From books to the Web to television specials, we look for garden inspiration everywhere. But gardening enthusiasts know that the best “Aha!” moments often come from viewing the work of professionals.

This season, a self-guided tour of some of Ohio’s fantastic public gardens may be just what you need for some DIY motivation. The Buckeye State has no shortage of greenspace, and with a visit to one — or several — of these spots, you’re bound to come away with inspiration for reviving and improving your garden, whether you find an assortment of ideas or choose a specific garden to serve as your muse.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens — unquestionably one of the region’s most beautiful plots of land — is a great place to start your tour. Built in the early 20th century for the family of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company founder Frank Seiberling, the Akron estate is surrounded by magnificent gardens. Highlights of the grounds include the walled English garden, Gertrude Seiberling’s favorite refuge; the grape arbor, located just outside the historic Corbin Conservatory; the seasonal great garden; and the Japanese Garden, which will reopen June 30 after final touches are put on the restoration project that returned the tranquil space to its original 1916 design. Self-guided and docent-guided tours of the gardens and Tudor-Revival Manor House are available.

While you’re in Northeast Ohio, make a visit to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, located in the lively University Circle neighborhood. This is a great garden for those with an interest in exotic plant species, and stepping inside the 18,000-square-foot Glasshouse is akin to visiting a faraway land. The conservatory is home to gardens that replicate the desert of Madagascar and the rainforest of Costa Rica, as well as more than 350 species of exotic plants and more than 50 species of butterflies, insects, reptiles and birds. Cleveland Botanical Garden is also home to the Hershey Children’s Garden — complete with a wildflower meadow, a tree house, a maze and butterfly shelters — and topiary, herb, rose and woodland gardens.

For garden inspiration in northwest Ohio, head to Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore, for a tour of the Japanese, rose, perennial and kitchen gardens. This property, originally owned by Elmore founder Israel Harrington, was purchased in 1969 by Joe Schedel, who created the beautiful gardens. The gates were opened to the public in 1991 after the grounds were restored and modernized, and today, guests can spend an entire afternoon strolling the gardens; guided tours of the gardens and Manor House are also available. Built in 1882, the mansion served as the centerpiece of the original garden design, and is furnished with a collection of antiques, custom furniture and rare artworks. Walking tour brochures and maps are available for self-guided tours; guided tours are available by appointment.

Head to the Toledo Botanical Garden and discover shade, hosta, azalea and rhododendron, aquatic, rose, herb and vegetable gardens. A highlight of the Toledo Botanical Garden is the dahlia garden, home to 50 varieties of the magnificent bloom. Visitors may stroll through the plots at their leisure or take a guided tour.

In Central Ohio, it’s hard to choose a reigning green space, as both Dawes Arboretum and Franklin Park Conservatory offer superlative collections.

At Newark’s Dawes Arboretum, a 1,800-acre park founded in 1929, you’ll find more than 15,000 plant species. The all-seasons garden and azalea garden will provide inspiration for your own yard, while the collection of more than 100 bonsai trees and the conifer glen, home to 14 acres of miniature, dwarf and full-size conifers, provide a touch of whimsy. Make sure to check out the view from the 36-foot-tall outlook tower, where you’ll get a tree’s-eye view of the 2,040-foot-long hedge lettering of “Dawes Arboretum.” Guided tours, which include the Daweswood House Museum, are offered on weekends. 

Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, built in 1895, is home to 400 plant species and a diverse array of climates, which you can experience in the Himalayan Mountain, Tropical Rainforest and Pacific Island biomes. The Palm house, located in the oldest section of the Conservatory, houses 43 species of palms from around the globe. Make sure to see the ficus lyrata, also known as the fiddle-leaf fig, one of the original palms planted in the Palm House. 

Finally, to round out your tour of Ohio’s most fascinating public gardens, take a trip to southwest Ohio’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton. Not simply a garden, Pyramid Hill is an outdoor museum that combines the beauty of manmade artwork with the beauty of nature. Guests can explore 265 acres of rolling meadows, forests, gardens and trails at their leisure. 

When You Go

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

714 N. Portage Path, Akron 44303, 888/836-5533. stanhywet.org

Cleveland Botanical Garden

11030 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106, 216/721-1600. cbgarden.org

Schedel Arboretum & Gardens

19255 W. Portage River S. Rd., Elmore 43416, 419/862-3182. schedel-gardens.org

 

Toledo Botanical Garden

5403 Elmer Dr., Toledo 43615, 419/536-5566. toledogarden.org

 

Dawes Arboretum

7770 Jacksontown Rd. S.E., Newark 43056, 800/44-DAWES. dawesarb.org

 

Franklin Park Conservatory

1777 E. Broad St., Columbus 43203, 800/214-PARK. fpconservatory.org

 

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum

1763 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., Hamilton 45013, 513/887-9514. pyramidhill.org