Located just an hour north of Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens opened to the public a few years ago. However, not everything is newly planted. Jim Gibbs, founder of well-known Gibbs Landscaping, spent over 30 years creating these gardens on his 300-acre property.

We arrived during the early part of November to see the fall colors. Volunteers directed us to a parking spot and we entered the welcome center and gift shop. Presenting the tickets we bought online, another volunteer gave us a map and told us to head to the Japanese gardens. During the walk, we passed the Waterlily Gardens and Monet Bridge.

Japanese Gardens

One of the largest Japanese Gardens in the United States, this “Tsukiyama” or hill garden spans 40 acres.

At the end of the path, we found the entrance to the Japanese Gardens. Various ferns, shrubs and trees lined the pathways around a sunken pond.

While the cherry blossoms are the highlight in the early spring, it’s the 200-plus varieties of Japanese Maples that steal the show during Autumn.

The red/orange color was so bright it was as if someone was shining a huge light on them. Interspersed with other trees that yielded yellow and green leaves, our eyes feasted on the vibrant colors.

The Manor House & Gardens

As if that weren’t enough, we looked on the other side of the map and realized there was another entire section to the estate. We meandered along the slightly uphill path to the Manor House & Gardens. Roses planted on four curved terraces greeted us. Further up the hill,  a European-style manor house served as the backdrop.

Around the side of the house, we walked to the Guest House and Pool Gardens. My understanding is that the manor house is the current home of the Gibbs family. It was so nice that they let visitors wander around the grounds. From the main house, chairs beckoned visitors to enjoy the view to the valley below.

On the way back to the entrance, we walked among numerous hydrangeas. Every once in a while, a lone blue flower still stood among the bushes. This was the Rhododendron and Hydrangea Gardens which must be amazing during its blooming season. Another popular time to visit is during the Daffodil Festival in early spring.

We stopped to admire the Fall leaves once more before heading to the cafe for refreshments and heading home. You could come here once a month and see something different in bloom. For more information about Gibbs Gardens, click here.