Austin, TX

Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin

Address: 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78746 - MAP
Phone: (512) 477-8672
Web: www.zilkergarden.org

Located on 31 acres in the heart of downtown Austin, the Zilker Botanical Garden is often called "the jewel in the heart of Austin." The garden was established in 1995 and greets more than 400,000 visitors per year.

As the centerpiece of Zilker Park, the Zilker Botanical Garden takes advantage of its location on the banks of the Colorado River. Its beauty lies in the interconnected flow of featured gardens, natural grottoes, streams and waterfalls.

Themes among the gardens are as varied as nature itself. There's a Japanese garden and koi pond, a rose garden, herb garden, butterfly trail and garden, and a cactus garden among the selections to tour. Another unique feature is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which recreates the habitat of local dinosaurs.

Visitors can tour the gardens for free and take home a Texas succulent or majestic orchid, among the many offerings. In the spring, the Zilker Botanical Garden holds its annual garden festival.