West Virginia Gardens

 Bissonnette Gardens (formerly Waddington Gardens) and Cascading Waters: Oglebay Resort, Route 88 North, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304)243-4000 or (800)624-6988.

Sixteen acres of gardens include a formal garden, an herb garden, a floral clock, terrace gardens, a pergola, fountains, and seasonal floral displays.

 Brooks Memorial Arboretum: Watoga State Park, Star Route 1, Box 252, Marlinton, WV 24954 (304)799-4087 or (800)CALL WVA.

This state park, formerly a CCC camp, features an arboretum dedicated to plants native to the area.

 C. Fred Edwards Conservatory and Herb Gardens: Huntington Museum of Art, 2033 McCoy Road, Huntington, WV 25701 (304)529-2701.

This conservatory, the only one in West Virginia, features tropical plants and seasonal floral displays. Two herb gardens, one a knot garden and one an educational bed with culinary and medicinal herbs, also grace the grounds.

 Core Arboretum: Next to WVU Coliseum, P.O. Box 6045, Morgantown , WV 26506 (304)293-5201 x2547.

This 53 acre arboretum, a facility of West Virginia University, showcases labeled native and exotic trees with over 300 kinds of woody plants and over 300 species of herbaceous plants. Forest communities include Monongahela River floodplain forest (dominated by silver maples), mixed hardwood forest, and steep hillside forest towering oaks.

 Joan Stifel Corson Butterfly and Wildflower Gardens: Henry Stifel Schrader Environmental Education Center (formerly the A. B. Brooks Environmental Education Center), Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304)242-6855.

These gardens, delicious to both people and butterflies, include Butterfly Habitat Beds, a Wildflower Meadow Garden and a Backyard Butterfly Garden Demonstration Area. Over 130 species of butterflies visit.

 Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center: 1330 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304)242-7700 (888)696-4283.

Formerly the mansion of a major Wheeling industrial family, the art center includes two galleries and formal gardens.

 Prabhupada's Palace of Gold: Rd 1 NBU# 24, Moundsville, WV 26041 (304) 843-1812.

This fantastic structure of marble, stained glass, teakwood, silver and gold leaf, a work of devotion to Lord Krishna, is surrounded by fantastic gardens. Two levels of terraces with mountain vistas showcase flower gardens and are bordered by waterways with more than a hundred ornate fountains. Lotuses and water lilies fill the waterways, complementing the flower motifs carved in stone. The Garden of Time displays seasonal flowers and a large collection of roses surrounding a central fountain.

 Prestwould Bed and Breakfast: 255 Piney Flats Road, Flat Top, WV 25841 (304)787-4607.

This secluded Georgian country estate offers Appalachian views and over an acre of English style gardens featuring allees, boxwood parterre, borders, arbors, old roses, ornamental shrubs and trees, native wildflowers, ponds, classical statuary and more.

 Ritter Park Rose Garden: (Click on "Ritter Park".) Ritter Park, 1500 McCoy Road, Huntington, WV 25728 (304)696-5954.

This 70 acre multi-facility public park includes an All America Rose Selections public garden.

 Sunrise Museum: 746 Myrtle Road, Charleston , WV 25314 (304)344-8035.

This science and art museum, housed in two historic homes, features 16 acres of gardens, trails and wooded hillside.