The South’s Most Spectacular Spring Is Happening Right Now in Memphis
Some spring destinations earn their reputation quietly. Memphis is done being quiet about it. This spring, nearly two million blooms are opening across a stretch of East Memphis that has no equal in the South — and if you’re not here to see it, you’ll spend all summer wishing you had been. The numbers alone are worth the trip. The experience is something else entirely.
The South’s Most Spectacular Spring Is Happening Right Now in Memphis
Some spring destinations earn their reputation quietly. Memphis is done being quiet about it. This spring, nearly two million blooms are opening across a stretch of East Memphis that has no equal in the South — and if you’re not here to see it, you’ll spend all summer wishing you had been. The numbers alone are worth the trip. The experience is something else entirely.
650,000 Tulips at Dixon Gallery & Gardens
Tulips in Bloom Now – Early April · Free Admission
Founded in 1976 by Hugo and Margaret Dixon, this beloved cultural landmark is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 and the gardens have never looked more spectacular.
This spring, more than 650,000 tulips, over three times the usual number, will blanket the Dixon’s grounds in waves of red, yellow, pink, purple and white. The display features several stunning varieties, including a tulip bulb specifically named after the Dixon itself. The blooms are beginning to open now, with peak color expected mid- to late March. It is, in a word, breathtaking.
The gardens are the heart of the Dixon experience. Stroll the winding paths beneath a canopy of flowering trees, pause beside the reflecting pools and lose yourself in a landscape. The gardens may steal the show this spring, but the Dixon’s indoor galleries are equally worth your time. The 50th anniversary year offers world-class exhibitions, starting with the final chapter of its celebrated Black Artists in America series on display through March 29. Spring brings a deep-dive retrospective of beloved local artist Mary Sims, and June ushers in Café Society: Art and Sociability in Paris, 1855–1914, an internationally touring exhibition years in the making.
BLOOM: A Million Shades of Spring at Memphis Botanic Garden
March – May
Memphis Botanic Garden is going all out this year with BLOOM: A Million Shades of Spring, a season-long celebration running March through May 2026. Spread across 96 stunning acres, nearly one million blooms will unfold in waves of color: cherry blossoms, sweeping tulip displays, and the iconic flowers of a Southern spring like azaleas, hydrangeas, magnolias, irises and roses. No two visits will ever look the same.
The Garden sits right beside the Dixon, which means this corner of the city has quietly become one of the largest spring floral destinations in the entire country. Start with coffee, stroll the Dixon’s 650,000 tulips, pop into the galleries, grab lunch and head to the Garden for an afternoon full of BLOOM programming.
Every Saturday from March through May (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), the Garden transforms into an all-ages, make-a-day-of-it experience. Expect kids’ activities, food trucks, a full bar, live performances, cultural celebrations, storytelling, dance and special guests — all with peak seasonal blooms as your backdrop.
March leans into Japanese-inspired programming: tea traditions, cherry blossom vibes and guided Japanese Garden tours. April and May bring symphony performances, ballet and dance, storybook characters, pet-friendly days and outdoor games. Each Saturday is different, which means you have full permission to go more than once.
Fill your calendar with a spring-filled list of events at Memphis Botanic Garden.
After strolling through the gardens, make time to visit one of the largest urban parks in America at Shelby Farms Park. Dine at MICHELIN-recognized restaurants close or shop at a truly unique indoor marketplace with Colonial-designed storefronts. There's so much more discover in East Memphis.
Experience Memphis Gardens: The City Is Your Garden
May 1 – June 14, 2026 · Free Admission
Memphis has always been a city with something growing just around the corner and Experience Memphis Gardens is your invitation to go find it. Now in its third year, the EMG Tours run May 1 through June 14, 2026, opening up a world of intimate, quirky and extraordinary gardens across the entire city. Gardens are open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Thanks to the generous underwriting of the Dr. Rudy Campbell Foundation, tickets are completely free this year.
This isn’t just a garden walk. It’s a front-row seat to Memphis growing things. Tour serene private gardens you’d never otherwise see. Step onto working farms where chickens, bees and alpacas are very much part of the operation. Watch CBD production up close, wander a cut flower farm, and browse heirloom plants and original garden art you can take home with you. Every stop is a little different. Every visit surprises you.
Don’t Miss: The Cooper-Young Garden Walk — May 16–17
The crown jewel of the season is the 10th Annual Signature Cooper-Young Garden Walk, running May 16–17 through one of Memphis’ most vibrant and beloved historic neighborhoods. Over 100 gardens open their gates, joined by speakers, live musicians and garden vendors spread throughout the streets of Cooper-Young. It’s two full days of beauty, community and the kind of only-in-Memphis energy that makes visitors want to move here. Come for the gardens. Stay for the neighborhood.
