Gibbs Gardens - Japanese Maples in Full Fall Color

Gibbs Gardens in North Georgia is a beautiful set of landscaped gardens with flowers that bloom seasonally year round. Right now is their Fall Festival, and this particular weekend should see their Japanese Maples in full brilliant color, which only lasts for a couple of weeks each year. We will spend the morning enjoying their gardens and then grab lunch before heading back to Atlanta.

I plan to bring my camera and stop to take lots of photos, so this will not be a fast-paced walk. We will take our time and really enjoy the gardens. Everyone else is encouraged to bring their cameras as well! Our first stops will be the Japanese Gardens and Manor House, before the rest of the crowds arrive, then we will continue on to the other areas. After we have viewed most the gardens, we will grab lunch at the cafe before a last stroll around the ponds to view the water lillies, which should have opened by then.

I'm marking this as a D1 event but there will be plenty of walking involved because the grounds are quite extensive. Per their website, they have "220 acres of artistically landscaped gardens surrounded by majestic forest, spring-fed ponds, streams, waterfalls and bridge crossings. Sixteen garden venues include four feature gardens including the Daffodil Gardens; the Manor House Gardens, designed to offer color in spring, summer and fall, with lush terraces, waterfalls, sweeping lawns and woodland; the Monet Waterlily Gardens, featuring 140 varieties of waterlilies blooming from late spring through fall; the Japanese Gardens spanning more than 40 acres with spring- fed ponds, islands, bridges, boulders, rocks and 40 handcrafted Japanese lanterns. A large collection of Japanese maples provide brilliant colors in autumn."

Here is a link to their website with more information: http://www.gibbsgardens.com/

The gardens open at 9:00 am, so I plan to have us arrive as close to that as possible to try and stay ahead of the worst of the crowds. With the pretty fall weather and Japanese Maples, I'm sure there will be quite a few visitors over the course of the day. If you are not going to meet at the carpool, please plan to arrive at the garden entrance no later than 9:00 am.

Note: We must have at least 10 people to qualify for the lower group rate of $16 per person vs. the normal rate of $20. If too many people drop off the event, please be advised that the cost will increase accordingly and be prepared to pay the $20 fee. These prices do not include taxes, which will be additional.

FROM INTERSECTION OF I-75 AND I-285

• Go north on I-75 to I-575
• Exit onto I-575 and continue north to Exit 19A-B (Hwy 20 East).
• Exit 19A heading east toward Cumming.
• Proceed 8.3 miles to Hwy 369.
• Turn left onto Hwy 369 and go 2 miles to 4-way stop.
• Cross Hwy 372 and continue straight for 1.8 miles then turn left onto Yellow Creek Road.
  (See the Big Canoe sign and tree nursery on the right.)
• Continue on Yellow Creek Road 6.4 miles and turn right on Gibbs Drive GARDEN ENTRANCE.

FROM SR 400 AND I-285

• Go north on Hwy 400 for approximately 30 miles to Hwy 369.
• Turn left onto Hwy 369 heading west.
• Proceed approximately 12 miles and turn right on Yellow Creek Road. (See Big Canoe sign and tree nursery on left)
• Continue on Yellow Creek Road 6.4 miles and turn right

Although this is a paid event, you do not pay through the AOC. Instead, we will each pay individually for our tickets upon arrival at Gibbs Gardens that morning. 

Entrance to the gardens at the discounted group rate. This amount does not include taxes, which will be additional. Also, if we do not have at least 10 participants on the day in question, we will have to pay the full rate of $20 per person plus tax. Please plan accordingly.

This event may be cancelled if the weather is too rainy since the whole purpose is to enjoy the beauty of the gardens. Your trip leader will keep everyone up to date on the status of the weather and alert attendees if it appears that it will be an issue.