Every summer since 2017 we have been welcoming Gnomes into our gardens.  You can enjoy them in two different ways:

In July and August the Gnomes have set up their homes around the gardens.  Grab a map at the front desk when you check in and see if you can find all of them!

Or

Celebrate the return of the Gnomes with us at our 4th Annual:

Gnome and Garden Faire

Saturday, June 27th & Sunday, June 28th, 2026

10am - 4:30pm

Calling All Gnomes Both Big and Small!

We need your help to welcome back our garden gnomes for the 2026 season. We’ve gotten word that they are going to be setting up their homes in the Garden again this year. Celebrate with us at our fourth annual Gnome & Garden Faire!

The weekend will be filled with fun activities. Buy some tickets to participate in our gnome games, and win some gold tokens you can use in our Gnome Depot shop!

The History of our Gnomes 

 

Once upon a time in the late spring of 2017, the Botanical Garden staff started to notice some strange things happening in the gardens.  Tools would go missing, plants and flowers were moved around, signs were turned upside down and more!  Then all of a sudden on June 20th, for our 40th anniversary year all was revealed: A large community of gnomes had moved in!  The magic of the gnomes had kept them hidden for many years but they decided to finally reveal themselves and their adorable homes.

We celebrated with a Gnome party where many visitors big and small came and searched out the gnomes and their houses, and made their own gnome hats to fit right in. Our gnomes are fair-weathered and fun,  and have returned to the garden every summer.  Though most hide away for the winter, some return to celebrate Merry & Bright with us.