Lexington is rich in natural beauty, surrounded by rolling hills, wildflowers, and forests. Whether you’re a nature lover or just exploring the outdoors, here’s a list of must-see flowers and trees that showcase the city's botanical charm.
1. Lexington Cemetery
The Lexington Cemetery is a 170-acre rural cemetery and arboretum and was established in 1848. Besides the famous Lexingtonians buried there, visitors can also enjoy the more than 200 tree species at the cemetery, including an American Basswood that the cemetery claims is the largest in the world. The real showstopper takes place over a couple of weeks in spring - the bloom of the historic cherry blossoms. Walk the paved paths lined with dozens of the blooming cherry blossoms to finally shake the winter away.
2. Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
While you’re sure to catch blooms on any trail you take at Raven Run, if you want to see guaranteed wildflowers, hop on the short but scenic Yellow Trail. You’ll get to see Blue-eyed Mary, trillium, lilies, and wild hyacinth, which dots the trails in blues and purples. For the best offs of seeing these blooms, visit in April and May.
3. Hisle Farm Park
Head out on a nature walk to view a classic Bluegrass landscape. Once a horse farm, this park captures quintessential Kentucky spring with blooms of goldenrod (the state flower of Kentucky), milkweed, and Queen Anne’s Lace. Take your dog (or your horse) and enjoy the blooms that last from spring until the first frost in the fall.
4. The Arboretum
This 100-acre public garden showcases native plants in their Walk Across Kentucky, highlighting the flora of all seven geographic regions of Kentucky. The trees and flowers of the Arboretum will bloom from spring to fall so there’s never a bad time to visit!
5. McConnell Springs
This city park is home to variety of native flowers and is an urban forest. Visitors will see wildflowers at the meadow and gardens at the park. Enjoy the milkweed plantings which help keep the Monarch Butterfly population happy. Be sure to catch the McConnell Springs Bur Oak. Not only is the Bur Oak Lexington’s city tree, the tree at McConnell Springs has also been standing for more than 300 years – from the pioneer settlers to today!
6. Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve
More than 900 acres, Tom Dorman State Nature preserve is one of the largest protected natural areas in the region. With 220 foot limestone cliffs and surrounding forest, wildflowers bloom from spring to fall along trails and the Kentucky river. Two rare plants live in the limestone cliffs including starry cleft phlox and Eggleston’s violet. Grab your binoculars and see if you can spot them.
7. Town Branch Commons
This trail celebrates the Bluegrass by featuring landscaping using native grasses, flowers, and trees. A walk along the 1.5 miles of walking and bike paths and features native plantings and over 300 trees which tripled the urban tree canopy of the city when they were planted. All these plantings also help with mitigate storm water runoff through urban rain gardens which are engineered to collect and soak up rainfall, while cleaning pollutants from the water.
Grab Coffee Before You Check Out The Blooms
