Peony Garden – Please Don’t Visit in 2020

Visiting the Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum has been on my to-do list for several years. I finally visited with a friend in 2019 and was looking forward to a return trip in 2020.

2020 Update

With COVID-19 still a concern, the Arboretum is discouraging visitors this year. When we visited last year the peony garden was very crowded making it hard to maintain social distance. The peony garden is near the Washington Street entrance which is close to the UM Hospital. This potentially brings visitors to the garden into contact with hospital employees and patients in parking lots and walking the grounds.

Check out this video by Matthaei-Nichols Director Bob Grese for more information:

They will be adding online content about the peony garden, bonsai exhibit, and Shakespeare in the Arb. Be sure to check their website for details and follow their social media (Facebook and Instagram)

About the Peony Garden

The Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden first opened in 1927. The garden can hold up to 800 peonies resulting in 10,000 blooms.

It is the largest public collection of heritage peonies in North America. There are 350 historic herbaceous varieties from the US, Canada, and Europe many of which are no longer commercially available. These heritage varieties are from the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

My Visit

Over the weekend I saw many pictures from friends visiting the Peony Garden. By going at during the school day, we were able to avoid the worst of the crowds. Even so, the garden still had plenty of people in it.

We only spent about 30 minutes in the Peony Garden. It was plenty of time for a casual visit. If you have more time, there are picture maps that describe the varieties of peonies. There is also much more to explore in The Arb beyond the Peony Garden.

My daughter opted out of visiting due to her seasonal allergies. However, the peony garden is a good choice for children. There is room for them to explore and roam. Let them search for their favorite color peony. There is some shade available and there are grassy areas that would be perfect for a picnic lunch or snack. Note, the paths are gravel which may make a stroller difficult.

Visiting the Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden

The Peony Garden is near the Washington Heights entrance to Nichols Arboretum (1610 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor). I was expecting a longer walk from the entrance to The Arb. I’m just lucky to have picked the right entrance.

Bloom Season

The Peony Garden is typically in bloom from late May through mid-June. The wet, cool spring in 2019 delayed the peony season. On June 7, the garden was only at 40% bloom. By June 9 it was at 80%. I visited on the 12th and it was blooming nicely. There were still buds, so there is still time to appreciate the garden in 2019.

Check the Peony Bloom Countdown for up to date information.

Nichols Arboretum Hours & Admission

Nichols Arboretum is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. Admission to Nichols Arboretum is free.

Parking for Nichols Arboretum

There are a few spots on Washington Heights that are reserved for Nichols Arboretum members. There are also a limited number of metered parking spots on Washington Heights near the School of Public Health. I was able to get one of these spots.

There is a Blue UM lot (M28) at the School of Public Health – 1500 Washington Heights. From the website, this lot is enforced Monday-Friday from 6a-5p. Be sure to verify the enforcement details on the signs in the lot before parking in evenings and weekends. The M29 blue lot near the helipad is also available in evenings and on weekends.

Other Entrances

According to the Nichols Arboretum website, the Peony Garden is about a 15 minute walk from the Geddes Road entrance.