Public gardens are dynamic destinations that foster environmental education, create community connections, and display a diverse array of plant species. While most people don’t associate software with beautiful, green escapes, it’s time we plant the seed. If your garden is rooted in the right ticketing software, you’ll bring in more revenue, simplify operations, and deliver an unforgettable guest experience.
What Makes Public Garden Ticketing Unique?
If you’ve ever come across other ticketing platforms and thought—but that wouldn’t work for our gardens—you might be right. Public gardens have specific, unique needs, and not all ticketing platforms are built to handle them. Here are a few examples.
🌱 Irregular visitor flow - A sunny Saturday in May, when spring is in full bloom, might be packed, while a gloomy Monday in February will be nearly empty.
☀️ Seasonal ticketing needs - From spring flower festivals and holiday light displays to fall art galleries and everyday summer visits, the needs of a garden vary each season.
🕓 Box office variety - Many public gardens function as an attraction, but also offer events. This means you might be juggling onsite tickets, timed-entry, and recurring experiences.
🌸 Diverse event types - Whether it’s a guided tour, an educational talk, a yoga session, or a plant sale, public gardens often offer a wide array of events, and require ticketing accordingly.
☘️ Nonprofit revenue goals - Many gardens operate as a nonprofit and need to balance both revenue goals and accessibility.
7 Ticketing Features Public Gardens Actually Need
If you’re tired of paying for ticketing features that you neither need nor use, here are 7 features that will make life easier for you.
1. Timed-Entry Management
Is everyone crowding around to see the waterlily exhibit all at once? With timed ticketing (assigning a specific time slot to a ticket), you can control the flow of guests and alleviate parking congestion. Your guests and staff will benefit.
➡️ Boosts attendance: Encourages guests to visit during less popular time slots and spreads out demand during peak season times.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: Helps prevent long lines and overcrowded pathways, making visits more enjoyable.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: Automatically manages capacity by time slot with an easy-to-use setup.
2. Recurring Event Scheduling
If you host regular experiences at your garden, such as daily morning yoga or weekly guided walks, recurring ticketing is key for efficiency, attendance, and sanity.
➡️Boosts attendance: When event scheduling is like clockwork, it builds consistent participation for ongoing events.
➡️Improves visitor experience: Guests can rely on your schedule, know what to expect, and plan ahead.
➡️Reduces manual tasks: Eliminate the need to recreate recurring events each week and save hours of tedious work. Simply set up a recurring event schedule with TicketSpice and let the system do the rest.
3. Mobile Ticketing & QR Check-in
It’s time to say goodbye to clunky stacks of clipboards and easy-to-lose paper tickets and hello to TicketSpice QR code check-in.
➡️ Boosts attendance: You’ll attract more visitors when the entry process is fast, eco-friendly, and keeps lines moving—even during your busiest days.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: Guests can access tickets on their phones, and staff or volunteers can scan guests in seconds using a mobile device. Less time in line means more time enjoying the attraction.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: Instead of looking up visitors manually, your staff can easily check in individuals and groups.
4. Group Booking & Discounts
Does your garden host field trips, senior groups, or club outings? Managing groups and multiple ticket types doesn’t have to be complicated.
➡️ Boosts attendance: Ticket levels at different price points broaden your reach and make your attraction more accessible to large groups.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: By creating a variety of ticket categories, such as VIP, General Admission, or Student, visitors are more likely to find the experience they’re looking for.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: With group ticketing, one person—say, a parent or classroom teacher—can pay and check in for everyone.
5. Add-Ons and Upsells
Want to boost revenue without raising ticket prices? With TicketSpice, you can offer thoughtful extras—like seed packets, guided tours, or picnic baskets—right at checkout. These small touches enhance the experience and increase your average order value.
➡️ Boosts attendance: Add-ons create extra value that makes purchasing tickets more enticing.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: Guests can personalize their visit with meaningful upgrades.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: Upsells are seamlessly included in the checkout flow—no extra follow-up required.
6. Garden Membership Integrations
Ideally, your garden isn’t just a place that people visit once each spring and check off their list. It’s a place they want to visit again and again, be it for Wednesday yoga or monthly walks through the new blooms. With TicketSpice’s Membership Manager, you can sell, renew, and manage memberships right from your ticketing page.
➡️ Boosts attendance: Members are more likely to return for seasonal events, classes, and everyday visits.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: Perks like automatic discounts and priority access make visits seamless and rewarding.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: Memberships are verified instantly at checkout—no codes, cards, or extra work needed.
7. SMS/Email Notifications
Timely updates can make all the difference—especially when plans or weather change. With TicketSpice, you can automate texts and emails for confirmations, reminders, and last-minute alerts (think, surprise thunderstorm).
➡️ Boosts attendance: Automated reminders help reduce no-shows and fill last-minute openings.
➡️ Improves visitor experience: Guests stay informed and prepared, rain or shine.
➡️ Reduces manual tasks: Scheduled messages take the pressure off your team and eliminate last-minute scrambles.
How to Set Up Your Ticketing System (Step-by-Step)
Whether you're launching your first garden tour or managing a busy seasonal schedule, the TicketSpice dashboard makes these steps easy.
- Identify your main ticket types—general admission, special events, memberships, etc.
- Choose a platform, such as TicketSpice, that supports seasonal, recurring, and group ticketing.
- Set capacity limits by day or hour to manage visitor flow.
- Add your upsells, such as tea service or guided tours.
- Test your QR check-in system with a phone or tablet.
- Promote tickets and memberships on your social media channels and email newsletter.
- Monitor your analytics weekly and make adjustments as needed.
Tips to Increase Visitor Engagement and Revenue
🌸 Send Reminder Emails - Inevitably, some visitors will purchase their tickets months in advance but forget to add the event to their calendar. Reminder emails are a simple way to ensure visitors remember their plans, especially during busy seasons.
⏳ Use Scarcity Language - Are your visitors procrastinating? It’s human nature, but the right language can help. Phrases like “Only 12 spots left!” or “Prices go up tomorrow,” create urgency and encourage guests to book now instead of waiting.
🐦 Offer Early-Bird Rates - Discounted tickets for early bookings or off-peak times help fill your calendar in advance and distribute demand away from the most popular times.
🛍️ Upsell at Checkout - Let visitors customize and enhance their experience by offering upsells such as garden-inspired merchandise or garden-fresh foods. With TicketSpice, you can list these items directly at checkout and increase your average order value.
🚪 Use Exit-Intent Popups: Before someone leaves your ticketing page, offer a last-chance discount or exclusive package. It’s like offering dinner guests some freshly baked cookies the moment you see them eyeing the door. A little incentive can go a long way in preventing ticket page abandonment and recovering lost sales.
FAQ: Event Ticketing for Public Gardens
What ticket types work best for botanical gardens?
🟢 Most public gardens benefit from a mix of timed-entry tickets, general admission, recurring event tickets, and group options. This setup provides gardens with the flexibility to accommodate both daily guests and special programs.
What do other event organizers say about TicketSpice?
🟢 The reviews for TicketSpice are largely positive, and you can check them out here. One garden director told us about a time they were tasked with finding the new ticketing software for their non-profit. “It needed to do it all, for a low cost, and be easy enough for our team to use. Only one software stood out far ahead of the pack—TicketSpice! Since making the switch, revenue is up, our guests are happy, and our staff is relieved to have a product that is so much easier to use. I am so grateful we made the switch to TicketSpice!”
How do we handle rain cancellations?
🟢Ultimately, it depends on your platform and your refund policy. Many event organizers using TicketSpice opt for our purchase protection feature and send automated alerts via SMS/email for real-time updates. This is a win-win for organizers and attendees.
Can we set capacity limits by time slot?
🟢 Yes! With TicketSpice’s timed-entry tools (Capacity Limit Actions), you can easily set and adjust capacities for different time slots to manage guest flow and staffing.
Can volunteers scan tickets?
🟢 Absolutely. The TicketSpice mobile scanning app for iOS and Android enables any trained staff member or volunteer to quickly scan QR codes, even without prior experience.
How can we sell passes for seasonal access?
🟢 Use the TicketSpice built-in membership features to offer unlimited access during certain months. You can also include member-only perks and auto-renew options.
Simplifying Garden Ticketing
The beauty and serenity of your garden shouldn’t be overshadowed by clunky systems or ticketing stress. The right platform can transform the way your team operates and how your guests experience your space. Over the past 15 years, TicketSpice has helped over 60,000 customers process over $4 billion! With TicketSpice, you can simplify your operations, increase donations, and delight your guests. As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We’re here to help you have the best event ever!
— The TicketSpice team
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