Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City
by Noelle on 09/25/08 at 11:59 pm
If you’re looking for a relaxing and peaceful way to spend an afternoon, I suggest Red Butte Garden, in the foothills above Salt Lake City. Located on the University of Utah campus, Red Butte is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West, with a focus on regional horticulture. It covers more than 150 acres, featuring 18 acres of gardens, plus walking paths, hiking trails, ponds, and a children’s garden. Throughout the year there are a variety of concerts, educational programs, family nights, art and horticultural exhibits, plant sales, and more.
It’s been a little while, actually, since we were there, but it has been stamped indelibly in my memory as one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited in a long time. When we visited there was a life-size dinosaur sculpture exhibit throughout the gardens, which has since been taken down. Some of the my favorites of the featured gardens are the Fragrance Garden, Medicinal Garden, Four Seasons Garden, Rose Garden, Courtyard Garden, Terrace Garden, and Waterfall Display Garden. My daughter had fun in the Children’s Garden, but she loves water, so she spent a lot of time splashing her hands in the fountains, and feeding the fish (with pellets we purchased there) in the Koi pond.
We packed a lunch and stopped to relax at a round, wooden picnic table nestled under the trees along the main walking path. It’s easy to get lost in the moment here, a place where you just want to stretch out with a good book, birdwatch, paint, or simply take your time slowly strolling amongst flowers in full bloom or beneath the spectacular display of fall colors. Relax, take your time–it’s worth it! A sense of peace just seems to come over you here.
In my opinion, Red Butte Garden is simply unbeatable for quality family time or a romantic date. It’s also a great place to bring visitors, and show off the spectacular vistas and city views. Don’t forget your camera!
Red Butte Garden is open year-round. Some upcoming fall 2008 events include: the Native Bulb and Plant Sale, September 26-27; the Bonsai Show, September 26-28; and the Storybook Garden After Dark, October 16-30.
Check the Red Butte Garden website for event details, hours, directions, and memberships: http://www.redbuttegarden.org/
Admission:
Adults (18-64): $6
Seniors (65+): $4
Children (3-17): $4
Children under 3: Free
Gorgeous pictures and very well written. I have been putting off going but now that it’s fall, I have go see this beautiful place.
[...] Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City : If you’re looking for a relaxing and peaceful way to spend an afternoon, I suggest Red Butte Garden, in the foothills above Salt Lake City. Located on the University of Utah campus, Red Butte is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West, with a focus on regional horticulture. It covers more than 150 acres, featuring 18 acres of gardens, plus walking paths, hiking trails, ponds, and a children’s garden. [...]