Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens

Chadwick is a wonderful place to get a bit of nature in the university area. With three sections sprawled out on 60 acres across the Ag campus area, there is actually quite a bit more than you might expect to see here. Visiting is free, while there are also group tours offered for a fee. That said, I’m sure donations would be welcome — Chadwick has two full-​time horticulturalists, but the remainder of the work is provided by students and volunteers. Parking, of course, is consistent with the rest of campus — if you don’t have a parking pass, be prepared to pay — $ 1.50 per hour or $ 5 per day at the pay-​n-​display machines.
So the gardens themselves — in the section nearest to Howlett Hall/​Parker Food Science Building, you can find the Learning Gardens and a gazebo. The largest learning garden, located in the corner created by Howlett and Parker, recently won a big design award. Chadwick is also installing the first green roof on an old building on campus. It is scheduled to go in this summer 2013, and will be on top of Howlett Hall. The North section is over by the new 4H Building and provides the opportunity to enjoy plantlife and wildlife near the Research Lake.
I suspect the Lane Avenue Gardens, due to their prominent location on Lane Ave, are probably the most familiar to people in passing. This section contains more beautiful gardens and the labyrinth. The labyrinth here is a replica of one from a cathedral in France that was built 800 years ago. The intention is to walk this quietly and contemplatively, allowing for meditation and calming of the body and mind, which takes about 20 minutes to do. It is really relaxing.
Various events are held throughout the year, including May’s plant sale, which is a major source of funding for the gardens. They have a lot of unique plants, but also carry beginner-​friendly plants. I’ve purchased my herbs there for the last few years, and they are very healthy and hardy and easily transplanted to pots or garden beds.
Very much recommended!

A beautiful hidden gem inside OSU campus, it’s easy to think this is a fairly minor «green space» inside a busy part of the West Campus area, but there’s a lot to see in this park. Not only does the site include a number of evergreen and deciduous tress, there are beautifully arranged shrubs, flower gardens, and a number of beautiful sculptures! It’s a nice place to spend a little time walking, or taking a «time out» in the labyrinth garden. There’s no admission, but there is a $ 1.50 /​hour parking charge if you’re not an OSU student or employee.

I would never consider myself an outdoorsy person, but I really like this place. The Chadwick Arboretum visually pleases and fascinates its visitors with its diversity of plant life. To experience it is therapeutic, even. I am a fan, and the flowers photograph so well in ideal weather.
If allowed the option to, however, I would subtract half a star in protest against the pesky bee that kept chasing me away from many a rhododendron.

My son BEGS to go to Chadwick Arboretum to climb the low, splindly trees… hopefully there’s no rule against climbing. This is such a great space for kids and parents to take a packed lunch and explore some true green space. The meditation maze is awesome as well. (Kids = no meditation… but an excellent forum for all sorts of made-​up games!)

The Chadwick is awesome. For starters, it’s free to walk around, I mean, how could they stop you? Secondly, they have an amazing array of plant life all over the grounds, very carefully planted in groupings that make sense visually. I had a really good time walking through.
There’s a really awesome wisteria hanging garden that’s like something out of a Tolkien novel. I was pretty mesmerized by it. I can’t remember the age, but I think it’s a significantly old vine.
They have a few Friends of the Garden sales every year, as well as a patch of garden for new hybrids that Ohio growers make and test here. There is a giant stone maze that you can walk, it’s circular and surrounded by some interesting plant life of its own. Supposed to be therapeutic
That only accounts for about a third of the arboretum! There’s a section along Lane Ave with bigger plants, trees and such, and another portion over near some parking lots and the 4H Center.
A really nice option for a cheap yet romantic date, or a good learning experience if you take a guided tour.