A Garden all Gardeners Love
Located just 12-miles south of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina is a place gardeners love. It’s the Juniper Level Botanic Garden.
This spectacular 28-acre garden is currently open to the public 8 weekends per year. Incidentally, we just happened to be visiting friends in Raleigh on one of those weekends.
When they asked if I wanted to go, the answer was a resounding “yes!”
Sign on Sauls Road at Garden entrance.
Location:
9249 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
Contact:
(919) 772-4794
Hours:
Open to public 8 weekends per year. Check website for dates.
Fee: Free
Website:
JLBG.org
Click to download map
Meandering pathways entice visitors to see all corners of the garden.
What Makes Juniper Level Botanic Garden Unique?
First, Juniper Level Botanic Garden (JLBG for short) is a not-for-profit. It is an educational and research garden as well as a stunning display of rare perennial plants.
Second, JLBG is a conservation and development facility. Here, they not only grow and show plants, they cultivate new varieties.
Just a few of the many, many unique plants we encountered.
Third, their “aim is to be the most unique botanic garden in the world.” Over the years, the owners took more than 80 trips searching for new plants.
Fourth, during its 30-year history, the garden grew from 2.2 to more than 28-acres. Their large plant inventory numbers over 28,000 "taxa" or plant species.
The elephant ears are HUGE!
Even Non-Gardeners Love What They See
I am a gardener, both as a part-time professional and hobbyist. Seeing beautiful gardens, like Juniper Level Botanic Garden, is a trip highlight for me.
But you don’t have to be a gardener to enjoy a visit to JLBG. All you need is loving nature’s sights and sounds. Love water features? They’ve got them. Love nature hikes? There are miles of paths. Love looking at flowers? Yep, they’ve got plenty to see—and more, like the following:
Shade Garden Gazebo
Shade Garden Gazebo
Meandering paths crisscross the garden, both passing by or leading to places to sit and relax.
One wide path goes by a wooden gazebo with a swing hanging from the rafters. It had a steady stream of visitors during the time we were there.
Finding a Little Humor
Throughout the garden, you’ll see little spots of humor. They come in form of everyday objects like a pipe, bathroom sink, and mailbox.
The rusty mailbox standing on its end, simply titled “It’s a Mail Thing” made me chuckle the most. Be on the lookout during your visit for other funny little items.
Plus, look for the many pieces of artwork placed on pedestals. You will find them in unusual places throughout the garden
"It's a Mail Thing"
Grotto Waterfall
Grotto Waterfall
One of the favorite garden spots is the Grotto Waterfall. So, just what is a grotto?
Generally speaking, a “grotto” is a natural or artificial cave behind a large, rock waterfall.
The grotto garden, using hand dug excavation, began in 1989. Finished in 1994-95, the grotto waterfall and walkways make this area a #1 selfie spot.
Shade Garden Pond
Gardeners, and non-gardeners alike, love the sound of softly, trickling water, especially when it includes a small pond.
This area was probably my 2nd favorite after the Grotto Waterfall. It is stunning. I stood there quite a while taking in the woodsy view.
Shade Garden Pond
Arched oak crosses the path.
Short Visit or Long, It’s up to You
Most visitors average around 45-minutes when visiting JLBG. We were there a couple of hours, taking photos, reading signs, and enjoying the beauty. However, your visit can be as long or short as you like.
Check out their “Visitor Classification List.” It gives approximate time needed depending on your interest level. (FYI, the list will make you chuckle a bit.)
Thousands of plant varieties to see as you walk through the garden.
Not Just a Great Place to See Flowers
Juniper Level Botanic Garden is more than a great place to see flowers, butterflies, and waterfalls. It’s a unique place to relax, meditate, and learn—all at the same time.
The photos we have shown and story we have told just barely scratch the surface of what you will see at JLBG. There is so much more!
Put their open days on your calendar and plan a trip. It’s definitely worth it—gardener or not.
Juniper Level Botanic Garden has numerous places to relax and reflect during your visit.
About the Owners
Tony Avent is the man behind the vision for both Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery.
He graduated in 1978 from North Carolina State University with a horticulture degree. In 1986, Tony purchased a couple of abandoned acres south of Raleigh. The flat area in rural Juniper, NC was perfect for his planned garden design.
Tony has an extensive list of credits to his name. He is a lecturer, author, columnist, and editor. Appearing numerous times on HGTV (and other shows), he is an award-winning and well-known gardening expert.
In 2016, the Avents gifted the 28-acre property to NCSU, dependent on a funded operational endowment. (Endowment information HERE.)
Plant Delights Nursery
On the same property, gardeners find one of the country’s largest retail outlets for perennials. Plant Delights Nursery has hard-to-find and exotic plants for sale in the on-site greenhouses. They grow more than 1,600 different perennial varieties.
In addition to on-site sales, the nursery has an extensive plant catalog for online sales. Plant Delights ships over 100,000 plants each year. The nursery’s plant sales provide operational funding for the Botanic Garden.
Wanting more ideas on relaxing, playing or learning?
Check out our "Things to Do" page for other Worthy Detour stops.
