The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden (WKBG) is enjoying a moment in the national spotlight after being featured in Garden & Gun magazine as part of the newly launched Kentucky Garden Trail.
The trail — an initiative launched in late 2023 by Oldham County Tourism with funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) tourism dollars — connects 12 public gardens across the state. Each stop offers unique landscapes and experiences, encouraging residents and visitors alike to explore Kentucky’s natural beauty.
“It’s first class. It’s so well done,” said WKBG Executive Director Laurna Strehl. “We’re really proud to be part of the Kentucky Garden Trail and to be included in a major magazine like Garden & Gun. We were one of the first cities mentioned, which is great because it gave us great visibility.”
As part of the trail experience, participating gardens provide visitors with a passport that can be stamped at each location. Garden-goers who visit six gardens receive a seed packet, while those who complete all 12 stops earn a Kentucky Garden Trail T-shirt. Though the trail launched last September — past the peak of the garden season — Strehl said interest is picking up as plants bloom and tourism season ramps up.
“The momentum is definitely building now that it’s spring,” Strehl said. “It’s just a fun way to get people exploring places they might not have known existed.”
WKBG, located on West 2nd Street, has seen growing community engagement thanks to increased tourism and media coverage, Strehl said. The garden is also cross-promoting the trail with other members, offering visitors a convenient pocket card to track their progress.
While WKBG is sometimes mistaken for a state-funded facility, Strehl emphasized that the garden relies heavily on membership fees and private donations.
“We are not funded by the state or federal government,” she said. “We get some support from the City and County, and we’re grateful for that, but memberships are really important to our sustainability.”
A basic annual membership is $25 for individuals and $50 for households. Members also gain access to more than 350 botanical gardens and arboretums nationwide through a reciprocal admission program.
“We want people to know that not only are you supporting us locally, but you’re getting tremendous value in return,” she said.
In addition to its involvement with the trail, WKBG continues to host events like the Firefly Festival this week and the upcoming Daylily Festival later this month. Strehl also teased a major upcoming addition — a COVID memorial funded by a collaboration of donors, including the Kentucky Colonels, Mike Horn Foundation, and several veterans and civic organizations.
“It’s a big project that took a lot of collaboration, which is how things get done in a small town,” she said. “But that’s what makes it special — everyone comes together to support something meaningful.”
Strehl said the garden is “always growing and changing — literally every week there’s something different to see.”
For more information on the Kentucky Garden Trail, visit kentuckygardentrail.com. The Garden & Gun feature can be read at gardenandgun.com.
