Luthy Botanical Garden
Peoria, IL
Whether you love to garden or just appreciate the beauty of various flora from around the globe, Luthy Botanical Garden is the spot for you. Spread across over 5 acres in Glen Oak Park, Luthy is home to a tropical conservatory, a theme garden, and seasonal shows, including the Poinsettia Show throughout November and December. The sprawling garden is also a beautiful background for weddings, showers, or your next corporate event! Photographers are always welcome at the Gardens – for fees and other information contact [email protected].
Get to the Garden by bus using CityLink route #12.
Steve Hausler, Sales & Events Coordinator
[email protected]
309.681.3507
Bob Streitmatter, Manager
[email protected]
Visit us on Facebook!
Surround yourself with spectacular displays of spring blooming bulbs or the blazing color of autumn, the Garden offers a tranquil setting to enjoy the beauty of each passing season. Established in 1951, Luthy Botanical Garden encompasses five acres and offers over a dozen theme gardens, a Conservatory, educational programming, numerous events, a rotating sculpture exhibit and magnificent floral displays.
Our Conservatory floral shows include a Spring Show, Chrysanthemum Show and Poinsettia Show.
Luthy Botanical Garden is proud to be a member of the American Public Garden Association (APGA). For more information on APGA, go to: www.publicgardens.org
Garden Hours and Admission
10 am-5 pm seven days a week; gates close at 4:30pm.
Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated! Schools are free unless a program is provided.
Luthy Botanical Garden participates in the reciprocal admissions program sponsored by the American Horticultural Society. In other words, a Luthy Botanical Garden membership entitles you to free or discounted access to gardens throughout the country. To obtain a list of reciprocal gardens located throughout the United States, click here.
Visitor Rules
Please make note of these Visitor Rules:
- Service dogs only
- Park or walk bicycles
- Stay out of beds & trees
- Collection of plants or parts is prohibited…take only photographs
- Water features are for viewing pleasure only
- Children must be supervised at all times
- No smoking
- Professional portrait photos require an advance permit; you can obtain that by e-mailing Garden Manager, Bob at [email protected]
- The Garden is owned and operated by Peoria Park District. To view all our park and facility rules, visit peoriaparks.org/safety/conduct-ordinance-features/
Quick Tour of the Garden
Download a Printable Map here: Luthy Botanical Garden Printable Map
- Tropical Conservatory housing tropical plants and succulents
- 15 Theme Gardens/Borders within 5 Acres: Rose Garden, Children’s Garden, Cottage Garden, Crabapple Cove, Dwarf Conifer Mound, Fall Border, Flowering Shrub, Herb Garden, Hosta Glade, Prairie Border, Spring Border, Viburnum Border, Wildlife Garden, and Woodland Garden
- Floral Shows: Spring Show, Chrysanthemum Show, and Poinsettia Show
- Adult Classes & Tours: We offer Garden tours and classes on a wide variety of topics ranging from gardening basics to landscape architecture and garden design.
- School Programs & Tours for Children: Introduction to Plants, Nature’s Kitchen, Rainforest Versus the Desert program, Terrarium program, Garden Scavenger Hunt, Garden/Conservatory tours
- Horticulture Presentations: Know Plants, Will Travel: Our professional horticulturists are available to present a wide variety of plant and gardening related talks and demonstrations to your community group, garden club or special interest society. We would also love to provide a private tour of the Garden, so you can get to know it personally. Prices start as low as $40 on site. Call 681-3506 for details.
- Our Garden is Your Garden – Wedding and Public Rentals: Please everyone (especially yourself!) by renting a Garden area or the Conservatory for your next party, meeting or wedding. Call (309) 681-3507 to speak with our Sales & Events Coordinator or send an e-mail to [email protected]
- Luthy has a Letterbox. What is Letterboxing?
Letterboxing is an intriguing pastime combining artistic ability with “treasure hunts” in parks, forests and cities around the world. Participants seek out hidden letterboxes by cracking codes and following clues found on the Internet. Within each letterbox is a logbook and rubber stamp, usually a unique, hand-carved stamp, not a store-bought one. Letterboxers stamp their discoveries in a personal journal, then use their own personal rubber stamp, called a signature stamp, by stamping it into the logbook found with the letterbox, perhaps writing a note about the weather or their adventures in finding the letterbox. Stamp pads are generally not provided in letterboxes; most people carry their own. Finds are then logged online. Visit www.letterboxing.org or www.atlasquest.com for more information.
Got a Little Time on Your Hands? The Garden Needs Your Help!
Luthy Botanical Garden has a volunteer position for everyone who has some time. Horticulture volunteers are out in the Garden every day, gettin’ dirty and havin’ fun alongside our staff. But wait; we can use your talents even if you want to preserve your manicure! We have volunteer opportunities in education, special event coordination, the Garden Shop and as an office assistant. We offer weekend hours and daytime shifts, so if you’re interested in volunteering for a special event or on a regular basis, call the Volunteer Coordinator, Melinda Huett at 681-2671 or email her at [email protected]. Check out all volunteer opportunities by clicking HERE
