Tizer Gardens, a Southwest Montana Paradise
Like so many Southwest Montana gems, Tizer Gardens and Arboretum is tucked away in the mountains, at the end of a gravel road. Tizer is located in Jefferson City, just off of I-15, about halfway between Helena and Boulder. The gardens and arboretum are a unique combination of botany and whimsy.
With over 500 types of perennials, 450 different conifers, and 500 deciduous trees, and feature rare Montana plants as well as species from across the globe, the small gardens straddling Prickly Pear Creek are home to an extraordinary level of biodiversity. Tizer, an official test and display garden for the Denver Botanic Garden and Colorado State University’s ‘Plant Select’ Program and is an All American Selection Demonstration Garden.
On the other hand, Tizer is also home to upside-down trees, fairy houses, trees plants with faces, and a quirky “living tool shed.” Activities on the schedule range from Master Gardener classes to High Tea.
From meditating in the Buddha Garden to picnicking in the Children’s Garden, there is something for everyone at Tizer. What’s more, Tizer Gardens also features a really remarkable nursery, with plants ranging from the exotic to the local, and a really knowledgeable staff. These people know plants, after all, they’ve managed to care a green little paradise into the banks of Prickly Pear Creek, no mean feat!
If you are interested in visiting (and you definitely should be!) the Gardens are open daily 10am-6pm, from Mother’s Day to October (the Nursery opens in mid-April). And they’re worth a follow on Facebook as well, they always have interesting plants and stories.
