Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, traveling and vacations have pretty much halted for us… Sad, we know. But, there have been a lot of local trails, parks (local and national), and outdoor activities that are still open. So, we have begun venturing out locally to see our local outdoor sites, while maintaining social distancing policies, of course. For our latest outing, we spent a few hours at Gibbs Garden in Ball Ground, Georgia.
Social Distancing is heavily enforced at Gibbs, and tickets at this time are only purchased online. A QR bar code is sent directly to your email upon purchase, which you can print or pull up on your phone. To reduce human contact, you are able to scan the bar code under the scanner for entry. Maps are available for pick-up if preferred.
Make sure to check the weather forecast so you know what to wear and pull out those comfy shoes. The grounds of this breath taking natural treasure is quite extensive. Be prepared for a three hour walk to see all sections of the gardens.
Gibbs Gardens is a beautifully landscaped, oasis sectioned off perfectly for your viewing pleasures. The entire area is categorized into two garden sections: The Manor House Gardens and the Valley Gardens. The Manor House section includes Azalea, Rhododendron, Daffodil, Hydrangea and the Woodland Shade Gardens. Located in this section is also the Rose Arbor and Nature Canopy Walk. The Valley Gardens section hosts The Fern Dell, The Pleasance and Daylily Gardens, the Grandchildren’s Sculpture Gardens, Rose Gardens, Japanese Gardens, and Monet Waterlily Gardens. It will take about 1.5 hours to complete each section.
We started our walk gazing at the alluring water lily ponds in the Monet Waterlily Gardens.
The gazebos and charming bridges provided much needed shade as we mapped out our next destination.
Next, we decided to make our way to the Manor House with stops in the many gardens along the way. We were allured by the beautiful hydrangeas we saw at the beginning of our journey.
These Azaleas were just as gorgeous and so vibrant.
The awe inspiring Cabana/Pool area near the Manor House was a great place to take a break before tackling the second half of our journey. This is the back yard of all our dreams. The serenity that it exuded just wrapped you up and didn’t want to let go. Or maybe we didn’t want to let go – it was so peaceful.
The Manor House did not disappoint either. It was grand and beautifully decorated, plus it had a bathroom. Hey, after walking for over an hour and continuously hydrating because of the high heat and humidity you’re so happy to empty that bladder and get some A/C.
Another stunning area was the Rose Arbor and Natural Canopy Walk
For the Valley Gardens section, these amazing water features found in the Pleasance and Daylily Gardens are on our list of must sees for your trip to Gibb’s.
DeeDee couldn’t wait to enter through the Torii gate to see the Japanese Gardens. With it’s 50+ year old bonsai plants, expansive Japanese Maples and stunning sculptures. It definitely was a sight to behold.
Torii Gate
Walking through all of the gardens were magical. It oftentimes felt like we were walking through a simulation, everything felt so surreal. This was very true in the Japanese Garden. Check out the picture below to see what we mean.
One thing to note, at the time of our visit, the tram rides were temporarily suspended due to Covid-19. So, when you are planning where you will go in the garden, make sure you know the distance because a lot of walking is involved.
Overall, we all enjoyed our trip to Gibbs Garden very much. We are currently planning another trip for the Fall. I think that it will be extremely beautiful with the changing colors of the leaves. If you get a chance to visit, let us know what you think in the comments below.
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