When you are ready for contemplative time in Juneau, come out to these beautiful, weird, wonderful gardens. A young garden just entering its adolescent phase, I can't wait to see what the fully mature adult garden, with such an inspired designer/artist, becomes.
It rains all the time in Juneau, it seems, but this is a rain-or-shine garden! A large electric cart takes about 15 guests at a time up the side of the mountain to show off the work of a man who has a passion for flowers. The driver/guide is witty, explaining the grounds. Upside-down trees have been made into beautiful planters along the way. At the top, riders can get out and walk on a wooden boardwalk to a lookout over the Juneau airport. Then, the cart takes the group back down to the visitor center. The center contains a gift shop, a little cafe, and a sitting area. Also, a TV monitor displays the image from a nest cam where a baby eagle lives in a tree on the property! Lovely, thoughtful displays. We noticed that we were the only people present who did not come here with a cruise-boat excursion, but it didn't matter. We took the city bus from downtown and saved some money! Note that the cart ride described in my review is the only way to visit you may not walk on your own. My only gripe: Why did I pay Viator a couple dollars MORE than the actual price of admission, and then find my own way on the city bus to boot?!
This garden is amazing! To see all the hanging baskets as one walks in and the stunning plants growing in the ' upside down ' trees was nothing short of beautiful!