A Wichita spring destination was named among the 10 best gardens in the US
Just in time for spring, USA Today released its picks for the 10 best botanical gardens, and Wichita’s Botanica made the list yet again, walking away with the sixth-place recognition.
A panel of experts nominated U.S. botanical gardens for the ranking, and then USA Today opened the voting to readers. This is the third year in a row Botanica made the list. It was previously named ninth best in 2024 and fifth best in 2023.
“Botanica features diverse and meticulously curated gardens, including themed offerings like the Butterfly Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Jessie Wooldridge Brosius Rose Garden, and the Chinese Garden of Friendship,” USA Today’s March 18 article reads.
The garden, located at 701 N. Amidon St., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In autumn, it boasts of more than 5,500 chrysanthemums, as well as trees and shrubs full of fall color. In the winter, visitors can see 12,000 pansies in bloom along with berried hollies, witch hazel and red-twig dogwood.
“A huge THANK YOU to everyone who voted and showed their love for our gardens — this wouldn’t be possible without you!” Botanica’s Facebook post announcing the recognition read.
General admission to the gardens is $12 for adults and $10 for children, seniors and military members. Anyone 2 years old and younger can enter for free. Membership prices vary from $55 to $1,000 and can be purchased online.
“For anyone seeking relaxation, Botanica offers a tranquil outdoor experience with many pathways, ponds, and landscaped areas to explore,” the USA Today article continues.
In just a few weeks, Botanica will host its tulip festival, Tulipfest. Visitors can see more than 50,000 bulbs in bloom while enjoying live entertainment and food trucks. The festival is held Friday, March 27 through Sunday, April 26 and costs $15 for nonmembers and $12 for members. Children ages 2 to 12 can get in for $12.
USA Today’s 10 best botanical gardens
Here are the 10 best botanical gardens in the U.S., from USAToday:
No. 1 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio
No. 2 Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.
No. 3 Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Neb.
No. 4 Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Mo.
No. 5 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Mich.
No. 6 Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
No. 7 Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine
No. 8 Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, Calif.
No. 9 Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville, Tenn.
No. 10 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Fla.
