University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville (must see)

The University of Tennessee Gardens (UT Gardens) is Tennessee's official State Botanical Garden. These public gardens offer a diverse range of native flora along picturesque pathways and verdant lawns. Visitors can explore the Children's Gardens, the Arboretum Walk, the Perennial Garden, the Annual Trials, the Wetlands, and many other attractions. Moreover, Knoxville's Neyland Greenway provides easy access to the Gardens from both UT Campus and Downtown.

In 2013, the Gardens were designated as the official botanical gardens of Tennessee. UT Gardens are open year-round and showcase around 4,000 plants, including annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, trees, shrubs, vegetables, and ornamental grasses.

UT Gardens also provide unparalleled opportunities for University students, faculty, and researchers to study these plants in the onsite greenhouse and laboratory facilities. The Gardens regularly host youth programs, summer camps, workshops, and special events.

As an outdoor laboratory, the UT Gardens provide a platform to evaluate the performance and landscaping potential of various plant species. The location's unique weather conditions also make it ideal for testing plants under extreme heat, humidity, and variable winters. Leading commercial seed and plant companies around the globe rely on UT Gardens for information on plants that eventually reach the commercial market.