UT Gardens Knoxville — Attraction in Knoxville

I don't want to be a complainer, but I was under whelmed by the gardens. The layout and paths are fantastic. I was very surprised to see "Quick Coupler" irrigation, versus in ground permanent sprinkler heads. Since each section is cared for on a Volunteer basis, some areas suffer, while others shine. The rose section was hardly pruned, lots dead heads needing to be cut. Cannas and hibiscus were the same, too many dead heads. Some areas had a better complimentary plants, while others were just lazily "block" planted in large groups. It just seemed like whatever "excess plants" the school greenhouse had, they just regurgitated into Block plantings.

I can't believe a school as prestigious and fancy as this, doesn't have in ground irrigation. Just bewildering.

The Childrens Garden was the best upkept area, and had the best plantings. The main entry had great plantings too.

I literally almost went to my car to dig out pruners to go dead head the whole rose garden. I knew I'd get flagged and yelled at, so I resisted. Don't Volunteer for an area you don't have time to care for.

Overall, it's a Free Garden that you can easily spend 30 minutes or more walking around. I saw too many wilting plants, made me sad. Almost grabbed a hose and started watering, then I remembered. "Hey, I'm...

A hidden gem on University of Tennessee’s campus, this moderately sized garden offers a nice spot to relax or take a short walk. Best experienced in summer when plants are in full bloom, there are a wide variety of plants to see some relatively rare. The gardens are divided into small sections. Plan to spend about an hour looking around or more if you want to really give an in depth look at the plants and information boards. Some highlights are the koi fish ponds with small waterfalls, the children’s play space and butterfly garden when in peak bloom. One thing to note is that Neyland Drive, a larger road encircles the property, detracting somewhat from the beauty and calmness of the space. There is also no entrance...

UT Gardens was the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony! The natural beauty of the gardens created such a peaceful and romantic atmosphere—lush greenery, blooming flowers, and a serene outdoor backdrop that felt like something out of a dream. It was absolutely stunning and made for some truly unforgettable photos.

Our guests couldn’t stop commenting on how beautiful the space was, and we loved that it felt both elegant and intimate. It’s such a special place to begin a new chapter, and we’re so glad we chose it for our big day.

If you're looking for a gorgeous outdoor venue that captures the charm of nature while still being close to the heart of Knoxville, UT Gardens is a...