North Carolina Botanical Garden — Attraction in Chapel Hill

My children and I love visiting the garden and they've taken camps there which they really liked. We used to meet up there with friends for playdates when they were little and play in the creek. My oldest loves to watch the birds in the viewing area and my youngest likes to visit the carnivorous plants. We have a Venus flytrap license plate, like to support the garden and I just completed a certificate in Native Plant Studies. I started it over a decade ago, took a hiatus and came back to it a few years ago and was continually frustrated in communication with the registar since my return to the program. I've seen an instructor frustrated by his lack of communication as well. It took forever to get the requirements for the advanced NPS because there's a dearth of instructors so therefore a huge demand for each course and you generally have to sit at your computer at the very moment it comes live to grab a space (& that's if you've been given warning or figured out when this time will be). I recommend just taking the classes you want and can get into easily and doing either the regular certificate or not doing the certification. I believe your experience should be enjoyable however you decide to interact with this beautiful space. I really liked Plant Communities of NC with Alan Weakley and the seasonal flora classes with Milo the most. Most of the staff are wonderful and responsive and all in all I enjoyed the time I...

There are two sections: the more formal gardens and the nature trails. The nature trails are the dog friendly area, the formal gardens do not allow dogs. I would recommend preparing for the nature trails like you would for any hike. They are wooded, lots of steps, and require bug spray.

The more formal gardens also require bug spray but are more accessible and walkable, especially by elderly people and those with mobility issues.

There are a variety of garden "types" which were very interesting and I appreciated the emphasis on native (Carolina) plants and the indigenous incorporation into the exhibit and landscapes. The center is clearly very knowledgeable and runs a lot of classes which I am looking forward to looking into.

The reason I gave a three-star rating is because the gardens have been clearly affected by budget cuts and it is showing, particularly in the signage. For example, three times we thought we had passed the poison garden but had not in fact reached it. Some of the signs were in bad states of disrepair to the point of being unreadable. Several times in walking we had questions about a plant and there was no way to get more information. The whole place also felt...

I live in Chapel Hill North Carolina and the botanical gardens is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours. Frequently, in addition to the plants, one can enjoy an exhibit of sculptures that have been placed around the area.. The collection of carnivorous plants native to North Carolina is magnificent. Although presently closed due to the pandemic, one can usually enjoy a game of chess using the available large metal pieces and a board that you walk on. The gardens are arranged in a more or less academic matter. There are plantings that are typical of the various natural environments of North Carolina. Also of interest are the sections that contain plants of industrial or agricultural interest. The section of poisonous plants and the one categorizing flowering plants botanically are very enjoyable. There are a number of buildings , now closed due to Covid-19, that contain a gift shop, library, art exhibits and, usually, plants for sale. Interesting lectures and courses are also frequently offered.

It is a great place to visit and,, perhaps,, have a picnic...