Cylburn Arboretum | North Baltimore | Venue Tour

Today I had a venue tour at Cylburn Arboretum up in North Baltimore. I was scoping out the grounds for both portraits and weddings because one of my 2019 couples, Tucker & Heather, are getting married here in the Spring!

Cylburn Arboretum is tucked away amongst the Baltimore urban landscape. I thought I may have typed the wrong address into Google Maps when I was still driving by row houses just minutes from the gardens. It is the definition of a hidden gem. As you pull into the drive, city noises are replaced by bird song and lawn mowers. You feel as though you are in rolling countryside, somewhere quiet and remote.

I was greeted by a worker who gave me the low-down on the property and suggested I start by taking advantage of their hiking paths which would lead me to the iconic Cylburn mansion. So, that is what I did. I wandered through a growth of bamboo, a field of Japanese maple and caught my first glimpse of the mansion walking through one of their many seasonal flower beds.

The mansion is framed by crape myrtle and a large oak tree. The old architecture and use of stone is striking. Surrounding the mansion are too many portrait spots to count. There is such a wide variety of annuals and perennials thoughtfully planted in beds around the grounds. There are statues, fountains and a gazebo dotted throughout. I happened upon some of the prettiest largest greenhouses I have ever seen tucked away on the side of the property. Unfortunately, they are not open to the public. They did however, have open doors, so I could peek my head in. They have such a variety of healthy-looking plants inside…I need to do more research to find out who they are growing them for!

Cylburn Arboretum has a top score from me as a location for portraits and weddings. They do require photography permits to shoot, so if you are interested in having a session here, be sure to get in touch in advance so I can go through the 21-day permit process!

Enjoy the tour!