Clippings May - August 2020 by Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta | Gainesville | May - August 2020

Desert House refresh Heavenly hibiscus Bulbs for summer

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| Atlanta President’s Message There is no need to go back a month or so and review how we all got here, working from home, closing our beloved Garden and stressing over coronavirus. Everyone has his story, and we are all trying to stay safe and look to the future. I hope that you and your family are all indeed safe and healthy, and we look forward to your return to the Garden. Our horticulture, security and maintenance teams have continued to care for the gardens, working under strict safety protocols, of course. Imagine how lucky they have been to enjoy one of the best tulip displays we’ve ever had, sharing it with just the squirrels and birds. I was at the Garden the other day and was enthralled by the bog gardens, the pitcher plants in full bloom with a dazzling skyline and clear blue sky to accent the bog. In short, your botanical garden is thriving and waiting for your return. We also are busy installing our summer exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined, with a huge Alice spinning into the rabbit hole and the Red Queen playing croquet with her flamingo mallet. What a perfectly fun exhibit for welcoming back our members in a joyful way! As we plan for reopening, programs are taking shape that will delight our guests from a distance. We will extend garden hours to provide ample time for you to enjoy the beauty of the garden without large crowds. While we don’t have an exact timeline for reopening, I do think that we will be able to open at least the outdoor gardens for your enjoyment in the not-too-distant future. We certainly have challenges ahead, but thanks to your ongoing support as members I am confident we will meet them and emerge on the other side of this health crisis as a stronger, more vibrant urban oasis than ever before. In the meantime, I hope that you have been able to use this period of isolation as an opportunity to observe nature at a deeper level -- listening for the owls, watching the frolicking goldfinches and witnessing the beauty of spring in the South. The dogwoods have never been more beautiful; nature has been my salvation during this isolation, and I sincerely hope you all take the time to enjoy it. And know that the gardens in both Atlanta and Gainesville are waiting for your return. Mary Pat Matheson The Anna and Hays Mershon President & CEO

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Atlanta |

REIMAGINE IT! Alice’s Wonderland blooms bigger and better this summer Alice’s Wonderland returns to the Garden this summer – bigger and better than ever – accompanied by some new friends along for the ride down the rabbit hole. Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined, presented through November 1, features many of the enormous topiary-like sculptures from last year’s Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland but also joined by several new sculptures. In addition to the towering White Rabbit, sprawling chess board and heart “trees,” and Cheshire Cat perched nearby, look for a 16-foot Red Queen and an all-new 14-foot Alice rotating in the Howell Fountain pool as she plummets down the “rabbit hole”. The sculptures are created through the centuries-old art of mosaiculture in which steel forms are covered in fabric, filled with soil and planted with thousands of living plants to form a colorful carpet. The Garden first introduced guests to the art in 2013 when it presented the United States’ first major exhibition of mosaiculture produced by International Mosaiculture de Montreal®, a nonprofit group that has staged wildly successful displays of its work around the world. In addition to this spring’s temporary exhibition, guests will be greeted by two permanent sculptures that are legacies from previous shows – the iconic Earth Goddess and the lovable Shaggy Dog. Guests may enjoy the sculptures dramatically lit at night on Thursdays during Cocktails in the Garden from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.

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| Atlanta Atlanta

Feast on AgLanta Eats! The fifth annual hyper-local food festival AgLanta Eats returns to the Garden on Monday, July 27, celebrating Atlanta’s rich cultural and agricultural traditions. The festival will feature a variety of tastings prepared by top local chefs utilizing the freshest ingredients from the City of Atlanta’s AgLanta growers and metro Atlanta farms. Guests may explore the Garden while enjoying farm-fresh food, a selection of beverages, live music, tours and more. Each participating chef is asked to create unique tastings featuring locally grown ingredients. Chefs go to great efforts to create, preserve and advance a culture of good local food and are excited to highlight what each grower partner brings to the table. Proceeds from the event benefit the AgLanta Grows-A-Lot program, which, in association with Groundwork Atlanta and the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience, supports the conversion of vacant and underutilized parcels in low-access areas of Atlanta to productive urban farms and gardens. The program was launched in 2016 to help reach a goal of ensuring that 75 percent of Atlantans are within a half

PHOTO BY ERIK VOSS

mile of healthy food by 2022. “AgLanta Eats has truly blossomed from a grassroots gathering of people ‘in the know’ in Atlanta’s local food movement to a wildly fun festival bringing together thousands of diverse community members to celebrate our city’s agricultural past, present and future,” said Carly Queen, president of the Groundwork Atlanta board. “Event attendance has nearly doubled each year, largely thanks to

Sweet success Fragrance Garden gets Savannah-style boost

After nearly 20 years, the Fragrance Garden was long overdue for a makeover, and for inspiration the staff looked to the quaint courtyards of Savannah. Nestled between the Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center since the latter opened in 2002, the Fragrance Garden’s recent renovation follows its original design of having certain colors of fragrant flowers in bloom throughout the year, along with evergreen foliage. As in the tiny gardens of Savannah, Southern style fragrance, form and texture take

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the amazing chefs and partners who bring delectable dishes to the table for guests to try in the stunning setting of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. People love that this event is not only full of epicurean delights, but that it also supports increased access to locally-grown food in Atlanta.” For ticket details, visit atlantabg.org. Moe Hemmings Community Outreach Manager

center stage in the updated space. Structural shrubs like Pittosporum tobira ‘Mojo’ along the bluestone pathway and Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ behind Pan fountain give a framework for other elegant additions. Summer will emphasize shades of pinks, purples and whites. ‘Fair Rosamund’ clematis is among many new plants that will be in full bloom between June and September. The fragrant flower has white petals and pink-purple stamens. In fall, the garden will be full of seasonal colors. The yellow aster-like flowers of the Farfugium japonicum and the yellow-orange fall foliage from Amsonia tabernaemontana are a few plants that will represent warm colors. Amanda Bennett Vice President, Horticulture & Collections Lindsay Bowen, Senior Horticulturist

‘Fair Rosamund’ clematis 4/15/20 6:28 PM

Atlanta |

Through November 1

A new cast of giant plant sculptures based on the characters of Alice in Wonderland blooms in the Garden.

Cocktails in the Garden Thursday, through September 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Enjoy specialty drinks from full cash bars and the summer exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined.

Garden Chef Cooking Demos Saturdays – Sundays through October Noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Stop by the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen on weekend visits when Garden Chefs share fresh cooking tips and recipes based on seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs in tasty mouth-watering recipes.

Palms + conifers = rare new garden Two plant groups rarely seen growing together are being combined to create a new garden outside the Fuqua Conservatory. An area to the right of the building’s entrance has been renovated for expanding the Garden’s nationally recognized conifer collection while showcasing several noteworthy existing palms. In 2018, the Garden, with support of The Frasier-Parker Foundation, launched an expansion of its conifer collection. Dating to 1994, the Dwarf and Rare Conifer Garden is located to the left of the Conservatory and recognized by the American Conifer Society as a reference garden. For the adjacent space, staff worked with landscape designer Tres Fromme to develop a plan focused on combining several irreplaceable existing palms with many new conifers, some commercially

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available and others collected through the Garden’s International Plant Exploration Program. Perennials and annuals will accompany the palms and conifers for a total makeover of the area, previously planted only with palms. There, several conifers such as Amentotaxus hatuyensis are making their garden debut, while purchases such as Cryptomeria japonica ‘Twinkle Toes’ and Calocedrus decurrens ‘Maupin Glow’ will dramatically enrich the overall collection. Palms that were relocated during the project will return to their new home for a horticulturally delightful mix of two plant groups not often seen in cultivation together. Amanda Bennett Vice President, Horticulture & Collections Jim Smith, Horticulture Manager

atlanta happenings

Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined

Endangered Species Day Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Celebrate rare plants and animals in honor of Endangered Species Day! Get up close with exceptional creatures and learn about conservation efforts throughout Georgia.

Refugee Recipe Celebration Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Special guests from Friends of Refugees will mix up the weekend cooking demos in honor of World Refugee Day. Cooks from several countries serve tastes of food or drinks highlighting traditional recipes.

Garden of Eden Ball Saturday, Sept. 26 As the Garden’s largest annual fundraising event, the gala generates vital revenue for Garden operations. For more information, call 404-5911730 or visit gardenofedenball.org.

Visit atlantabg.org for the most up-to-date details on these events.

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| Atlanta

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Atlanta |

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| Atlanta

Hidden gem

Often overlooked, Desert House gets a refresh

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Atlanta | The Desert House may be a little off the beaten path inside the Fuqua Conservatory, but it provides a fascinating counterpoint to the rainforest environment found in the building’s Tropical Rotunda next door. Rainforests are well known for extremely high levels of biodiversity among their plants and animals, but in the desert there are ecosystems with biodiversity that rival and sometimes exceed those found in much more humid tropical forests. The Desert House focuses on two such arid regions – the desert portions of southern Africa and Madagascar. Both places are home to some of the most diverse and unusual groups of plants found anywhere in

the world. Many of the wild populations of the plants on display are threatened because of habitat loss and over-collection, so a stroll through the Desert House is a great way to become better informed about this fascinating group of plants and the ecosystems where they thrive. Some types of succulents found in the Desert House include Euphorbias, many of which resemble cacti but aren’t closely related genetically; Cycads, which superficially resemble palms but are an ancient group of plants dating to the time of dinosaurs; and the highly unusual and rare plants within the family Didiereaceae, restricted to the spiny forests in a small part of southwestern Madagascar. The form and texture of these plants come together to provide a look and feel to Desert House that is strikingly unique. Others, such as the beautiful desert rose (Adenium sp.), rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) and an array of succulent asters (Senecio sp.)

provide accents of color in the displays. To further enhance the Desert House’s varying textures and brilliant colors, the Garden is acquiring many additions to its succulent plant collection. A selection of rare southern African desert bulbs that bloom in an amazing array of colors at various times throughout the year is being installed this spring. Another upcoming addition is a new collection of Lithops, also known as “living stones”. These tiny succulent plants are native to South Africa, Namibia, parts of Botswana and Angola. Lithops are often nearly indistinguishable from the rocks that litter the surface in the extremely dry and harsh ecosystems in which they are found. Despite their inconspicuous appearance, they produce beautiful flowers in a variety of colors. Trey Fletcher Curator of Desert House

Graskop aloe (Aloe alooides)

Desert rose (Adenium obesum )

Fengoky (Delonix decaryi) 9

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| Gainesville

A Note from the Director It is hard to believe, but five years ago in May, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville opened its gates. Thanks to the generous support of the community volunteers and donors, and the hard work of an incredible staff, we have much to celebrate! The Garden has matured and provides a breathtaking respite, no matter the season. Hiking trails through the woodland are enjoyed by multiple generations of families and daily walkers. The Garden holds two nationally accredited plant collections -- Magnolias and Maples – and they are continuing to develop and be displayed and enjoyed. Seasonal annual displays and container gardens provide a beautiful backdrop to the many events throughout the year. From concerts to classes to exhibitions, the Garden has provided entertainment, education and a venue for new audiences. And the new Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden is inspiring the next generation of garden lovers! The behind-the-scenes work of the International Plant Exploration Program, the Native Plant Conservation Nursery and our backup greenhouses are so important to the mission of the Garden. The IPEP is adding to its network of partners in southeastern Asia, and new plants for the southeastern United States are currently being evaluated in the nursery. The Native Plant Conservation Nursery has been updated and provides a vital link to the various conservation projects around the Southeast. The backup greenhouses are growing new plant varieties and providing valuable plant propagation information to the nursery industry. The Garden will continue to add to its programming and educational offerings – from expanding our family programs to new events for members and guests. We’ve come a long way since 2001 when Gainesville residents Charles and Lessie Smithgall proposed donating their home property to the Garden for protecting the land in perpetuity. And it has been a joy and a delight to bring their vision for preserving this green space in northeast Georgia to fruition. Hope to see you in the Garden! Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director

Field test

Nursery evaluates plants under Georgia conditions

Tucked away on the back side of the Gainesville Garden is an outdoor science lab that’s all about trial-and-error. The plant evaluation nursery, not open to the public, is designed to allow staff to test plants in the ground given a variety of exposures ranging from full sun all day to filtered light in a woodland setting. The nursery represents a third critical component in the Garden’s International Plant Exploration Program; the other two are field exploration for seed collection trips throughout Southeast Asia and hosting visiting scholars from other institutions. In the evaluation nursery, plants are monitored regularly for their potential to become invasive; their susceptibility to insects and disease; their hardiness in extremes of cold, hot, dry and wet conditions; and their ornamental appeal. Most plants are monitored for up to three to five years in order to continue to make room for new evaluations. The field nursery is not meant to be designed, planted or maintained as a garden; instead, it is a place to experiment with new collections of plants fully exposed to

north Georgia weather conditions. Work on the project began in earnest last summer. Horticulturists began planting the first plants in July – only after water was made available on site. By the time an 8-foot deer fence was built around the nursery and nearly three-quarters of a mile of PVC pipe installed and connected to a well, the heat of the summer had set in. Yet, with the help of a large auger bit and machinery, more than 300 plants were installed by the end of the year, representing nearly 200 taxa, or plant groups. Scott McMahan Manager of International Plant Exploration

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Gainesville | Zephyranthes is a small, whimsical plant that works well tucked among other perennials or in large drifts on its own. It gets its name “Rain Lily” from its enchanting habit of blooming after a summer rainstorm.

Summer bulbs Add some pop with these easy perennials Everyone looks forward to spring when classic fall-planted bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and tulips put on a marvelous show lasting several weeks. Luckily, the bulb-planting fun doesn’t have to end there. Just as the springtime extravaganza comes to a close and the flowers begin to fade, it’s time to start preparing for the summer bulb show. Planting these beautiful perennials is as easy as digging a hole in mid-spring and dropping the bulbs in, and many of them will pop up and bloom just a few short months later: Bletilla, also known as Hardy Orchids, are a must-have for any gardening enthusiast. These low-maintenance terrestrial orchids grow from pseudobulbs and will grace a shade garden with their beautiful dainty blooms.

Crinum is a tough-as-nails bulbous perennial with spectacularly massive lilylike flowers and a mildly sweet fragrance. This plant can tolerate a wide range of conditions and will quickly become a favorite in the garden.

Crocosmia is another easy-to-grow plant with tall, sword-like foliage, and it actually grows from corms rather than true bulbs. Rising above the leaves is a spectacular display of bright, warm-colored flowers, followed by equally as attractive seed pods in the fall.

Michael Del Valle Senior Horticulturist

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Atlanta Botanical Garden 1345 Piedmont Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30309

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life blooms on! Until the Garden is able to reopen, stay connected with it online! Discover beautiful photos and video of fun, educational and entertaining ways the staff works to not only keep the Garden stunning but also to instill an appreciation of nature. Visit atlantabg.org/lifebloomson for this and much, much more: A Virtual Garden Tour

How-To’s with the Pros

Learning with Little Sprouts

Gift of Membership A Garden membership is a gift for any occasion. Recipients enjoy 12 months of free admission at two locations, exclusive events, reciprocal privileges at gardens around the country and other valuable benefits. Details at atlantabg.org/giftmembership.

planthotline

404-888-GROW

How can I attract more bees and butterflies to my garden?

butterflies, wasps and beneficial insects (which eat the bad bugs). Try mixing the plants with companion veggies, such as marigolds with carrots (from seed) and tomato plants. Cilantro also is easily grown from seed. Remove spent blooms from plants to encourage rebloom and replant if needed during the long summer.

Want more buzzes and flutters? Plant pollinator zones. First, no pesticides are allowed. Try planting milkweed, bee balm, sunflowers, thyme, fennel, dill, salvia, marigolds and other flowering plants to attract pollinators like bees,

planthotline@atlantabg.org

2019 Volunteer of the Year:

Bob Nelson

Activities: Nelson began volunteering at the Garden in 1997 after taking the University of Georgia Master Gardener course in Day Hall. He discovered how much he enjoyed the Garden and started shortly afterward volunteering with the outdoor plant collections, working alongside the horticulture staff. Then, putting his Master Gardener course to work, he assisted with the Plant Hotline. He was named to the Centennial Club in 1999 for contributing 100-plus hours within a year. In 2010, he began volunteering in the new Edible Garden on Thursday mornings and has worked there ever since. Nelson was selected Volunteer of the Month in February 2018. Staff: Staff describe Nelson as consistent, faithful and always in a good mood with a great attitude. “Some of my fondest memories working at the Garden are with his Thursday morning crew,” former Garden horticulturist Colleen Golden said. “He is an exceptionally skilled gardener, always reliable, up for any task, and if you could catch his quiet comments, they are incredibly funny.” Hobbies: Nelson gardens at his Roswell home, tending to shade plants and shrubs. Other hobbies include restoring antique clocks and painting. Josh Todd, Volunteer Manager

Clippings is available online at issuu.com/atlantabotanicalgarden

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