Smith-Gilbert Gardens — Attraction in Kennesaw

I found a Groupon, so I decided to take a date day there with my husband. It was a perfect midweek date day.

The staff was very friendly and the history of the property and home was neat to hear.

They have a quaint little gift shop with lots of fun kid gifts and jewelry. I bought some sweet Luna moth stickers that were fairly priced.

In addition there is a room filled local artists work. The gift shop also has stock of cold drinks and they sell King of Pops there to help cool you off on a cold day.

The Bonsai garden is pretty amazing and learning a little about them was really neat. The butterfly garden opens July 1st so we missed that but saw some of them fluttering around. The art throughout the garden wasn't really our thing but there were a few that we loved.

My favorite feature was the running water features and the the fluttering, bumbling, flying, and swimming friends that live in the garden and in the area. (Aka, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, birds, turtles, and the biggest koi I've ever seen.)

There are many shaded sitting areas amongst the intermingled twisting trails that come alongside the vast types of plant life and water features that gave sweet moments to sit in God's beautiful creation.

I wish I could have a few of these features in my own backyard. It was very peaceful and though it isn't the best garden life and colors I had hoped for it was a fun experience and I'm glad we finally experienced it.

If I could guarantee the peacefulness of today each time I visited them I might consider a membership just to sit and read near the tricking water and beautiful outdoors right around the corner from my house. However for my husband who also loves nature, probably more than me, this was a one and done experience for him. It was enjoyable but nothing to interest him in a return trip.

I will say there were a handful of times I found myself asking if some of the plants were wilting or scorched from the heat. Seemed like they maybe needed some attention.

Overall, I think you definitely should experience it at least...

Did not accept our garden membership. This garden is supposed to participate in the RAP program for garden members, however they DO NOT. When we joined the Atlanta Botanical gardens we got a list of other gardens the membership would be good at as well and this garden was listed, however when we got there the lady made up a rule and said they don't accept the membership because our 'home' garden is too close. Yet, in the list we were given after getting our membership the only rule it has about other gardens accepting the pass is the 90 mile exclusion rule that some gardens enforce (and each garden on the list states if they enforce this rule or not). On the list it clearly states that this garden enforces the 90 mile exclusion which means if your home garden is over 90 miles away they don't accept the pass according to the information we got when joining. So this garden doesn't accept memberships if the home garden is too close (according to the lady there within 60 miles) or too far apparenty (according to the actual membership information we received with our pass further than 90 miles away).. We never heard of the too close 'rule' from any other garden but this one. She just wanted our money when we already paid for the pass. They should not be allowed to be listed on the RAP list if they don't participate. That was the only reason we made the drive and visit. Not worth it and very...

Me, my fiance and two others went here yesterday to get some good engagement photos. The photographer brought his girlfriend, so in total we spent $60 on entry tickets. It was difficult getting a good spot for photos because there were flowers in only two spots. Most of the property is brown and dead and the butterfly exhibit had no butterflies. Plus, we were harassed at every turn by staff because they said someone called on the phone asking about getting married there. Since we were dressed up, they assumed it was us. They were quite belligerent. The one following close behind us in a golf cart everywhere that we went said, "If I hear a single 'I do," we will remove you from the property immediately and you will not be allowed to return." It was beyond aggravating. We do not recommend this establishment! The African-American girl was very pleasant, but the other three, caucasian ladies were...