Spring has officially sprung and in parts of Ingles country it might be feeling like full-on summer. But before we get to baking in those dog day afternoons it’s time to get outside and bask in the glory of the garden. And we’ve got just the place to do it.

Welcome to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Located in Belmont, North Carolina near Lake Wylie and the South Carolina border sits this picture-perfect paradise of plant life. Spread out across 380 acres of awesome, this place has everything you could ask for from a beautiful outing outdoors.

And we’re breaking all of that up into 3 basic areas of exploration – beginning with the gardens.

There’s the Four Seasons Garden – located just outside the Visitor Pavilion, and truly “a garden for all seasons.”

The intimate Nellie Rhyne Stowe White Garden featuring white blooms and silvery foliage.

The sweet scents of the Cottage Garden take you back to grandma’s house with a nostalgic collection of bulbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs.

The Ragan Canal Garden is a 100-yard water spectacular bordered by ever-changing seasonal gardens highlighted by a fountain at each end.

Lost Hollow: The Kimbrell Children’s Garden is a place where children of all ages begin a new journey of fascination and adventure.

And the Perennial Gardens include the Magnolia Allée and Tunnel Fountain and more plants and pathways than you can count.

Then there is the William H. Williamson, III, Orchid Conservatory. This is the Carolinas’ only 8,000-square-foot, five-story glass house dedicated to a display of orchids and tropical plants.

Here you can discover a waterfall, showy blooming orchids, and much much more.

Finally, your exploration continues as you traverse over 3 miles of trails that meander beautifully through this gorgeous getaway.

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens are a great place to get out and soak in this beautiful time of year.