Fort Wayne, Indiana may be one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets. It boasts a vibrant downtown and great places to eat and shop -- but it’s also geographically lucky. Fort Wayne is nestled in the agricultural heartland, and if you love flowers, this city should be on your must-visit list.

The Best Flower Gardens in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Couple exploring the gardens at the Botanical Conservatory

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

Nature is on full display year-round at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. You'll find three indoor gardens -- and it only gets bigger and brighter when spring arrives, and the outdoor gardens sprout. The conservatory sits at the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Calhoun Street.

The Showcase Garden is one of the indoor gardens featuring colorful seasonal displays. Also indoors? The Tropical Garden with orchids and banana trees, and the Desert Garden, where you will find saguaro cactus and yucca. The conservatory, which is home to more than 500 species of flora, is a must-see for gardeners!

Lakeside Park Garden

Lakeside Park and Rose Garden

If you love roses, the Lakeside Park and Rose Garden is for you. Featuring a sunken garden, you will find more than 2,000 rose plants from 150 varieties blooming here. The scent alone is worth the visit - and with roses on display, summer is the best season to take a stroll (and some selfies!). The park is located just east of downtown on Lake Avenue.

 

Foster Park Spring Flowers

Floral Area at Foster Park

The Floral Area at Foster Park comes alive in the spring, summer, and autumn, and features lush, seasonal displays that will delight any flower lover. Foster Park covers 255 acres on Old Mill Road. The Foster family donated the land for the park and the floral area. The floral fireworks start early in the spring, and many consider this the best spring garden in the city! Don’t miss out on the spring flower displays that feature bulbs like the tulips that pop up every year.

Japanese Friendship Garden in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Japanese Friendship Garden

The Japanese Friendship Garden was built as a symbol of the Sister City relationship between Fort Wayne and Takaoka, Japan. It's the best place to get your Zen in Fort Wayne and pick up some tips on designing your own Japanese garden. Located at the Arts United Center in Downtown Fort Wayne's Arts Campus, you can stroll down the walking path, and enjoy the stone lanterns and pine trees. Visit in the spring to catch the cherry blossoms.

Sunset over Saint Joseph River and Venderly Bridge at Purdue Fort Wayne

Display Gardens on the Purdue Fort Wayne Campus

The Master Gardener Display Gardens of Allen County are a flower lover’s paradise. Twenty-two themed gardens make up the gardens, outside the Purdue University Fort Wayne Extension building. The Birds, Bees and Butterflies Garden, the Monet Pathway and the Terrace-Hydrangea Garden are just three of the featured garden themes this year. Even better, the Gardens host plant sales in May and June. The Display Gardens are open to the public year-round.

In addition, tree lovers will enjoy the Indiana Native Tree walk along the river at Venderly Bridge.

Learn more about Spring Blooms in Fort Wayne, and pick your favorite!

 

This post was originally written in March 2019 and has been updated.