The Bartlett Arboretum is located in Belle Plaine, Kansas, and offers a beautiful escape from the city, featuring gardens and special events. This is truly a hidden gem in Kansas. It has 20 acres of gardens and is located approximately 30 minutes south of Wichita.
Fun Fact: Robin and Ken own the Arboretum. Robin was a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, and Ken is a renowned Nashville sideman who, at age 14, won the Kentucky State Banjo Championship. Both Robin and Ken are faithful to their bluegrass roots and perform regularly around the region.
Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine
- The Bartlett Arboretum is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
- It is home to massive cypress, oaks, Japanese maples, and State Champion Trees.
- Visitors across the United States have visited the garden for over 100 years.
- The historic property is home to hundreds of varieties of trees and plants—both native and exotic.
- It is known for its “Tree House Concert Series” with local and regional music acts.
- Location: SW 4th St (Hwy 55) and Line St, Belle Plaine, Kansas 67013
- Phone Number: 620-488-3451
The Bartlett Arboretum is dedicated to conservation, education, and the promotion of environmental stewardship. It serves as both a botanical garden and a wildlife habitat, showcasing a wide variety of plant species native to Kansas
Bartlett Arboretuem Seasons & Events
This year’s Tulip Season opened on April 1, with over 50,000 bulbs.
- The Arboretum will open for the season starting April 1
- Hours during April:
- Tuesday through Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
- Thursdays: 9 am – 7 pm
- Closed Mondays.
- May & June – Open on weekends only. Saturdays and Sudnays from 9 am – 5 pm
- They are closed in July and will reopen in August.
- Admission is $10 per person.
- Visit the Bartlett Arboretum Website.
This event celebrates springtime with a weekend-long celebration featuring local artists, live music, blooming tulips, great food, and the arboretum’s fantastic garden landscapes.
Full Article: Art at the Arboretum
Enjoy live music in the beautiful gardens from April to November.
Full Article: Treehouse Concert Series at the Bartlett Arboretum
According to the National Park Service:
The Bartlett Arboretum is a private fifteen acre park in rural Belle Plaine, Kansas, that evolved in early 20th century from a recreational park and conservation area to an arboretum with formal gardens and experimental plots and nurseries. The arboretum largely reflects the influences of professional landscape architect and horticulturist Glenn Bartlett, his wife and floral expert Margaret Bartlett, and Glenn’s father who first purchased the property in 1910 to be used as a public athletic field for the small community and as a natural reserve complete with water fowl and non-indigenous trees. After years of being under maintained, the Bartlett Arboretum is currently being restored with the goal for it to serve as an educational and events space.
Visit the Bartlett Arboretum Website for more information.
