Gardens & Nature

Battle Park

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Country Club Rd (near Battle Ln)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375

Directions

phone (919) 962-0522

Open daily, dawn to dusk.

A 93-acre wooded park with pedestrian trail system and small picnic areas adjacent to the Forest Theatre. Named for University President Kemp Plummer Battle, who cleared paths and built benches here in the late 1800s. The North Carolina Botanical Garden cares for the park and has been working to restore trails, bridges and the natural forest system.

Coker Arboretum

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East Cameron Ave at Raleigh St
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375

Directions

phone (919) 962-0522

Open daily, dawn to dusk.

This five-acre garden was created on the UNC campus in 1903. It contains more than 500 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Two prominent features are the 300-ft. native-vine arbor and a recently installed stream cascade.

Maple View Agricultural Center

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3111 Dairyland Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 942-6122

Open Monday to Friday for school groups by appointment. Open weekends only for public starting May 1.

This 5,800-sq.ft. center has both classroom space and outdoor-based educational components, but it isn’t just for school children. It has four classrooms with different themes, including plants, crops and nutrition; soil science; animals; and insects, weather, life cycles, compost and more. On 23 acres outside are a vegetable garden, a North Carolina garden, which includes peanuts, tobacco, cotton and sweet potatoes. The center is available for school groups, curious visitors, birthday party rentals and local civic groups who need a large meeting room. In addition, the new Agricultural Center offers a full-service kitchen.

Montrose Gardens

320 St. Mary's Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 732-7787

Open by appointment Tue. & Thu., 10am; Sat., 10am or 2pm.

Nationally known gardens begun in the 19th century by Gov. and Mrs. William Alexander Graham features large garden, specimen trees, rock garden, woods garden, scree, sunny perennial borders. Several 19th century buildings and architectural items remain. Guided tours. Per person, $10.

Multiflora Greenhouses

1623 New Sharon Church Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 732-3630

Open Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm; Sat, in-season only (call first).

One of the largest commercial flower, plant and vegetable greenhouses in North Carolina. Its state-of-the-art, automated greenhouses with heated concrete floors and computerized climate-controlled systems take up five acres, comparable to more than eight football fields.

Niche Gardens

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1111 Dawson Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Directions

phone (919) 967-0078

Open Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm; Sun. hours are seasonal (please call ahead).

A quiet, delightful nursery and garden where you can learn about wildflowers, perennials, shrubs, vines, grasses, gardening for butterflies and wildlife, and see unique garden art. Guided tours Sat., 10am (spring and fall). Picnics, garden club visits and bus tours welcomed. Parking. Picnic tables and benches.

North Carolina Botanical Garden

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Old Mason Farm Rd (off US Highway 15-501)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375

Directions

phone (919) 962-0522

Open year-round Mon.-Fri., 8am-5pm; Sat., 9am-5pm; Sun., 1-5pm; and Apr.-Oct., one hour later on weekends.

The largest natural botanical garden in the southeast, consisting of nearly 800 acres of preserved land with nature trails, carnivorous plant collections, aquatics and herb gardens. Also offers revolving exhibits of paintings, quilts and other media, plus sculpture in various sections of the botanical collection. Free guided tours of the display gardens every Sat (Mar-Nov), 10am. Parking. In 2008, the garden began construction of a new “green” Visitors Center to include an auditorium, classrooms and gift shop.