jc raulston arboretum at nc state university

This place has so many scenic areas of natural beauty that vary in plant life, from the unique and gorgeous trees and surrounding foliage to the rose gardens, the Japanese garden, the rooftop and succulents... a great visit for anyone who loves to be outside and enjoy plant life in the shade or sun.

It is an Arboretum but has a fantastic collection of plants. Also some interesting outdoor art. Rental space available for meetings and parties.

Spend the day walking around and viewing all the different gardens! Bring a book, picnic lunch and your camera to enjoy in its fullest! Highly recommend it!

Not a large arboretum but a nice walk and a great place for a picnic. Plenty of shady spots on warm summer days.

Visited here on a chilly but sunny day in December and loved it! Went for the poinsettia show, which was fun, then walked the grounds. It was so beautiful, even this time of year. I can only imagine how gorgeous it is in the spring! Creative gardens and displays. Extremely impressed.

Despite graduating from NCSU and living in Raleigh for years before and after going to State I never even knew there was an Arboretum in Raleigh. It is tucked away right by the Vet School and Fair Grounds. It is a first rate Aboretum. I love spending a nice spring day walking around and taking in the foliage. I recommend this highly it is a great way to spend an afternoon.

This is where we get our family photos ever year. There are so many great little nooks and crannies to it. And it is never crowded when I go…..Highly recommend to go by neomonde and get some food to go and then take it here to eat!

This is a wonderful arboretum that is open 7 days a week. The area that it is in is quite industrial, and I couldn't help but wonder about the quality of the arboretum. Don't let this deter your visit! The grounds are thoughtfully planned and immaculate! We would love to go back when we have more time to explore the grounds.

Visited the arboretum in May when so many flowers and plants were in full bloom. It was incredibly beautiful - so much so my husband thought it would be a beautiful venue for a wedding for one of our children. I hadn't been to the arboretum in a number of years. I will not let that happen again.

very peaceful walk, nice variety of flowers. Was there for a special event but wished we had more time to explore.

I went to JC Raulston Arboretum and was very pleased to walk by the many gardens I could find there. My visit was in a mild saturday morning in May and I could not count 10 people there. This way, it seemed almost like a private garden. I was impressed with the lots of flowers they grow there and also with so many plants typical of North Carolina and all around the world environments. NC is such a wonderful state - one I liked most among the eleven states I know in the East Coast so far - and I was pleased to know so many plants and trees that grow there in a relatively small area. I was also surprised to find a small "Araucaria", a pine tree species that came from my own state, back in Brazil. It seems that the little pine tree is being acclimatized in the greenhouse, to be later replicated and planted in an appropriate place. I recommend the JC Raulston Arboretum for a pleasant and tranquil walk, like for an hour or two, as you will find yourself completely renewed breathing pure air in this friendly and beautiful city which is Raleigh.

Probably the best time to visit is in the spring. They really have a lot of plants that can be easily grown in North Carolina, the staff is eager to answer any questions curious visitors may have.

While the nearby Duke Garden attract more attention, this gem is known to locals and well worth seeking out. I decided to spend a Sunday here on one of the last warm weekends of the year. The gardens here are just simply stunning. Gardens here include a winter garden..Asian..and a white garden. They have one of the most comprehensive collections in the world and the gardens are used as a testing center for All American Selections. It is 10 acres of pure bliss for garden lovers. I am in pure heaven here with my camera and my favorite sections include the testing center and the Japanese Gardens. The testing center is where plants are testing for seed companies and have brillent seasonal displays. for the season. The Japanese Garden combine both exquisite plants and sculptures. As a photographer, this place is just a pleasure to be in and photograph. The southwest gardens are also one of my favorites reminding me of my time in Phoenix. It is also a great place to gather ideas for your own garden, which is also my problem. I go here and then want to go home and turn my own garden into a 10 acre paradise. The gardens are located on the campus of NC State university and are open to the public and a free of charge. There is a donation box and please be nice and make a donation as it isn't free to run this place. There is a visitors center and restrooms. Parking is free. They do offer numerous tours of the gardens. You can see their website for more information. The gardens can also be rented out for events such as weddings and parties. This is also a popular place for special events photography such as weddings, engagements, and pregnancy. Just remember to be respectful of others. Several people were out having professional pictures made and made it very difficult for people to enjoy the gardens.

I could spend hours in here. This place is vastly educational and a great place to take engagement/wedding photos. There are places off to the side to read or relax and it's a great place to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon. Since it is ridiculously huge, allot some extra time in your day so you can get the full experience -- there are several sections and you don't want to rush it.

This arboretum is a beautiful place to go and relax, spend time with family and/or friends, or just appreciate the beauty of nature. There are so many small gardens within the arboretum. There is a Japanese garden, flower gardens, an urban garden, a rooftop garden and other gardens within the arboretum. There are so many beautiful places to enjoy here.I went for a visit yesterday (21 Sept 2014) and it was a Sunday. I stumbled upon a free tour of the arboretum and was asked to join. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Her tour was very informative, and not at all overwhelming.I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the arboretum and will return again in the future. It is definitely worth a visit.