The Arboretum’s Horticulture Gardens have a variety of accessible paths with surfaces including compacted gravel, brick and concrete. 

The outdoor restrooms and Visitor Center restrooms are accessible for persons using wheelchairs; each facility contains a stall with a grab bar. 

The Kentucky Children’s Garden can be accessed via a ramp for persons who use wheelchairs or have trouble navigating steps. 

The paved path through the Walk Across Kentucky Native Plant Collection is not accessible because grades exceed 5% in some locations. 

If a wheelchair is needed during your visit, The Arboretum has two standard-width wheelchairs that can be borrowed when the Visitor Center is open.

Restrooms inside the Visitor Center are open during regular hours.

Outdoor restrooms are available from dawn to dusk.

Six picnic tables are available. They cannot be reserved.

Dogs are allowed on the Walk Across Kentucky paved path. They must be leashed at all times, and you are responsible for picking up and disposing of waste.

Dogs are not allowed in any garden or building, including the Kentucky Children's Garden.

Service animals are allowed if properly marked.

Due to federal safety guidelines, bicycles are not allowed on the paved path through the Walk Across Kentucky Native Plant Collection.

We provide two connector routes to help provide a more complete bicycle network for Lexington. You may ride your bike from the adjacent neighborhood to our east using The Arboretum entrance at the end of Bellefonte Drive, go through our parking lot, along our entrance drive and exit onto Alumni Drive.

There is also a shared use path between our Shady Lane entrance and Commonwealth Court.

• Collecting or removing any type of plant, animal or insect materials
• Alterations to Arboretum plants or grounds (including hanging hammocks on our trees)
• Moving or removing plant labels and tags
• Releasing animals into The Arboretum ecosystem
• Receptions, parties, dances or loud music
• Food service
• Alcoholic beverages
• Smoking of any kind
• Candles, open flames or grilling
• Plastic and Mylar confetti
• Littering
• Scattering ashes
• Team sport or training activities
• Flying drones (Special permission is required prior to flying.)
• Operating motorized vehicles anywhere other than the entrance driveway and parking area. Exceptions are motorized wheelchairs and approved service vehicles.

The Arboretum currently does not offer tours, as we cannot support paid or volunteer docents for that service. We do have a variety of self-guided tours you can access via Arboretum Explorer.

The Arboretum welcomes groups and classes who want to visit the grounds. Groups and classes must complete and submit a Small Group Request Form to arboretum@uky.edu.

Yes! To request a wedding at The Arboretum, complete our Reservation Request & Use Agreement. Return the form to The Arboretum, University of Kentucky, 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington, KY 40503.

We take reservations for the current calendar year only. 

All weddings at The Arboretum must be pre-approved and payment made prior to any event. Call 859-257-6955 or stop in the Visitor Center during open hours to inquire about availability.

General Guidelines

• Cost: $530 ($500+6% sales tax), non-refundable.
• Limited to 100 people.
• All outdoors; grounds are still open to the public.
• No receptions (no food, drinks or alcohol).
• No tents, candles or amplified music.

We regret that we are currently unable to host 5K races. We encourage those who want to host a 5K to contact Lexington Parks and Recreation, Keeneland or the Kentucky Horse Park.

We encourage visitors to take casual photos and videos for their own personal use.

A permit is required for all commercial landscape and portrait photography and videography, including wedding, family, engagement, graduation, prom, senior photos, etc.

General Guidelines

• Stay on pathways and mowed lawn areas at all times.
• Do not block any pathways or garden areas.
• Do not disturb plants, plant labels or containers.
• Do not hang backpacks or equipment from trees.
• Do not place equipment in planted beds.
• Parties who have booked private events have exclusive rights to their reserved area.
• Photography sessions must not disrupt Arboretum work.

Commercial Photography/Videography

Fees

Commercial photographers are required to pay a fee of $318 ($300+6% tax) for an annual (January-December) photography permit. Alternatively, a single 1-hour session photography permit may be purchased for $26.50 ($25+6% tax). Photographers must carry their permit at all times.

Please mail a completed Photography Contract and payment via check to the Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center, University of Kentucky, 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. You may also pay in person (cash, check, Visa or MasterCard) during Visitor Center hours. 

If time is short for scheduling your session, call 859-257-6955 to ensure the date and time you want is available.

For videography, complete the Videography Use Agreement.

Availability

Photographers must schedule photography sessions at The Arboretum to ensure there are no conflicts with events or maintenance. Professional photography is not allowed in the Kentucky Children's Garden. 

Liability

The Arboretum is not responsible for any personal or property damage or loss during the photographer’s visit to The Arboretum.

Credit

The Arboretum requires the location credit “The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, Lexington, KY” in all uses of The Arboretum in print, online, in broadcast or in any other public medium.

Terms and Conditions

1. ALL use of the garden and grounds of The Arboretum must be scheduled in advance by calling 859-257-6955.
2. All photographers are responsible for their clients and their behavior while on property.
3. Restrooms are NOT to be used as a changing/storage area.
4. Prior approval is required for print advertisements, video to be used in commercials, images to be used for resale purposes or other uses with a large distribution and/or circulation. Please call 859-257-6955 to discuss your project. Location credit is required.
5. All Arboretum furniture/fixtures and container plantings may be used only in their existing locations. They may not be moved. You may not place your own photo props inside our planting beds.
6. Parking is not allowed in the drop-off circle. Drivers may drop off riders in the circle, but must park in the paved lot. This includes but is not limited to buses, limousines, personal vehicles, shuttle vans, etc.
7. Photographers choosing the single 1-hour session option must submit payment at least 24 hours in advance of the date of the scheduled session. Payment must be clearly designated as payment for a photo session and the scheduled date referenced. In some instances, with prior permission, payment may be made the day of the session.
8. Any photography deemed inappropriate by Arboretum staff will not be allowed. No photography is allowed which will block gates/entrances to any part of the gardens or Visitor Center.
9. The terms of this contract are one calendar year from date of approval unless noted otherwise.
10. Dates/sessions are subject to cancellation due to weather, public health concerns or other issues beyond control of The Arboretum. Refunds are not allowed, but The Arboretum will work with the photographer to schedule an alternate date agreeable by both parties.

We ask anyone who is interested in an Arboretum staff representative or volunteer coming to your community outreach event, horticultural event, volunteer fair or school science night to fill out our Outreach Request Form.

Please complete the form at least six weeks in advance of your requested event date.

Ilex verticillata (winterberry).

The Arboretum does not use chemicals to prevent weed growth or to encourage growth on lawn or turf areas. Therefore, our lawn and turf areas are much safer to walk on than many lawns in residential neighborhoods where lawn care companies spray a variety of chemicals harmful to insects, animals and humans.

The Arboretum is in the process of spraying the vegetative growth around trees in order to create places where “tree rings” of mulch can be placed that will provide long-term benefits for our trees, our staff and our budget. We spray these areas with glyphosate and pre-emergent weed killers.