Garden Center Association
of Greater Kansas City

Enjoy our list of Greater Kansas City gardening related sites for reference and gardening know how. Everything from botanic gardens to state extension services and master gardeners are listed for your easy use.

Don't forget to check out our Partners and Affiliate Clubs they offer a wide range of services and education as well.

Botanic Gardens and Arboretums

Powell Gardens 

Powell Gardens is a private, not-for-profit organization located just east of Kansas City, Missouri, with the mission of inspiring people to appreciate, beautify and conserve our natural environment. The Gardens’ peaceful setting on 915 acres provides opportunities for learning and reflection through a year-round education program, research and special events.

Powell Gardens is known for its spectacular garden displays incorporating native plantings and its contemporary architecture.

The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden

The garden showcases three designs. In the Green Garden, water jumps in a playful octagonal pool, while the secluded Secret Garden features its own distinctive watery accents. The Parterre Garden is home to a majestic long pool where bronze figures by local artist Tom Corbin dance in the water.

Along the brick pathways, pavilions provide a place to relax, pergolas blossom with vines and arbors offer shelter. The conservatory offers a sheltered gathering place for visitors and a site for fragrant seasonal plants encircled by six large palm trees.

All together, the garden features 7,000 plants, with more than 300 varieties that include vintage and modern perennials, annuals, shrubs, bulbs and trees.

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was founded to keep the city at the forefront of environmental and ecological issues. A  leader of environmentally sound community development, the Arboretum is an educational, recreational and cultural resource for the Kansas City region.

About 85 percent of the property is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems. The remaining portion includes traditional botanical gardens, the Environmental Education Visitors Center. 

Parks and Nature Sanctuaries

Kansas City Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation currently oversees more than 213 parks, 132 miles boulevards and parkways, 49 ornamental fountains, 152 ball diamonds, 10 community centers, 105 tennis courts, five golf courses, five museums and attractions, 30 pools, 47 shelters, dozens of outdoor events, and more than 400 recreational and educational programs.

Loose Park Garden Center

The Loose Park Garden Center was built in 1957 for meetings and horticultural exhibitions of various kinds. The garden center, located in Loose Park, has two large meeting rooms with small kitchens attached to each meeting room. The garden center has a wonderful horticultural library open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Loose Park

Loose Park is one of Kansas City's most beautiful parks. The park is home to the Garden Center Building, a lake, a shelter house, Civil War markers, tennis courts, a wading pool, picnic areas and the famous Rose Garden. The Rose Garden is popular for all types of outdoor special events including theatrical performances and wedding ceremonies.

Kansas City Zoo

The Kansas City Zoo sits on 202 acres of rolling hills in the middle of Swope Park, the second largest urban park in the United States. It is the home to almost 900 animals from six continents. It is operated in conjunction with the Kansas City, Missouri Department of Parks, Recreation and Boulevards.

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

This is a private nonprofit nature sanctuary with 100 acres of land. This means we are not supported by city, state, or federal government tax dollars. The Missouri Department of Conservation leases us the Rush Creek Conservation area, but they do not pay for operating costs. 

University Extension and Education

University of Missouri

Iowa State University

Kansas State University

University of Nebraska

Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Community Market of Brookside

The Farmers' Community Market at Brookside is Dedicated to Creating a Unique Partnership between the Community and Farmers that provides High Quality, Local and Organic Products in an atmosphere that is mutually beneficial, wholesome and fun. The Market also helps to support the Border Star PTA.

Garden Resources

Heartland Tree Alliance

The mission of Heartland Tree 
Alliance is to engage people of the greater Kansas City region to take
action and advocate for a healthy community forest. 
Heartland Tree Alliance is the
culmination of the efforts of many organizations, individuals and businesses that have been working on urban forestry issues in the Greater Kansas City region
for many years, primarily from the
Right Tree Right Place coalition, a group formed in response to the devastating ice storm
of early 2002.

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City 

The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City includes a large and diverse urban, suburban, and rural area that encompasses the four Missouri counties of Jackson, Cass, Clay, and Platte.
The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City provide the metropolitan Kansas City area with information, suggested solutions to current or anticipated problems, demonstrations and programs designed to educate the general public about gardening topics. With a special interest in encouraging environmentally sound, responsible and reliable information to the public based on research and approved practices.

Master Gardeners of Johnson County

The Extension Master Gardeners of Johnson County are prepared to answer all your home gardening, lawn care, and horticultural questions. This group of community volunteers receive up-to-date training straight from K-State staff and specialists. Their rapid response Hotline operates five days a week to meet your needs.

Master Gardeners of Wyandotte County

Master Gardeners are members of the local community who work with Cooperative Extension professionals in different aspects of plant science. Persons who become graduate Master Gardeners are given the opportunity to participate as volunteers working through their local Cooperative Extension office to extend information to others in their community. Volunteers are supervised and guided by local Cooperative Extension horticulture advisors.