#17 – Powell Gardens
1609 N.W. US Highway 50, Kingsville, MO 64061
Cost: $
Amenities: Gardens, cafes, gift shop, nature trail.
Good for: Families, outdoorsy people, plant lovers, etc.
Tip: Pack a picnic!
Powell Gardens is a 970-acre botanical garden located east of Kansas City, Missouri. Powell Gardens includes eight display gardens, contemporary architecture, a 3-mile nature trail, cafes and a gift shop.
History of Powell Gardens
George E. Powell, Sr., a prominent Kansas City businessman, acquired the land that is now Powell Gardens in 1948. He then donated the 640-acre farm to the Kansas City Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, who used it as a regional camp until 1984.
In 1984, the University of Missouri’s School of Agriculture and the Powell Family Foundation began developing a horticultural and natural resource facility that would become Powell Gardens.
About Powell Gardens
Entry is $10 for adults, which can be pricey unless you spend time exploring. My friend Karlee and I explored all the different gardens, walked the 3-mile trail, had a picnic and did a cooking demonstration class.
The cooking demonstrations occur on the second Saturday of each month – integrating seasonal produce and herbs. It was a fun way to experience the gardens and the fresh produce that comes from them. They grow all kinds of produce, like pineapples, bananas, apples and avocados.
The gardens have a year-round calendar full of special events and classes for the entire family, like the cooking demos. They also host many notable annual festivals, including:
- Fungi & Fermentation Festival
- Booms & Blooms
- Festival of Butterflies
- Glow: A Jack-O-Lantern Festival
- Plant Sale
- Missouri Barn Dinner Series
- Under a Harvest Moon: Farm-to-Table Dinner
- Festival of the Butterflies
We visited during the Festival of the Butterflies, when the Conservatory is transformed into a butterfly sanctuary. So cool!
Along with the Conservatory, one of my favorite parts of Powell Gardens is the Living Wall. It is a retaining wall made of stacked limestone covered in flowers and plants. It is the longest living wall in North America.
There’s so much to see, even when the seasons are beginning to change! xx, Libbie.