. Adjacent is the Logan Test Garden, a reflecting pool and the Doran Rock Garden.

Sedgewick County Zoo: 5555 West Zoo Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67212-1698 (316)942-2213.

This 247 acre Zoo opened in 1971 and has been ranked among the best zoos in the world. Displaying over 2,000 animals of 436 species, its exhibits include the African Veldt, Apes and Man, the Asian Steppes, Boat Ride Islands, Children's Farms, a Herpetarium, the Jungle, the North American Prairie and the Pampas/Outback.

South Park: 1141 Massachusetts Street, P.O. Box 708, Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)832-7970 (Recreation Center) (785)832-3450 (Parks Dept.).

Topeka Zoological Park: Gage Park, 635 Gage Boulevard , Topeka, KS 66606 (785)638-9131. The Friends of the Topeka Zoo website.

Over 400 animals are houses in naturalist settings including the Tropical Rain Forest (a geodesic dome integrates live animals, live plants, habitat settings and climatic conditions), the Black Bear Woods (providing a complete home for the bears year round, The Lion's Pride (a large, natural exhibit) and Discovery Apes (an Indonesian tree house permits views of Bornean orangutans at treetop level, while a glass tunnel leads through "gorilla country", a simulated jungle clearing complete with live plants and a jungle stream).

Union Pacific Depot: Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 North 2nd Street, P.O. Box 708, Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)865-4499.