Zilker Botanical Garden is a little piece of Zen in central Austin. I often stopped by in-between client appointments to take a meditative break in my favorite Austin botanical gardens. To have an escape from a busy metropolitan area within the inner city is rare.

Zilker is close to downtown but you wouldn’t know it once you step onto the grounds. It’s one of the best places to visit in Austin if you are into gardening.

Zilker Gardens are truly unique botanical gardens with features such as the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, Butler Window, Blacksmith Shop, and the Swedish log cabin. There’s also a children’s garden and butterfly trail.

 

 

Zilker Botanical Garden Austin

Especially when the flowers are blooming in the spring, summer, and fall Zilker Botanical Garden offers a Zen experience in the city of Austin. Find more fun things to do in Austin here.

LEARN MORE: Best Rooftop Bars in Austin Texas

 

 

Best time to visit Zilker Botanical Garden

Spring is my favorite time to visit Zilker Botanical Garden because I love to see the redbuds begin to bloom but there is beauty in every season. The setting is always serene with various gardens, water features, and historical features.

While you will find the most vibrant blooms in the spring with the redbud trees blooming great clusters of bright pink flowers, it is still a beautiful garden to visit anytime of the year. Zilker is peaceful and you will often see or hear the birds around Zilker gardens.

 

 

Zilker Botanical Garden map and basic info

Zilker Botanical Garden consists of 25 acres of land located just south of the Colorado River in central Austin.

The garden is part of Zilker Metropolitan Park – a 350 acre park in central Austin which is home to Barton Springs Pool, Lady Bird Lake, and hosts annual events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival and Zilker Kite Festival.

The garden is operated by The City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department and the Austin Area Garden Council.

Click here for your free printable map of Zilker Botanical Garden.

 

 

Andrew Jackson Zilker donated the land for Zilker Park in 1917 and it was developed into a park during the 1930’s. Zilker Botanical Garden has been around since the 1960’s with changes and improvements over the years.

 

Japanese Gardens at Zilker Botanical Gardens Austin

 

 

The Japanese Garden is my favorite at Zilker Botanical Garden – created by Isamu Taniguchi who was born in Osaka Japan but his family migrated to the US when he was a teenager.

 

 

Mr Taniguchi was 70 years old when he donated his time and expertise to create the Japanese Garden on 3 acres of land. The garden was built as a symbol of peace.

 

 

Dinosaurs at Zilker Botanical Garden

Yes really! Imagine my surprise when I spotted the dinosaur hanging out at the gardens in Zilker park?! What a cool idea!

When I go visit family in Calgary I get to day trip to Drumheller Badlands for lots of dinosaur stuff but I never knew about dinosaurs around the Austin Texas area.

But why are there dinosaurs at Zilker in Austin? After the discovery of dinosaur tracks on the grounds of Zilker Botanical Garden the Hartman Prehistoric Garden was born.

 

 

The plants in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden are representative of the type that would have been around during the Cretaceous Period.

The waterfall at Zilker is gorgeous! No wonder this spot is often used for outdoor weddings in Austin.

You can plan your wedding at Zilker Botanical Garden but be sure to plan ahead and make a reservation by calling 512-477-8672 ext. 10 or email David.Trevino@austintexas.gov.

The other great wedding venue in Austin is the place with peacocks – Mayfield Park.

 

 

I find a little piece of Zen among the many water features, flower gardens, and pathways of the Zilker Botanical Garden in central Austin. Plus dinosaur sightings!

 

 

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Zilker Botanical Garden visitor info

Address

2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin

Phone Number

+1-(512)-477-8672

Hours

Daily from 9 am – 6 pm (spring/summer) and 9 am – 8 pm on Thursdays in summer

Daily from 9 am – 5 pm (fall/winter)

Admission cost at Zilker Botanic Garden

$6 adults – Austin residents
$8 adults non-residents
FREE – children age 2 and under
$3 children (age 3 – 12) – Austin residents
$4 children (age 3 – 12) non-residents
$5 Seniors (over age 62) – Austin residents
$7 Seniors (over age 62) non-residents

Tours of Zilker Botanic Garden

Group tours are available. More information at Zilker Garden website.

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