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Ted Ensley Gardens
Features
- Arboretum
- Arboretum Trellis
- Gazebo
- Pagoda
- Pergola
- Picnic Areas
- Restrooms
Overview
The 37.5-acre garden area on the west side of scenic Lake Shawnee features a panoramic view of the lake and spectacular plantings in a beautiful and tranquil setting with meandering paths and seating areas. The garden has been dubbed "world class" by visitors. Features include:
- 1,200 varieties of perennials, 300 varieties of annuals, roses, trees and shrubs
- Gazebo, Pergola and Pagoda with Meditation Garden
- Water and Rock Gardens
- Paved walking trails and ADA accessible deck
- Arboretum
- Dick & Dotty Hanger Family Nature Preserve
- Fishing pond for youths and seniors
Our gardens are for the enjoyment of everyone. For your safety and to protect the gardens, please note the following rules:
- Thank you for being respectful and courteous to other guests of the garden. This includes weddings and other scheduled events.
- Photography is welcomed, but should not interfere with the enjoyment of other guests. Thank you for not posing in or entering any flower beds.
- Thank you for refraining from climbing on garden structures and trees, and from wading in ponds, fountains, and other water features.
- Feel free to touch and smell the plants and flowers; do not pick, damage or remove plants, flowers, leaves, seeds, rocks or animals. (County Code Sec. 21-7)
- Thank you for not throwing objects into the water features.
- Keep all pets leashed and clean up after them.
- Help keep the gardens clean by depositing any trash in designated receptacles.
- For your own safety, do not enter a barricaded area or an area posted for pesticide application.
- Do not tamper with water hoses, equipment, tools or signs.
- No soliciting.
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Each April, the gardens are one of three settings for Tulip Time when Shawnee County Parks + Recreation horticulturists and volunteers plant more than 100,000 tulips at Ted Ensley Gardens, Gage Park and Ward-Meade Botanical Garden.
The arboretum features 450 trees including 120 varieties. The arboretum enables visitors to see how a mature tree would look in their own home landscaping. It also demonstrates which trees grow best in this area of Kansas, which are most disease resistant and which have the best growth habits for withstanding wind, ice and snow.
Ted Ensley Gardens receives support from volunteers and the group, Friends of Ted Ensley Gardens.