| Atlanta
President’s Message
Great cities have several things in common: They are walkable, have distinctive features, celebrate regional cuisines and provide parks and public spaces for the integration of gardens, art and human activities. Atlanta has been making tremendous progress in this regard with the expanding Atlanta Beltline, the introduction of Michelin recognition for our fine culinary scene and, of course, one of the country’s finest botanical gardens!
Because the Garden is located in the heart of Midtown, I have been involved with the Midtown Alliance for more than two decades and have been privileged to chair it for the last three years. The primary reason why Midtown is the thriving, beautiful, walkable mecca of Atlanta is the diligent work of the Midtown Alliance to create a livable, lovable, walkable community. And we are about to take a giant step forward by creating Atlanta’s newest gathering place—a 4-acre park on a vacant lot on 14th Street for all to enjoy and experience.
With the announcement of the “One4All” project in March, the Midtown Alliance began its journey in creating Atlanta’s distinctive gathering place for all who live in and visit our beloved city. While Millennium Park in Chicago and Bryant Park in New York City are inspirational models for the new project, they do not have the distinction that our new public space will have. As Midtown Alliance has long proclaimed, we are the “heart of the arts” with the Woodruff Art Center, MODA, Center for Puppetry Arts and the Garden all within the district. This new park space will showcase visual and performing arts while linking together adjacent greenspaces.
There is a great deal of work ahead to design this new public space, across from the Four Seasons Hotel, and input from the community will be an essential part of the process. A master plan will be developed, and a philanthropic campaign will be initiated to cover construction costs.
I think it’s fitting that the announcement for this exciting endeavor comes at the height of spring, with cherry trees and redbuds in full bloom. Consider this new public park a beautiful bud that will one day open into a stunning flower—where all people can gather to enjoy nature, art, time together and the stunning skyline of Midtown Atlanta.
Mary Pat Matheson Anna and Hays Mershon President & CEO
Danny Flanders
Bo Shell
Manager: Claudia McDavid
Alice’s Wonderland
Saturday, May 10 – Sunday, Sept. 14
Alice and all her pals return once again to usher you down that rabbit hole to her special storybook fantasy land.
The tale of these 38 larger-than-life living plant sculptures, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s tales, begins with a pair of giant Storybooks outside the Visitor Center. Look up as a grinning Cheshire Cat peers down from a wall as you stroll along the Promenade on your way to the star of the show: Alice – spinning down the basin of Howell Fountain among a cyclone of playing cards and spilling teacups.
Beside the Great Lawn be wary of the Queen of Hearts and her nearby army of Chess Set pieces as you head down to discover the source of music – the giant Singing Flowers that have sprouted along the Flower Walk! Finally, don’t be late for your very important date with the giant 27-foot-tall White Rabbit floating in the Skyline Garden pond.
And if those weren’t enough, two unrelated yet perennial favorites among the mosaiculture sculptures –Earth Goddess and Shaggy Dog – will be modeling the new carpets of plants they love to show off every spring and summer.
Alice’s Wonderland is presented with support from Primrose Schools.
COCKTAILS IN WONDERLAND
On Thursday nights, explore the exhibition with Alice-themed cocktails from cash bars, live music, an artist market, yard games and more!
Thursdays, May 15 –September 11 5 – 9 p.m.
Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics
Saturday, May 10 – Sunday, Jan. 11
The Garden is known for its storied trees towering throughout Storza Woods, and soon that enveloping canopy and other spots throughout the Garden will be cast in a whole new light.
A special exhibit, Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics, will add colorful, sparkling bling to pathways with 10 trees covered in dazzling acrylic leaves. Standing 10 to 17 feet tall, the sculptures cast dappled light and reflective, shifting colors – depending on the wind – on everything around them, including guests. Look for these spectacular trees in Storza Woods, the Edible Garden, Perennial Garden and Japanese Garden.
The sculptures, which will be lighted at night for enjoying during Cocktails in Wonderland, will also be included as a new feature in this winter’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.
The exhibit marks the second time the Garden has presented work by Poetic Kinetics. In 2021, the exhibit SUPERnatural: Aerial Art in Motion featured Dream Flora, a custom-crafted, rainbow-hued “Skynet” by Poetic Kinetics that billowed in the wind above the Canopy Walk.
New nosh!
Enlarged Snack Bar to offer expanded menu
Visitors will be in for a treat this fall when the newly renovated Snack Bar reopens with an expanded menu and new name, Magnolia Bistro.
Work began in March to enlarge the small building in the Perennial Garden while maintaining its footprint. By expanding its kitchen, the Garden will be able to offer new menu items, including hot food such as paninis and more sandwich options.
Once complete, the renovation also will provide faster service thanks to additional ordering stations at the counter. A new exit will be added for accessing expanded outdoor seating in the Garden.
During construction, guests can expect detours in the Perennial Garden. The nearby Quick Café will continue to offer light lunch items, coffee and snacks, and quick-service options also will available from a temporary station near the Great Lawn.
Rendering by More than Matter
The new Magnolia Bistro will feature a contemporary facade and a larger food prep area than the old eatery (below).
Japanese Garden gifts, upgrades mark 20-year friendship with sister city
Many guests are surprised to learn that the Japanese Garden predates the Atlanta Botanical Garden itself. Started in the 1960s in the same spot it is now, this beloved garden is in the spotlight this year as Atlanta marks its 20-year relationship with its city sister, Fukuoka, with gifts that last a lifetime.
To make sure the garden looks its best, the horticulture team has been hard at work the past few months renewing and renovating multiple aspects of the space.
The biggest project has been replacing the pathways’ white and brown pea gravel – not used in traditional Japanese
gardens – with about 4 to 6 inches of smaller gravel in light blue and gray tones that should stay in place better than the old material. Some pathways were made narrower, allowing planting bed space lost over the years to be reclaimed.
Plans also call for replacing much of the bamboo fencing with bamboo grown at the Garden and redesigning the bed beside neighboring Day Hall with new plants. In addition, Rhododendron indica, shipped from Japan, will be planted just outside the Moon Gate. The Garden shipped Magnolia ashei to Fukuoka’s botanical garden – considered a rare treasure there – while in July, Fukuoka will gift the Garden a new stone lantern, a style frequently used in tea gardens, to be installed along the Japanese Garden’s western wall. Interpretive signs in both
English and Japanese will be added so guests can learn more about the additions and the long-standing relationship.
The gifts marking the ongoing friendship will be unveiled to guests and dignitaries from both countries at the Japan-America Society of Georgia annual gala in August. Meanwhile, the Garden is working on plans to replace many of the declining flowering cherry trees along Piedmont Avenue that were a gift from the Consulate General of Japan in the late 1970s.
Amanda Bennett Vice President, Horticulture & Collections
Taylor Polomsky Senior Horticulturist
Gardens expand opportunities for future scientists
The Garden along with three others –California Botanic Garden, San Diego Botanic Garden and The Morton Arboretum – have joined forces to diversify the next generation of plant scientists through a paid training and mentorship program for those with bachelor’s degrees.
Now in its third year, the Rare Plant RaMP (Research and Mentoring for PostBaccalaureates) Program was developed to elevate the experience and professional skills of the next generation of researchers, first-generation college students, individuals from low-income households, those historically excluded from STEM fields
and those who were not able to explore intensive research opportunities during their undergraduate studies. Through this yearlong program, participants investigate the unprecedented global decline of plant biodiversity while working alongside science teams at the participating gardens.
“Starting college during peak pandemic restrictions, I took my introductory biology lab on Zoom and wasn’t able to gain many of the laboratory skillsets later in my college career,” said Nicholas Chang, a RaMP mentee at the Garden. “Through the RaMP Program, I’ve been able to gain hands-on experience in conservation genetics that complements my existing training. These experiences make me better prepared to work in a wide variety of conservation roles and have helped me explore new avenues
that I want to pursue in graduate school.”
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the innovative network empowers mentees to perform both independent and collaborative research to advance their careers. Eight total mentees from across the country have been selected to work at the four gardens on hands-on projects focused on plant conservation, botanical surveying, seed banking dynamics, ecology, genetics and more to help safeguard rare and endangered plants against threats including habitat destruction and climate change.
In addition to first-hand research experience, RaMP mentees participate in activities to foster professional development and networking opportunities as well as receive a yearly stipend and benefits.
UPCOMING CLASS LISTINGS NOW ONLINE
ATLANTA
Sizzling Succulents
Succulents can be tricky! Learn the basics of these low-maintenance plants and create your own succulent dish garden to take home!
atlantabg.org
GAINESVILLE
Forever Blooms: Paper Orchid Workshop
Students create life-like paper orchids using a mix of techniques and materials. By the end, each participant will have a forever bloom—perfect for gifts, special occasions or for those lacking a green thumb. Materials and tools provided.
gainesvillegarden.org
On any given day, an intrepid guest may be seen sheltering in the Sheffield Library, one of two Garden libraries serving as a resource for staff and the public alike. Within this haven of books and periodicals, the guest might encounter a horticulturist finding ideas for fall plantings, a staff member exploring books to share for an upcoming class and even a young visitor pouring through an extensive children’s book collection. Garden libraries offer inspiration, instruction, research opportunities and history lessons for beginner and seasoned plant enthusiasts alike. It is no wonder then that the same individuals who were integral in the development of the Garden were also first involved in the formation of the Atlanta History Center’s Cherokee Garden Library. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the library was a project initiated by the Cherokee Garden Club under the leadership of Anne Coppedge Carr. Those same visionaries, with help from countless others, paved the way for the development and opening of the Garden one year later. Since their formative years, the
Garden and the library have shared a symbiotic relationship, cross-pollinating through people, ideas and complementary collections. While the Garden’s Sheffield and the Orchid libraries contain largely contemporary works that support the Garden’s collections and conservation mission, the Cherokee Garden Library’s vast collection of more than 40,000 works focuses on more archival resources. In addition to a rare book collection, the library boasts a seed and nursery catalog collection dating to the 1830s, a soon-to-be digitized historic garden postcard collection and photographic works documenting the South’s Black agricultural community through Black photographers. The entire collection is open for public viewing by appointment.
“We endeavor to continue our meaningful work for the public, finding rare and contemporary items that are relevant and reflective,” library director Staci Catron said, “so that everyone is represented and sees themself within the collection.”
Lorin Boren School Programs Manager
Perfect pinnacle
Rendering by Smith Dalia Architects
Orangerie event space to top new terraced gardens
When entering the new expansion gardens from the Atlanta Beltline, visitors will be greeted with the serene scene of water terraces luring their gaze up to the grotto, topped by the Fountain Garden. Immediately beyond will be what’s being called a “beautifully illuminated lantern”– a building inspired by some of the world’s greatest orangeries, utilizing elegant modern design and materials to create a truly memorable impression.
Turning that vision into a reality, teams from the Garden and Smith-Dalia Architects collaborated to create a timber-and-glass building that will blur the boundary between inside and out.
Orangeries originated in the 17th century as a structure or room to shelter citrus trees and other plants through the winter. Similar to greenhouses and conservatories, the large glass-walled buildings, often with a brick or stone foundation, were designed to maximize light.
Beautiful examples of orangeries are found at historic Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C.; a recent addition at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in Salt Lake, UT; and the iconic Palace of Versailles in France (The Garden also is home to a small orangerie inside the Fuqua Conservatory, where plants from around the world, including medicinals, are grown).
When the nearly 8-acre addition to the Garden opens in early 2028, making it contiguous to the Beltline, the pinnacle of the sloping site will be a nearly 2,900-square-foot orangerie influenced by those and others around the world. A welcoming plaza will be adorned with seasonal containers framing a view of the Fountain Garden and below. Guests will enter through floor-to-ceiling glass doors that pivot for an open-air experience. Lush permanent planters will anchor the four corners of the building, and cladding vines will cover interior walls.
In addition to taking in views of the gardens below, guests can enjoy the facility’s 2,190-square-foot rental space during special events such as weddings, workshops or meetings, with seating for up to 100. Equipped with a catering kitchen and greenroom, this distinctive space will set the stage for memorable events and educational programs.
Amanda Bennett Vice President, Horticulture & Collections
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum orangerie
Palace of Versailles orangerie
Dunbarton Oaks orangerie
Plant these native cultivars to attract beneficial insects
Maxwell Kotelnicki
Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie’s Pick’
Common name: Stokes Aster
Characteristics: At 1.5 feet tall, this shorter, more compact selection tolerates a range of moisture once established in full to part sun. Featuring pincushion-like purple-blue flowers, its basal leaves often remain evergreen throughout winter. Hosting a large range of insects, this powerhouse fits into most spaces with ease. Bloom time: June – October.
expertly camouflaged golden crab spider, gardens depend on a diversity of insects for pollination, pest control and overall sustainability.
Attracting a healthy balance of diversity increases the ability to create resistant gardens that are more tolerant of changing conditions. By selecting cultivars of native plant species that are known to attract a robust amount of beneficial insects, including wasps, bees and carnivorous bugs, the Garden’s integrated pest management strategies include the important assistance from the insects who call the Garden home. Here are some favorite perennials that attract the most attention from guests – human and insect alike:
Outdoor Horticulture Manager
Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
Common name: Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
Characteristics: Tiny yellow flowers adorn lacy flower panicles up to 3.5 feet high and 3 feet wide. This goldenrod attracts a wide swath of beneficials and appreciates medium moisture and a range of sunny conditions.
Bloom time: August – October.
Symphyotrichum laeve
‘Bluebird’
Common name: Smooth Aster
Characteristics: Attractive to both butterflies and bees, strong upright stems reach up to 4 feet and 3 feet wide. Smooth blue-green foliage grows best in full sun and can tolerate dry conditions.
Bloom time: July – November.
Rudbeckia fulgida
‘American Gold Rush’
Common name: Orange Coneflower
Characteristics: Compact selection features rich, buttery yellow blooms and reaches up to 2.5 feet tall and wide. Best grown in well-draining soil and dividing clumps every three to four years improves vigor. Attracts smaller bees and wasps. Bloom time: July – October.
Vernonia lettermannii
‘Iron Butterfly’
Common name: Narrowleaf Ironweed
Characteristics: Compact and densely mounding, this ironweed grows up to 3 feet tall and wide and can tolerate drought well once established. Finely textured, narrow leaves complement a flurry of purple blooms in sun.
Bloom time: July – September.
Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’
Common name: Garden Phlox
Characteristics: This showstopper can reach up to 4 feet, producing fragrant dense panicles of lavender-pink flowers that beckon swallowtails, efficient-pollinating nocturnal moths and hummingbirds. While more resistant to powdery mildew than others, avoid overhead watering and consider thinning to allow for better airflow.
Bloom time: June – September.
Helianthus salicifolius
‘Autumn Gold’
Common name: Willowleaf Sunflower
Characteristics: This dense mounding selection reaches 2.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Yellow rays surround dark brown centers composing 2-inch-wide flowerheads. Divide every three to four years to maintain vigor.
Bloom time: August – October.
atlanta happenings
Garden Chef Cooking Demonstrations
Select Saturdays & Sundays, May – October 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Garden Chefs showcase fresh seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs in tasty recipes in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Free with Garden admission.
Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics
Saturday, May 10 – Sunday, Jan. 11
Explore 10 sculptures of trees with acrylic leaves that cast dappled light and reflective, shifting colors on everything around them.
Alice’s Wonderland
Saturday, May 10 – Sunday, Sept. 14
Escape to a fantasy land of 38 giant plant sculptures of characters from
Well-Seasoned Chef Series
SOLD OUT!
Select Tuesdays, May – October, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join celebrated Atlanta chefs for an intimate and relaxing culinary experience. Learn as they prepare and discuss a four-part menu with wine selections to enhance the flavors of locally and gardengrown produce.
Fresh Plates Dinners
SOLD
OUT!
Select Wednesdays, May – October, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy a fun evening dining, sipping and learning as favorite neighborhood chefs prepare a four-part small plate menu. Learn new recipes and taste freshly prepared courses and wine.
Cocktails in Wonderland
Thursdays, May 15 – Sept. 11, 5 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy Alice’s Wonderland with cocktails from cash bars, an artists market, live
Lewis Carroll’s iconic tales.
Bubbles & Bites
Every other Saturday, May 10 –October 25, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Celebrate the final chapter of Alice’s Wonderland outdoors at Longleaf restaurant! Enjoy cocktails and champagne complemented by savory and sweet light bites. Reservations required.
Atlanta Rose Show
Saturday, May 10, 1 – 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Presented by the Greater Atlanta Rose Society, the annual cut-flower show in Day Hall features roses of diverse varieties and colors. Free with Garden admission.
Mother’s Day in the Garden
Sunday, May 11, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Celebrate Mom with a day in the Garden featuring live music, specialty cocktails and chef’s picnic boxes for pre-order or onsite purchase.
Sensory Friendly Afternoon
Wednesday, June 4, 3 - 5 p.m.
Enjoy drop-in learning and art stations created for individuals with cognitive and sensory-processing disabilities, and their families. The event includes an Alliance Theatre performance of “All Smiles,” a sensory-friendly production created in partnership with the Marcus Autism Center.
Educator Appreciation Evening
Monday, June 9, 4 - 9 p.m.
Metro Atlanta teachers are invited to a complimentary summer evening in the Garden planned just for them! Visit atlantabg.org for details.
Alston Lecture: Andi Pettis
Tuesday, June 17, 7 p.m.
Andi Pettis, Director of Horticulture at Governors Island, shares strategies, practices and lessons learned from leading the ecological restoration of the 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor and the ripple effect such projects can have on urban resilience, biodiversity and community wellbeing. The free lecture is hosted in partnership with Trees Atlanta. The Philip and Elkin Alston Lecture Series is made possible by generous support from the estate of Elkin Goddard Alston.
Summer Party
Saturday, June 21, 5 – 9 p.m.
Celebrate the season with live music, specialty food, cocktails and more!
Refugee Recipe Celebration
Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Celebrate the strong connections among plants, food and culture in honor of World Refugee Day. Chefs from Friends of Refugees mix up the weekend cooking demos with international recipes alongside other activities that highlight Atlanta’s diverse refugee communities and foodways.
Pollinator Party
Friday, June 27, 10 a.m. – Noon Bees, butterflies, birds and other animals that pollinate plants are responsible for one of every three bites of food! Enjoy this family celebration that honors the hard-working pollinators and includes Alyssa Easterly Miller’s performances of “Jammin’ Junebugs.”
atlanta happenings
| Gainesville
A Note from the Director
Happy Anniversary!
May marks the 10th anniversary of the Gainesville Garden’s public opening – providing the opportunity to reflect on the past but also look forward with great excitement to the future.
The beautifully designed garden has “blossomed” into an adolescent, filled with gorgeous sweeps of color combined with great collections and botanically unique plants. Great credit goes to our horticulture staff for their dedication to the garden and careful cultivation of its plant collections.
Visitors have enjoyed educational programming, concerts, dinners, weddings and other special events in our beautiful setting, while behind the scenes staff develop and maintain collections of imperiled plants. We can’t thank our volunteers enough for helping us to create a positive visitor experience. Whether weeding, greeting guests or reading to toddlers, they are critical in fulfilling our mission.
Be sure to put June 7 on your calendar as it is the opening of our summer exhibit, Forest Forms: Woodland Wonders, and our JuneFest family festival from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It will be a great day for families to enjoy educational booths, music, games, food and more!
And while you’re at it, mark Friday, Sept. 12 as well for a fabulous concert by Emmylou Harris. The legendary artist was the first to perform in concert in the Ivester Amphitheater during our first year, so it’s fitting that she will be back to help celebrate our 10th anniversary!
Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director
Woodland wonders
Large sculptures of plants, animals spring to life in the Garden
Imagine insects several feet tall climbing up rocks along a stream in the Gainesville Garden.
Fear not! These larger-than-life animals and plants are among 21 sculptures that form the summer exhibit Forest Forms: Woodland Wonders. Atlanta artist Huelani Mei has created the metal works to show the form, movement and rhythm she observes while enjoying the outdoors.
The captivating, colorful sculptures, which include insects such as ants and bees, are made of powder-coated steel, range from 3 to 10 feet tall and will be staged throughout the Garden. Reflected in Mei’s work is the joy and peace that nature brings her, and she hopes that sparks a moment of reflection and wonder in Garden guests.
Forest Forms:
Woodland Wonders
Saturday, June 7 - Sunday, Oct. 5
An accomplished artist, Mei received her degree in Sculpture and Fine Arts from Georgia State University and has her own fabrication shop, Hue Designs.
The exhibit will include interpretive signage for each sculpture, offering fun facts about the species depicted and creating an informative,
fun experience for all ages. The artist will give a “walk and talk” during the Garden’s annual JuneFest celebration on June 7, which coincides with opening day of the exhibit.
Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director
The exhibit features metal sculptures such as insects (above) crafted by artist Huelani Mei, below.
Rain lilies brighten the garden after a summer shower
Summer-blooming bulbs have become a collection of particular interest in recent years at both the Atlanta and Gainesville gardens. One popular group, known as rain lilies, includes Zephyranthes and Habranthus.
Rain lilies get their name because of their habit of sending up new blooms in the days following a rain event. There is much debate over why this happens, but it is believed that it has to do with the change in barometric pressure that comes with a rain storm.
Rain lilies have species that are native everywhere from deserts to bogs with most originating from the United States, Mexico and South America.
As a small bulb, they are an easy addition to the garden. Most grow to only about 6 to 8 inches tall with 1- to 2-inch blooms of various colors including white, pink, yellow, red, orange and purple. Most prefer more sun than shade, and they can be planted along the front of a perennial border to add a splash of color, in rain gardens that dry out between
showers and as specimen groups to highlight a particular variety.
Some favorites include Zephyranthes ‘Heart Throb’, a hybrid with the brightest pink flowers that cover the plant in summer. Another is Zephyranthes flavissima which along with Z. ‘Heart Throb’ are two of the most consistent performers. It has mostly evergreen foliage and bright yellow 2-inch blooms that flower consistently throughout summer after a weather event. Blooms are held on 4- to 6-inch stems.
A final species worth mentioning is one native to Texas known as Habranthus tubispathis var. texensis or Rio Grande Copper Lily. This plant has small bright orange and yellow flowers on 8-inch stems with thin grass-like foliage.
Ethan Guthrie Horticulture Manager
Story Time and Sensory Bins
Wednesdays through August
10 a.m. – Noon
Enjoy Story Time on the terrace and the sensory bin in the Children’s Garden.
Fairytale Fridays
Second Friday, May – July
Dress up as your favorite fairytale character—fairies, dragons, knights, princesses and more—and enjoy magical family fun! Don’t miss the Fairytale Parade at 11 a.m. in the Children’s Garden, set to music and bubbles.
Adult Classes
May – August
Topics include edible gardening, pickling, hydrangea propagation and more.
Mother’s Day in the Garden
Sunday, May 11, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Celebrate Mom with a day in the Garden featuring live music, specialty cocktails and chef’s picnic boxes for pre-order or onsite purchase.
Forest Forms: Woodland Wonders
Saturday, June 7 – Sunday, Oct. 5. The exhibition features 21 larger-than-life metal sculptures of plants and animals, such as foxes and flowers, by artist Huelani Mei.
JuneFest
Saturday, June 7
Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family with live music, educational booths, local vendors, kids’ activities and a special tour of the exhibit Forest Forms: Woodland Wonders with artist Huelani Mei.
Garden Magic Summer Camp
Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27
This camp fosters a fun, creative environment for kids to get excited about the science and magic of nature with STEM-based activities.
gainesville happenings
Habranthus tubispathis var. texensis
Zephryanthes ‘Heart Throb’
membersonly
SUPPORTING & ABOVE
Strings in the Garden
GAINESVILLE: Monday, May 19, 6 – 9 p.m.
ATLANTA: Monday, August 25, 6 – 9 p.m
Supporting-level members and above are invited to experience this popular musical evening of a live string performance while enjoying delicious fare in a beautiful garden setting. Invitations will be mailed.
To upgrade to the Supporting level or above, call 404-591-1544.
CONTRIBUTING & ABOVE
Light Bites & Garden Insights
Monday, June 16, 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, August 6, 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Contributing-level members and above are invited to hear presentations by Garden experts while enjoying light refreshments. Look for an email with details.
To upgrade to Contributing level or above, call 404-591-1544.
ALL MEMBERS
Member Summer Evening
Monday, July 14, 5 – 9 p.m.
Members enjoy live music, surprise entertainment, family-friendly activities and a refreshing treat while touring Alice’s Wonderland and Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics.
QUESTIONS? Call 404-591-1539 or email membership@atlantabg.org
Member Previews
Alice’s Wonderland & Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics
CONTRIBUTING & ABOVE : May 6, 6 – 9 p.m.
ALL MEMBERS : May 8, 6 – 9 p.m.
Be the first to view the world premiere of Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics featuring 10 large trees casting reflective colors on everything around them, and the magical, fan-favorite mosaiculture exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland. Enjoy live music, imaginative crafts and activities for kids, tasty treats and more!
2024 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Alice Pugh
Alice Pugh has been selected the Garden’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year.
Pugh began volunteering in 2007 as a Garden Docent, leading children’s tours and assisting with youth programming at camps, classes, storybook readings and family festivals. She also volunteers in the Visitor Center, welcoming guests with her warm smile and enthusiastic introduction to the Garden. Pugh is a two-time Volunteer of the Month, in 2012 and 2023, and is a member of the Centennial Club for donating more than 100 hours a year.
Read all about it
Go behind the scenes with the Garden’s team of plant explorers and conservationists as they travel the globe, from Ecuador to Vietnam and beyond, in their quest to save the planet – one plant at a time. The spring issue of PlantIntel is available in the Hardin Visitor Center or at atlantabg.org/plantintel.
Why are my hydrangeas not blooming this year? There are several possible reasons: 1) The plant may have been pruned at the wrong time. Some hydrangeas (including mopheads, lacecaps, bigleaf and oakleaf) bloom on old wood and should be pruned after blooming the previous spring. Others (paniculata and arborescens) bloom on new wood and
should be pruned in early (current) spring before blooming. 2) As hydrangeas come out of dormancy, early warm spring-like weather followed by a hard freeze can kill off emerging blooms. When a hard freeze is predicted, protect early-budding plants by covering them overnight. 3) The plant is not receiving enough sun. Even the most shade-loving plant requires some
sun, preferably morning sun and afternoon shade. Oakleaf and panicle (Peegee) hydrangeas love morning sun. Limelight hydrangeas require a sunny spot. Note: The amount of light plants are receiving could have been altered by recent landscape changes, such as overgrown or removed trees, or the addition or loss of landscape structures.