1. Japanese Garden: Portland, Oregon

As summer brings more comfortable weather and longer hours of sunlight, it's the perfect time to immerse yourself and your family in some of America's most beautiful gardens.

While many botanical gardens and conservancies have plots dedicated to Japanese horticulture, Portland's Japanese Garden considers itself one of the most authentic outside of Japan. The 5.5-acre grounds are divided into five distinct styles designed to bring visitors closer to the peace, harmony and tranquility of nature.

2. Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Cherry blossoms at the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. (Courtesy: Missouri Botanical Garden)

The Missouri Botanical Garden is incredible because it's the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation, according to the garden's website. Founded in 1859, this Missouri Botanical Garden has 79 acres of plants from around the world to explore. You can also tour the Tower Grove House, which was built in 1849 by Garden founder Henry Shaw.

3. Desert Botanical Garden: Phoenix

Desert Botanical Garden: Phoenix

Close up of the colors in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. (Photo: Adam Rodriguez/Desert Botanical Garden)

Founded in 1930, this 140-acre garden features an array of desert plants from around the world, with a heavy focus on conservation and support of plant life of the Southwest U.S. The garden offers classes in desert landscaping and horticulture. By fall, two new exhibits are set to open.

4. Filoli: Woodside, California

The name of the home and garden south of San Francisco may not immediately jump out at you, but it came from combining the first letters of owner William Bowers Bourn's motto on life: "Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life."

The home was built from 1915 to 1917 but the extensive gardens weren't complete until 1929. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth bought the estate in 1937 and Mrs. Roth eventually donated 125 acres of the property, including the gardens, to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

5. Biltmore: Asheville, North Carolina

While the 250-room residence at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, garners much attention, the grounds deserve just as many accolades. Owner George Vanderbilt hired Fredrick Law Olmstead, famous landscape architect and designer of New York's Central Park, to work his magic. The grounds stretch along the French Broad River, offering a 2.5-mile walk around the perfectly pruned gardens. Don't miss the Rose Garden – it has 250 types of roses!

6. Smithsonian Gardens: Washington, D.C.

The next time you visit the buildings that make up the Smithsonian museums, you'll notice the landscaping that complements this D.C. museum network. Established in 1972, the Smithsonian Gardens now include several experiences, from the Butterfly Habitat Garden and the Urban Bird Habitat to the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. Weekly tours are open from mid-April through September.

7. Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is tucked along the northern edge of the city's Piedmont Park smack dab in the middle of town. Here you'll find patches dedicated to roses, water plants, tropical and desert plants, but you'll also find a treat or two in the Edible Garden and Outdoor Kitchen. Don't miss the mesmerizing plant sculptures. This year, you'll see artist Philip Haas' 15-foot mind-boggling sculptures on the Great Lawn.

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