Gibbs Gardens - World Class Public Garden in Northern Georgia
For those of us who’ve visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville Western North Carolina, this is where many of us think of, when we think of beautiful public gardens. Breathtaking tulip and rose gardens along with symphony concerts on the lawn. Like the Vanderbilt family, Jim Gibbs had a dream of creating a world-class public garden and his backdrop, the northern Georgia mountains. Thirty years later, Gibbs Gardens is an impressive 300 acre public garden themed around 16 types of flowers. People travel from all around the world in the spring to see the Daffodil Gardens, the largest daffodil garden in the world, second to Holland. Gibbs Gardens is located northeast of Lake Sidney Lanier and ten minutes from a Georgia mountain community named Big Canoe.
Jim Gibbs replicated Monet’s Waterlily Garden featuring 14 varieties of water lilies and Monet’s Bridge at Giverny Paris. During the spring months, trees cascade over the five ponds covered in wisteria and lilac. Gentle hillsides lead down into the valley where you’ll find the Japanese Gardens. The Japanese Gardens are the largest Japanese Garden in the country. Gibbs Garden’s is deliberately created paradise, a place you’ll want to spend the day, to enjoy a picnic lunch with your family. The sights, smells and sounds are surreal. Each month, Gibbs Gardens hosts flower festivals based on the natural bloom season. Flowers festivals are themed around specific perennials such daffodils, cherry blossom, dogwood, roses and lilies. During many of these events, violinists stroll the gardens adding to the visitors enjoyment.
After your first visit, if you’re like us, you’ll wish you owned Dahlonega GA real estate nearby to take advantage of Gibbs Garden’s discounted annual passes. Modern Disney-like trams escort visitors around the large estate, to the Valley Gardens and Manor House Gardens. Located on the highest ridge in Cherokee County, the Manor House is still the Gibbs family home. The blue grotto pools, cascading fountains, flower covered trellis and great lawns are magnificent places to linger in the gardens.
By his example, Mr. Gibbs has shown us how a simple dream can become a family legacy and deep expression of love for our family and the community. For example, custom made statues of Gibbs grandchildren accent the Grandchildren’s Sculpture Garden. Up until this month, Gibbs Garden was a secret to us. We discovered the gardens thanks to the commissioned artist on property, Ann Young. Her oil masterpieces are displayed at the entrance, next to the intriguing gift shop. Young said we would have missed one of Georgia’s best kept secrets, if we had missed touring the gardens and she was right. Gibbs Gardens is less than ten minutes from Big Canoe - 2012 Bliss Award Winner for Georgia Community of the Year. Take a peek at Big Canoe home styles.
To us, the northern Georgia mountains are one of the best places to retire and find Dahlonega GA real estate and Georgia mountain communities because of the low cost of living and fantastic Blue Ridge Mountains outdoor playground. Just one hour north of Atlanta, Georgia’s topography quickly turns from a concrete jungle into layered mountains, big lakes, scenic vineyards and lush protected forest. The extreme difference is amazing in such a short distance. You can easily find affordable homes in northern Georgia mountains, homes that would be much more expensive in Western North Carolina. As Georgia phases out the state income tax on retirement income up to $130,000 for joint filers, we expect more buyers to shift their interest south of the North Carolina state line, to save money on income taxes and real estate taxes.
The best mountain towns to explore in Northern Georgia mountains are Gainesville, Clayton and Dahlonega. Of course, don’t miss visiting Gibbs Gardens when you’re there. Be sure you’re signed up for our free newsletter, so you receive our market insights as we travel across the Southeast. Our Northern Georgia Market Report will be released at the end of August when we'll talk about Dahlonega real estate. If you’re looking for the best master planned communities and where to retire in northern Georgia mountains, send us your ‘wish list’ (such as home size/type/lifestyle amenities desired and budget).
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