Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Fall at Powell Gardens

Fall in Kansas City is chalk full of activities, but there’s no better place than Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, for a memorable, Midwest fall experience. Looking for family fall activities, a chance to tap into your creative side, or the opportunity to step back into nature? These top five ways to enjoy fall at Powell Gardens should be on your activity list.  

Top Five Ways to Enjoy Fall at Powell Gardens 

1. Leaf Peeping  

Leaf peeping is the act of traveling to view fall’s foliage. While many may consider the East Coast a prime leaf peeping location, this is equally applicable to the gorgeous Midwest landscape at Powell Gardens. Filled with vibrant oranges, exciting yellows, and resplendent reds, Powell Gardens features a leaf feast for the eyes. Check out these prime locations for picture-perfect backdrops on your fall adventure or next family photo! 

Visitor Center Overlook 
Located on the Visitor Center Terraces, behind the glass-domed Conservatory, the Visitor Center Overlook offers a rich tapestry of fall foliage. It’s the perfect vantage point to view the changing leaves along the Dogwood Walk and the Dennis & Annette Young Magnolia Walk.  

Dogwood Walk 
Hoping to immerse yourself in the Midwest’s fall colors? Take a stroll through the Dogwood Walk. The Dogwood Walk features Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Gorgeous red, orange, and sometimes purple foliage adorns this iconic tree during the fall.  

While venturing through the Dogwood Walk, don’t forget to visit the Dennis & Annette Young Mangolia Walk for more leaf peeping opportunities! 

Wildflower Meadow 
The Wildflower Meadow, located past the Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden, offers warm fall hues after the first frost with its beautiful native grasses. In the near distance, visitors are treated to a photo-worthy view of the Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel.

2. Learn About Fall Foraging

Fall foraging is an excellent way to elevate your fall experience! Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, offers plenty of educational resources to assist you on your journey. While there are plenty of fall foraging finds, Powell Gardens recommends classics such as black walnuts, pawpaws, and persimmons.  

Please note, foraging is not permitted on Powell Gardens property. In the interest of public health, safety, and in respect of our conservation efforts, all participants are expected to appreciate this content for educational purposes only at Powell Gardens.   

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) 
Black walnut is found growing in deciduous woods with rich soil. To harvest, search for nuts with softer hulls (outer shell covering) that you can dent with a finger. Foragers can also wait for the nuts to fall directly from the tree, however always double check that there’s no insect damage.  

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) 
Pawpaws are found along stream banks, openings in the forest, and in the understory of mixed hardwood forests in central and southern areas of the Midwest. To harvest, search for green or yellow fruit that is very soft to the touch. Fruit that has already fallen is best if there is no insect damage. 

Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) 
Persimmons are a common hard-wood tree found across the lower Midwest and Southeast United States. They’re typically found in the wild on the edges of mixed hardwood forests or in the partial shade of thickets and along hedgerows. The best way to harvest persimmons is by collecting ones that have fallen on the ground. Fruits that are tightly attached to the twigs are still unripe.  

Searching for more foraging information? Check out these other guides on our blog! 

• Spring Foraging 

• Summer Foraging

• Fall Foraging

• Winter Foraging

• Midwest Foraging  

• Responsible Foraging

3. Visit the Conservatory & Garden Galleries

The Conservatory, located in the Visitor Center, is a glass-domed focal point for many striking seasonal displays at Powell Gardens. This fall, the Conservatory features a picture perfect photo opportunity with a 12-foot scarecrow surrounded by a maze-like display. Visitors can expect to see corn, hibiscus, marigolds, ornamental peppers, and grasses.

After enjoying a picturesque moment in the Conservatory, head to Garden Galleries at the entrance of the Heartland Harvest Garden, where you’ll find a day-and-night themed display. During the day, visitors will see neon trees, snapdragon flowers, and sunflowers, and if you venture back for an evening at Dark Forest, visitors will be treated to night-blooming Datura plants and glowing neon trees.
 

4. Visit the Conifer Garden

The Conifer Garden, located on the north side of the Visitor Center landscape, is eye-catching in any season. Yet, fall is where the Conifer Garden truly shines, featuring a cornucopia of color.  

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) 
A deciduous conifer, the dawn redwood boasts bronze and orange foliage before dropping its leaves. It’s considered unique among redwoods for its deciduous designation rather than evergreen. The dawn redwood is the fastest growing redwood and the smallest.  

Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) 
A deciduous conifer, the baldcypress also features bronze and orange foliage in the fall. This unique tree is slow growing yet provides the crucial services of preventing erosion and soaking up floodwaters, particularly in wetland environments.  

Fire Chief™ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’) 
Known for its striking bronze color in the late fall to winter, the Fire Chief™ arborvitae is a new addition to the Conifer Garden’s landscape. It provides a gorgeous burst of color, complimentary to the fall hues throughout the Gardens.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) 
Rounding out this list of fall must-sees is the Japanese maple. Keep a sharp eye out for its striking red foliage nestled within the Conifer Garden.
 

5. Sign up for a class, workshop, or event

Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, offers a seasonal array of classes, workshops, and events. From festivals to exhibitions and special events, there are experiences perfect for everyone’s calendar.

Dark Forest, the highly anticipated fall event in partnership with Quixotic, features an eerie, multimedia experience through the woods. As the dark lush veils of nightfall sweep solemnly across an eerie Midwest sky, Dark Forest invites you to journey through a magical and mysterious wooded landscape where the channels of nature’s mortal realms are fiercely pierced by unexplainable paranormal forces and spellbinding supernatural beings. For more information, visit powellgardens.org/dark-forest 

Combining the striking power of nature and education allows learners of all ages to find new skills, understanding, or enjoyment from robust educational offerings. Whether you’re a gardening novice or a seasoned pro, our educational programs provide valuable insights and hands-on experiences. Our nature-inspired art classes are also a great way to tap into your creative side while honoring the iconic landscape around you.  

To find more and register for upcoming classes, visit powellgardens.org/calendar.   

Powell Gardens is one of the best destinations for fall activities in Kansas City! Whether you choose leaf peeping, learning about fall foraging, visiting the Conifer Garden, checking out the Conservatory display and Garden Galleries, or signing up for one of our many classes and vents, there’s always a good reason to add Powell Gardens to your fall activities list.