Winter is a great time to visit one of your local public gardens—the crowds are thinner and the staff has more time to answer your questions! Botanical gardens, wildflower centers and arboretums are great sources of inspiration, but if you don’t plan the trip well, it can also be a source of frustration. Here are some great tips to make the most of your next public garden excursion.

Wear comfortable clothes. You’ll be walking a lot, and sometimes the pathways are more like a light hike, so dress accordingly. Flat shoes and clothing with some “give” will keep you moving well all day long. I like cargo pants—the pockets are perfect for car keys and phones so I don’t have to bring my purse along.

Bring a camera and small notebook. A digital camera is perfect for capturing photos of plants and whole gardens, while the small notebook can be used to make some sketches and further notes. Buy a notebook small enough to tuck in a pocket so your hands are freed up for more picture-taking. I once took a large binder with me and it was so cumbersome, I wound up leaving early!

Observe everything. This sounds like an obvious piece of advice, doesn’t it? But, it’s really more like “Observe everything with a plan.” Look for new plants, or different varieties of familiar plants. Take pictures of the plant first, and then the plant tag or placard, so you won’t need to write everything down. Observe how gardens are laid out, what plants look great with other plants, and new materials that kick the garden up a notch. Take note of how gardens are placed around structures like pergolas and gazebos, as well as different accents like bridges and benches.

Visit the gift shop. The gift shop is a wonderful place for buying plant and garden books, seed packets, garden calendars and journals, and other garden-related goodies. Ask the staff about anything that you want more information about, and check out the schedule for classes on plant identification, native plant use and general garden design.

~Jenny Peterson