City life got you down? While it may seem tough to catch a breath of fresh air, Pittsburgh, PA has a wide variety of outdoor sanctuaries for you to enjoy. Whether you’re interested in getting down and dirty in growing and gardening yourself or if you’re simply looking for a relaxing walk among plants, Pittsburgh has the outdoor experience you are seeking. It could also be that you’re seeking a lush oasis or a more urban escape. Be sure to check out one of these glamorous gardens in Pittsburgh that we can’t get enough of.
1. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
This verdant oasis has been providing a relaxing environment to its visitors since 1893. The 15-acre space includes twenty-three individual gardens, each showcasing a unique variety of plants. Orchid and bonsai collections are among the highlights of this conservatory. Located only a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh in Schenley Park.
2. Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden
Rodef Shalom is a one-of-a-kind botanical experience in downtown Pittsburgh. This Holy Land replica features the native agriculture, horticulture, and archeology of the Ancient Near East. It invites visitors on a naturalistic tour of the Holy Land. With over one hundred different types of temperate and tropical plants, as well as a cascading waterfall and desert scene, this botanical garden is a must-visit.
3. Renziehausen Park Rose Garden
This garden, maintained by the Garden Club of McKeesport, technically sits just outside the city limits. However, within easy travel distance of the city, this iconic garden is open every day, free of charge. As the name implies, this garden is dedicated primarily to roses, and is one of the most popular and award-winning rose gardens in the entire country.
4. Olde Allegheny Community Gardens
These community gardens were first developed in the early 1980s and have now grown in size to over forty plots. These organic gardens are open to the public and include communal areas for visitors to enjoy the sights.
The Octopus Garden is rented annually by citizens of Pittsburgh to grow the crops that they like best. This garden is open to visitors and hosts exciting events such as garden parties and workshops to help make this experience educational, as well as glamorous.
6. Eastfield Cooperative Garden
Eastfield promotes opportunities for individuals to produce healthy, organic produce. This growing space is open throughout the season during daylight hours and is open to residents and visitors alike.
Highland Park is a neighborhood treasure featuring nineteenth-century grandeur. In addition to extensive walkways, fountains, and beds, the garden’s Victorian-style landscaping provides urban wetland habitat and multiple recreation trails.
Brighton Heights is divided up into several sections for viewing ease. For example, the Ravenstahl’s Lot is comprised of a gorgeous mix of perennials and annuals, with a wildflower and bird sanctuary in the center. Native vines trail from the birdhouse and lead to an expansive rock garden, making this a great place to view wildlife as well plants. The Green Up Lot, on the other hand, is filled with small trees and perennials that are designed to attract butterfly and other pollinators. This garden even features the milkweed plants that Monarch butterflies need to survive, driving them in hordes to this sanctuary.
The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is sixty acres of reconstructed, transformed land that includes well-groomed trails, woodlands, gardens, and other attractions. This garden isn’t just limited to basic plants–it also includes Lotus Pond, a meadow, and a historic homestead. It’s even pet-friendly.
10. Borland Garden
Borland Garden is maintained solely by volunteers, and remains one of the top places in the city of Pittsburgh to share garden space and growing ideas. This space features free travelers beds and welcomes volunteers and visitors alike. The garden features multiple activities throughout the week, including a summer youth program and block parties, and offers a third of an acre of growing and exhibiting space.
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Feature image source: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
