Temple Square Gardens – Things To Do in Salt Lake City

A neighbor of Brigham Young’s, a widow, once planted peas in her garden for herself and her son. But then one day she noticed that as soon as she put the peas in the ground, a rooster came along and ate them. Upon seeing this, she quickly dealt with the problem by capturing the rooster and quickly slitting its throat; then she disemboweled him and removed the peas one by one and replanted them. The result was a wonderful crop of peas later that summer. And she recorded the event in her journal, concluding “a nice chicken dinner was had by all.”

Featured on our latest Things To Do in Salt Lake City, the gardens of Temple Square …one of the most enjoyed visitor attractions in Utah. The gardens surround the various buildings on the 35 acres of property, with over 250 flower beds, 165,000 bedding plants, and 700 varieties of plants from around the world. Hundreds of volunteers assist in redesigning the gardens every six months. You’re in for a real treat if your vacation or trip to Utah is in the month of April, when the tulips bloom. If you visit in June and July, the gardens on the rooftop of the LDS Conference Center are at their best. May through September, free 45-minute “Garden Tours” are available by appointment.

Featured in the picture above is one of the most popular spots for bridal and family photography, with a fountain on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple. Also featured in the picture is part of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, which includes the Legacy Theater — a 500-seat theater that features free Church-produced films such as Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration.

To see these attractions and more, join us on our Salt Lake City Tour or Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tour.