6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont
704/825-4490
www.dsbg.org

HOURS: Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

COST: $10 adults, $9 seniors (60+), $5 children 4–12

Retired textile executive Daniel Stowe purchased 450 acres of land in 1989 with the intent of developing a world-class botanical garden.

The sprawling grounds are divided into nine smaller themed gardens, including the conifer garden, four seasons garden, perennial garden, and the fall-flowering azalea garden. The plantings are formal and accented with fountains and statues.

The gardens have continued to be expanded and developed over the past two decades. The newest additions to the gardens are the Willow Maze, a maze of more than 600 dappled willows in the shape of a potted plant that was designed to teach children about the different parts of a plant, and the Orchid Conservatory.

The 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory is the only one of its kind in the state that is dedicated to orchids and tropical plants. It houses one of the largest indoor displays of bromeliads in the eastern United States.