Atlanta | Gainesville | January – April 2020
| Atlanta President’s Message I first visited the Garden in 1984 as a young horticulturist working at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City as part of a trip to gain ideas from botanical gardens of all sizes. The Atlanta garden was very young then – Gardenhouse was under construction, and the infamous trailer (the office) was the epicenter. I returned in 1989 and enjoyed my visit tremendously because the Garden had grown so much and the new Fuqua Conservatory had just opened. Never in my wildest imagination did I think that one day I would have the privilege of leading this remarkable garden – and come to know the wonderful Dottie Fuqua so well. Dottie was an avid gardener, a woman with a love of community, family and nature. She told me that one day, many years ago, she asked Ann Crammond, the first Garden Director, what it would take to make the Garden a four-seasons attraction that Atlantans would want to visit. Ann’s immediate response was a conservatory, and the rest is history. Dottie and her husband, businessman J.B. Fuqua, made a generous gift to enable the Garden to build the Fuqua Conservatory. Ann and the board, working with Dottie, recruited Ron Determann, a superb plantsman, to manage the Conservatory and start a collection of tropical plants worth showcasing and in need of conservation. Thirty years later, the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory stands today as the hub of the Garden, inspiring guests while immersing them in remote and exotic places like Madagascar, New Caledonia and Costa Rica. Because of Dottie’s vision and generosity, the Conservatory enabled millions of visitors to learn about the beauty of plants, their remarkable adaptations to habitat and their importance to human kind. I’m reminded of a simple phrase, “Mother Nature does not need man, but man needs Mother Nature”. Dottie had a firm grasp on that importance of the plant world and our responsibility to protect it, and wanted her gift to convey that idea to all who visit – an estimated 7 million-plus by this anniversary. What an impact on our community and the world around us. Happy birthday to the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory!
orchid daze Saturday, Feb. 1 – Sunday, April 12
Mary Pat Matheson The Anna and Hays Mershon President & CEO
| Official News Publication for Members of the Atlanta Botanical Garden | Atlanta | Gainesville Vice President, Marketing: Jessica Boatright | Editor: Danny Flanders | Designer: Bo Shell | Membership Manager: Claudia McDavid 2
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Atlanta |
Latin landscape inspires annual winter exhibition Orchid Daze, the Garden’s annual indoor plant exhibition, celebrates the vibrant presence of orchids in the contemporary gardens of Latin America Feb. 1 – April 12. Across Latin America are many spectacular artists’ gardens. Orchid Daze draws its inspiration from the works of Luis Barragán, one of Mexico’s greatest and most original artists. Educated as an engineer, he became one of the most influential modernist architects of the 20th century. Some of Barragán’s designs were intimate in scale. When he received the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1980, Barragán stated, “You have to make homes become gardens and the gardens, home. Intimacy and home should be there, in the enclosed garden.” Barragán’s enclosed gardens combine the clean lines of the Modernist movement with the vivid colors of rural Mexico. His gardens juxtapose light with shadow and hard edges with fluid water features. Orchid Daze, designed by Tres Fromme of 3Fromme Design, begins in the Conservatory Lobby, transformed into a high-walled contemporary garden with bold colors and some of Latin
America’s most beautiful orchids – arching Laelia spikes and frothy Cattleyas – along with candy-colored bromeliads and spiky agaves. The sun-drenched Corridor becomes another enclosed garden with one of Barragán’s signature set pieces: two opposing mango-colored walls with windows that create a juxtaposition of brilliant sun and deep shadow. Yellow and tangerine Oncidium spikes cascade into the Corridor from the window niches. As the Corridor opens into the Orchid Atrium, a cooler color palette prevails, and a beautiful narrow fountain murmurs between tall shocking pink and blue walls, two of Barragán’s trademarks. Sweetly fragrant Pansy orchids and jewel-toned Odontoglossum carpet the pavers surrounding the water feature. A serene water garden is the focal point of the Orchid Display House. Water tumbles from a wall of large-flowered Lycaste, fragrant Cattleya and lush maidenhair fern into the black water of a reflection pond, forming a tranquil finale for the exhibition. Becky Brinkman Fuqua Orchid Center Manager
Orchid Market Weekends Saturday – Sunday, Feb. 1 - 2, March 7 8, April 4 -5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Find a wide variety of orchids and potting supplies. Look for artwork and crafts by local artists. On Saturdays of those weekends, bring up to two orchids to the Orchid Care Clinics for expert advice; $5 repotting, materials available.
Romance blooms!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by enjoying cocktails, dancing and desserts in the most romantic setting in town – the Garden! Valentines in the Garden, set for 7 – 11 p.m. on Friday, February 14 features decadent chocolates and other scrumptious sweets while visitors sip cocktails from cash bars, dance to live entertainment and explore Orchid Daze by night. The annual exhibition, from February 1 - April 12, highlights thousands of blooms in the Garden’s nationally renowned collection of species orchids. For tickets, visit atlantabg.org.
Vanilla Sunday
Celebrate all things vanilla during Vanilla Sunday on Sunday, March 1, 1 – 4 p.m.! Enjoy a small ice cream sundae (while supplies last) and learn more about the plant behind the popular flavoring. Don’t miss the vanilla-inspired cooking demonstration in the Outdoor Kitchen, and vanilla play dough and other hands-on and nose-friendly activities for the little ones. Discovery Stations will showcase the vanilla orchid growing in the Fuqua Orchid Center and how to make vanilla extract.
Gilardi House in Mexico City was Luis Barragán’s last project and exemplifies the influential architect’s use of bold color, shadow and light. 3
| Atlanta
THE SHOW GOES ON! Biennial plant showcase reblooms at the Garden 4
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The Atlanta Botanical Garden Flower Show – an iteration of previous events resurrected two years ago – returns to the Garden in February with the theme “Expressions”. The indoor show features professionally judged competitions in Floral Design, Horticulture, Landscape Design and Photography, and proceeds benefit the Garden’s International Plant Exploration Program. Deen Day Sanders, a former Garden trustees chair, is Honorary Chair for the show. Kathy Powell, who is co-chairing the event with Liza McSwain, shares a preview of the new show: What’s new or different about this show? We are very excited to introduce the art form of Ikebana to a larger audience. Six Ikebana artists representing the Ichiyo, Ikenobo and Sogetsu schools will create arrangements based upon the expression “Out On a Limb”. This Japanese form of flower arranging is meant to convey emotion through flowers. It’s a disciplined art form that often emphasizes other parts of the plants such as its stems and leaves. In addition, there will be three opportunities for children to enter the show in the Horticulture Division, and the Photography Division will be greatly expanded with six classes of 20 photos each, ranging from traditional photos of flowers to highly manipulated photos on various topics. Finally, our guest speaker will be acclaimed floral designer Jane Godshalk. What lessons did you learn from the 2018 show? After a five-year hiatus of a flower show in Atlanta, the enthusiasm generated for the 2018 event and the large attendance confirmed not only did the public want a show but also a regularly occurring one. We’re delighted that we have been able to introduce the Garden to many first-timers who just simply wanted to see the show but in doing so also became enamored with the Garden. Although the horticulture is delightful as spring draws near, we also realized that the cutting-edge floral designs captured the interest of most show-goers. The floral dresses and table designs were a huge draw.
Atlanta Botanical Garden Flower Show Friday, Feb. 21 – Sunday, Feb. 23 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Preview Party Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. Details: abgflowershow.org For younger audiences that might not be familiar with the concept of a traditional flower show, how do you describe the event – and why is that tradition so important to continue? Flower shows are our opportunity to see both the old and the new. Many of the plants that our grandmothers grew will be exhibited. And, as always there are always new plant cultivars that become must-haves for many seeing them for the first time. This will be an opportunity to appreciate the diverse beauty of nature and to see the bounty of spring. For many, seeing the innovations in floral design will open a whole new world of floral art. Those with an artistic bent will be enchanted with these designs. The Landscape Division will feature real ideas for real gardens through its imaginative plant combinations in container gardens. And finally, the Photography Division will inspire us to look with a more critical eye. To encourage an artistic nature and a love of growing things, we must expose the beauty of nature to all generations. What advice would you give to a first-time entrant who might feel a little intimidated by all the rules?
My first word of advice is to have fun. Horticulture entries are all about the selection process. Walk through your garden, check to see which plant is most ready to go to the party, make a nice clean cut and off you go. It is important to give your specimen water and make sure that it is well groomed just as you would like to be before you go to that special party. All of this applies to potted plants as well. There is no magic. It’s just about being willing to share with others what you have in your own garden, large or small, or it may be just a pot growing on your windowsill. But in the process you will meet other people that love plants. And who knows where this small step will take you? Maybe you won’t get that blue ribbon the first time around, but you will get valuable experience and hopefully have fun along the way. atlantabg.org
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| Atlanta
New season Downed trees impact entry garden renovation
The Anne Cox Chambers Southern Seasons Garden has seen many changes in the last year, and this winter more are in store for this woodland landscape. A year ago, thanks to a gift from the James M. Cox Foundation, Alex Smith Garden Design began a renovation of Southern Seasons, working in collaboration with Garden horticulturists to update the 10-year-old garden by adding new perennials and shurbs, rearranging existing plants. Hand-selected boulders and driftwood were also added to the garden
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to highlight new plantings and rejuvenate the space – designed to demonstrate how Atlantans can garden year round by selecting plants that perform in each of the four seasons. But the project came to a halt in June when a large red oak fell in the garden. The oak was one of the largest trees in Southern Seasons with a diameter of about 48 inches. When the oak fell, it also took out a sizeable hickory tree, a large ash tree and a considerable number of understory trees and perennials. It crushed a Full Moon Maple and a Stewartia, two specimen trees that were original plantings in Southern Seasons. In addition to the loss of valuable trees
and plants, the fallen red oak transformed the space by drastically increasing levels of light exposure. Previously a part to fullshade garden, Southern Seasons is now largely full sun. As a result, shade-loving plants in this area have undergone a great deal of stress. Currently, horticulturists are considering adding large shade trees. Other additions may include beech trees or other specimen/understory trees; evergreens such as hellebores, camellias and distyliums to provide winter interest; and ferns and flowering perennials such as irises to fill in gaps between plantings. When that work is complete, the team revitalize the area between Longleaf restaurant and Fern Dell Fountain and adding more structure to the bowl-shaped bed below the fountain. Erin Bookout Horticulturist
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Get ‘inspired’ for spring Itching to get your fingers in the dirt again? Get motivated for spring at The Inspired Gardener: A Symposium and Silent Auction on January 25 at the Garden. Get new ideas from these seasoned experts during the event, co-presented by the Georgia Perennial Plant Association:
Propagation Inspiration, Ethan Guthrie, Horticulture Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville: Guthrie introduces some of the basic do’s and don’ts of seed and cutting propagation. Design Evolution of the Gravel Garden: Lisa Roper, Horticulturist, Chanticleer: Learn how form, texture, color and rhythm are carefully considered in landscape design.
Jessica Walliser
Playing in the Dirt in the Ripley Garden, Janet Draper, Horticulturist, Smithsonian Gardens: Draper inspires others to look beyond the common when planting their gardens through her inspirational plant combinations.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Jessica Walliser, Horticulturist and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist: Using information from her award-winning book Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, Walliser shines light on the methods needed to attract pest-eating beneficial insects – and keep them there.
A Tree for Every Garden, Jamie Blackburn, Manager, Arborguard Tree Specialists: Learn practical information and ideas about some of the best trees for this region – native, exotic, big, small, showy, edible. For details, visit atlantabg.org
Conservation partners convene in March The Garden will bring together conservation professionals from throughout the Southeast to promote innovative partnerships during the Southeastern
Partners in Plant Conservation conference March 2 – 6. Held at the new Southeastern Center for Conservation, SePPCon will welcome other botanical gardens, non-profits, governmental agencies, private landowners and tribal nations seeking to catalyze collective success in local, state and regional plant conservation. Conference themes include Creative Conservation Initiatives (featuring advocacy, policy and resources), Private Lands Conservation (involving the conservation of rare and threatened plants and unique
habitats on corporate, land trust, military, tribal, utility or other private lands), Safeguarding (seed banking, conservation horticulture, augmentation/reintroduction of species in native habitats and management of wild landscapes or plant collections) and Science for Recovery (research and science-based approaches to conservation of rare species in the wild). Formal partners for the event include Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the American Public Gardens Association, NatureServe, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the USDA Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. For details, visit atlantabg.org/ seppcon.
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HOW LATE IS TOO LATE FOR PLANTING? Spring bulbs are best planted in north Georgia in November and December so that they have enough chill time in the gro schedule it’s still not too late to plant – if you hurry! While not ideal, bulbs can be planted through mid-January and still have time to produce roots and elongate p
ound for maturing properly. But if the holidays got in the way of your gardening properly. Otherwise, they’ll abort as temperatures begin to warm.
‘Caribbean Parrot’ Tulip
Annual flower bulb festival delivers on promise of spring Atlanta Blooms is a fun and exciting way for horticulturists to “play” with bulbs, displaying new colors, new bulb combinations – and even new ways of planting. The bright bloom colors emerge from February through April, depending on weather, with the promise of warm temperatures after an unpredictable winter. The Flower Walk in the Skyling Garden will be planted with a brilliant tapestry of bulbs for Atlanta Blooms! More than 36,000 anemones, hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, crocuses and more will begin to shine shortly after planting in January. And for the first time ever, staff are fully planting out the display containers with layers of bulbs for long-lasting blooms. Think bulb lasagna created from a layer of soil, a layer of bulbs, then another layer of soil, another layer of bulbs etc. As one layer of bulbs fades another is not too far behind. The Garden also is eager to see how its trial bulbs from last year perform in larger combinations. ‘Caribbean Parrot’ and ‘Sunlover’ have shown lots of promise, so hopefully they’re ready to sparkle! Amanda Bennett, Vice President, Horticulture and Collections
Daffodil
Hyacinth
Anemone
Crocus
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| Atlanta
Camellia rosaflora
Characteristics: Native to China. Flower is small, single, soft pink and fragrant. Grows 5 - 8 feet. This species was originally described in 1858 from a specimen at Kew Gardens in London. Bloom time: Winter to early spring
PL ANT CLOSEUP:
ROSE of WINTER
Warm up the Southern garden with the tried-and-true color of old-fashioned camellias
Camellias are one of the reliable workhorses of the Southern landscape, with hundreds of species and thousands of hybrids valued for their cold hardiness and long bloom season extending from fall through spring. The two most common garden species are Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica; the former features smaller flowers and blooms earlier in the fall, while the latter is more common and flowers into spring. The Garden is home to an extensive collection of more than 24 species, including some unusual varieties – most found along Camellia Walk in the Southern Seasons Garden. Here are a few staff favorites: Compiled by Michael Sheek, Horticulture Manager
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Camellia sasanqua ‘Green 94-010’
Common name: October Magic®, Snow Sasanqua Camellia Characteristics: This camellia has a compact and mounded shape. Flowers are frilled and double white with a magenta edge on some petals. New leaves emerging in spring have a copper tint. Bloom time: Fall
Atlanta |
Camellia yuhsienensis
Characteristics: Flowers are sweetly scented, white and single form. Leaves are oval and glossy. This Camellia is tolerant of heat and humidity. Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
Camellia japonica ‘Guilio Nuccio Variegated’
Characteristics: Flower is coral rose pink and white in a marble pattern. Flower size is large to very large. Flower color and pattern is considered stunning. Bloom time: Late fall to spring
Camellia grijsii
Characteristics: Flower is small, white and fragrant. Native to Eastern China. Threatened by habitat loss. Bloom time: Late winter or early spring
FUN FACTS Native to China and Japan, Camellias are EVERGREEN shrubs or small trees that are in the tea family – Theaceae. Leaves of Camellia sinensis are used to MAKE TEA.
Camellia japonica ‘Professor Charles S. Sargent’ Characteristics: The origin of this Camellia is unknown. It was named after a director of the Morton Arboretum. Flower is peony to anemone form with rose pink to dark red color. A vigorous grower up to 15 feet tall, this variety is considered an old-fashioned favorite and has been in the trade for many years. Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
Camellias prefer ACIDIC, WELL-DRAINED SOIL and PARTIAL SHADE conditions (filtered light found beneath trees and high tree branches).
Alabama’s STATE FLOWER is the Camellia. The Camellia is considered the NATIONAL FLOWER of Southern China and symbolizes young sons and daughters, while in Japan it is known as the “Tsubaki” and symbolizes the divine.
Camellias can live up to 200 YEARS. Some types of Camellias are used in Chinese HERBAL REMEDIES used to treat asthma, heart disease and bacterial infections.
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atlanta happenings
| Atlanta
Valentines in the Garden
Friday, Feb. 14, 7 - 11 p.m. Bring your sweetheart for a romantic evening in the Garden, where fragrant orchids, live entertainment, dancing and desserts set the mood. For tickets, visit atlantabg.org.
2020 Botanical Drawing Program Learn to draw under the guidance of artist Carol Anne Sutherland. Beginning with drawing in black and white, the courses develop technique and range from capturing dynamically intricate orchids to creating colorful botanical illustrations. See enclosed Education brochure for details.
The Inspired Gardener: A Symposium & Silent Auction Saturday, Jan.25, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Get excited for springtime and get inspired along with other enthusiastic gardeners while collecting new ideas from seasoned experts at this event hosted by the Garden in partnership with the Georgia Perennial Plant Association. Registration deadline is January 20. See the enclosed Education Brochure and visit atlantabg.org/theinspired-gardener for details.
Orchid Daze Saturday, Feb. 1 – Sunday, April 12
Enjoy thousands of beautiful, fragrant orchids on display during Orchid Daze, the Fuqua Orchid Center’s annual exhibition highlighting winter’s favorite plant in exciting new ways.
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Orchid Market Weekends Saturday – Sunday, Feb. 1-2, March 7-8, April 4-5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Find a wide variety of orchids and potting supplies plus artwork and crafts. On Saturdays of those weekends from 10 a.m. - noon, bring up to two orchids to the Orchid Care Clinics for expert advice; $5 repotting, materials available.
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March - April Explore hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. Check out a variety of ways to grow bulbs, including container gardens and floating islands. Watch for updates on peak bloom times at atlantabg.org
Atlanta Botanical Garden Flower Show Friday, Feb. 21 – Sunday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Experience the beauty and fragrance of thousands of plant specimens as well as creative entries in floral and landscape design, and photography.
Vanilla Sunday
Spring Break Family Fun
Sunday, March 1, 1 - 4 p.m. Enjoy the annual celebration of the vanilla orchid. Learn more about the process of turning vanilla beans into a key extract for desserts and sample a mini vanilla ice cream sundae (while supplies last).
Sensory Friendly Day Monday, March 9, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Individuals with cognitive and sensory processing disabilities and their families are invited to explore the beautiful spring Garden and engage with special learning and art stations.
Sprouting Scientists Friday, March 20, 10 a.m. – noon Discover the world of plants and animals at the Garden. Hands-on stations focusing on the natural world will introduce toddlers to life science concepts. Hosted in partnership with the Atlanta Science Festival. Suggested ages 1 – 5 years old.
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Atlanta Blooms!
April 6 - 10, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Need an exciting family outing during Spring Break? Visit the Garden and enjoy the wonders of springtime with fun and seasonal family activities.
Garden Party Friday, March 20, 5 - 8 p.m. Celebrate spring color surrounded by countless blooms at the second annual Garden Party. Enjoy Garden-inspired cocktails and more during this fabulous welcome to spring.
Earth Day Wednesday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day at the Garden with your family. Enjoy special activities for little ones and don’t miss Mr. Greg’s musical tribute to the earth at 10:30 a.m.
Tickets for Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour April 1 Tickets go on sale April 1 for this favorite Mother’s Day weekend tradition, the Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour. Set for May 9 - 10, the tour features private gardens of varying styles throughout Atlanta.
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| Gainesville
2020 promises to be an exciting year at the Garden, filled with laughter and new adventures as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of our opening in April. But before that, we can’t wait for March’s official grand opening of the Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden. Having watched the development and evolution of the Children’s Garden at our Atlanta location, I look forward to the new dynamic of kids engaged in a new garden space – playing, laughing and learning in a beautiful setting with friends, parents and grandparents. The Garden will be expanding two events this year – our very popular monthly Children’s Performances (held the last Saturday of the month May – September). In addition to the performances, we will add Discovery Stations, games, food carts and music so that families can visit and enjoy the whole garden. These will be held on the last Saturday in May and September. Several areas of the Garden will be undergoing some minor renovations. The Event Lawn perennials are due for dividing, and new perennial and annual drifts will be added – all will expand the multi-seasonal interest of the border which culminates with an explosive crescendo of purple, red, orange and yellow in fall. The former Train Garden (at the end of the Promenade) will see new perennial additions as we remove some of the larger conifers that have overgrown the space. And we will be adding new plants in the Stream Garden as well – new hydrangea cultivars and additional perennials in blues and whites. And don’t forget our regular events – Wine in the Woodlands on the last Thursday of every month, concerts, plant sales (April and October), Scarecrows in the Garden and an imaginative summer exhibition all offer a multitude of ways for members and guests to enjoy the Garden. Hope to see you in the Garden soon! Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director
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Celebrate! New children’s garden packed with adventure
Jack Jeffrey
A Note from the Director
When the long-awaited Children’s Garden officially opens in March it will provide a wonderful opportunity for free play in a botanical-rich setting. Named the Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden, the 2 ½-acre attraction is perched on the highest point of the property. Newly planted trees and flowering shrubs envelope this magical space – an estimated 95 percent of which were grown on site by Horticulture Manager Ethan Guthrie, some for at least seven years from seeds or cuttings. Designed by Spurlock Landscape Architects, the garden features hands-on exploration, opportunities for adventure, water play and free play elements. Sounds of laughter and squeals of delight waft over the entire garden as children check out this wonderful new setting. The winding walkway to the top of the hill is an adventure itself, with colorful spinning pinwheels dotting the journey and shrub tunnels serving as hideouts for miniature fairies and dragons. A balance beam dragon guards the entrance to the garden; its flames of fire lead to the Labyrinth Lawn and Water Play area. A shallow pond, edged by stone boulders, is home to frogs, turtles, fish and dragonflies. A boardwalk winds through tall grasses to the Fairy Forest, home to fairy houses, enchanted tree stumps, and
Children’s Garden Grand Opening Fun-filled celebration features special programming, including face-painting, a performance in the Pavilion, the Tree Man, music, food and more! Saturday, March 21 Member Preview, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Non-members, 1 – 6 p.m. a castle and fairy rings connected by the newly sited Train Garden. This garden features a trolley connecting two fairy villages with fairy houses made of natural materials such as bark, pine cones, acorns, sticks and gourds. The villages are watched over by Desmond the Dragon, a friendly dragon hidden behind the pond. And everyone’s favorite Mosaiculture frogs accent the two sides of the pond, with the smaller frog spitting at the larger. A Treehouse/Play Fort, Boulder Climb, Chase Maze and Build-a-Fort round out the other adventurous areas. Guests already are finding the Children’s Garden the perfect place to build lasting memories of fun, adventure and laughter! Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director
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Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Noon Preschoolers and young children are invited each week to listen to stories about the natural world and create a seasonal piece of art.
Children’s Garden Grand Opening Stachyurus praecox
Wake up winter with unusual flowering shrubs Winter in the garden is often thought of as a time of leafless trees, dormant perennials and very few flowers. Yet there are quite a few blooming shrubs that can help bring your garden out of the doldrums. Here are a few favorites to consider: Fragrant Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox: This is a sometimes forgotten large shrub that blooms in February and is absolutely covered in waxy pale yellow blooms with purplish centers. The flowers are extremely frost tolerant and, as the common name suggests, very fragrant. Although pale yellow is the typical flower color, there is some exciting work being done to introduce new color forms. In the future it could be possible to see pinks, purples and much brighter yellows. Early Spiketail, Stachyurus praecox: Blooming in late February and March, these vase-shaped shrubs are adorned with 4 to 8-inch long pendulous clusters, or racemes, of ivory to pale yellowish-green flowers making an impressive floral display. Two cultivars that can be found in the Gainesville Garden are ‘Sterling Silver’, which is a creamy white and green variegated form, and ‘Ishi Select’, which features deep burgundy flowers with a creamy edge. Winter Hazel, Corylopsis: This is great late-winter blooming shrub that is in the same family as witch hazels but has a very different bloom. Typically blooming sometime in March, this small to medium-sized shrub has 1- to 3-inch long racemes that
Saturday, March 21 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Member preview 1 – 6 p.m.: Non-members Join the celebration as the Gainesville Garden opens the much-anticipated Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden. Designed as a fun, interactive space for children to play, learn and laugh in a beautiful botanical setting, it features a train garden in a whimsical Fairy Forest.
Discovery Stations Saturdays and Sundays, March – April, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Children and families may explore educational stations inspired by nature and whimsical fairylands in the new Children’s Garden.
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Storytime and Smiles/ Budding Artist
Garden Plant Sale Chimonanthus praecox
Friday, April 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (members) Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (public) Shop and purchase unique woody plants and flowering perennials.
Spring Woodland Ramble Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Browse a selection of arts and crafts created by local artisans and enjoy a fun, relaxing day in the Garden. Food trucks available.
Corylopsis pauciflora are primrose yellow. Some of the species represented in the Garden include C. pauciflora, C. veitchiana, C. multiflora and C. glabrescens var. gotoana ‘March Jewel’. Ethan Gurthrie Horticulture Manager
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Atlanta Botanical Garden 1345 Piedmont Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30309
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QUESTIONS? Call 404-591-1539 or email membership@atlantabg.org
commonground SUPPORT THE GARDEN AS A VOLUNTEER!
Children’s Tour Docent Training Tuesdays, Jan. 21 – March 3, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. If you enjoy teaching children but don’t want to grade papers, you should become a Garden Docent. This extensive seven-week course will cover each of the children’s tours for grades K-12. No previous gardening, horticulture or guide experience needed. Attendance is required at all seven classes, and you must commit to leading at least two tours a month during peak seasons. The docent group also enjoys monthly lunch meetings and field trips to other cultural institutions and public gardens.
Member Spring Evening Monday, March 9, 5 - 8 p.m. Participate in myriad activities among colorful spring blooms! Enjoy live music, shop the marketplace, view chef demos, enjoy kids activities and meet Garden staff. Enjoy dinner at Longleaf (reservations suggested) or other food and drink options for purchase. Details at atlantabg.org/member-events.
Summer Exhibitions Member Premieres Tuesday, May 5, 6 – 9 p.m. Contributing and above members Thursday, May 7, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Individual - Family Plus members Members are invited to exclusive premieres of the summer exhibitions of Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined, featuring new giant plant sculptures, and the glass art of Jason Gamrath. Enjoy live music, imaginative entertainment and interactive activities for the entire family.
Gift of Membership Looking for the perfect gift? A Garden membership is a gift for any occasion. Recipients enjoy 12 months of free admission during regular hours at two locations, plus other valuable benefits. Details at atlantabg.org/giftmembership. 16
Call 404-591-1548 or email jtodd@atlantabg.org for details. DIRECTOR’S CLUB & ABOVE
Orchid Daze Soiree Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 - 9 p.m. Director’s Club and Circles members are invited to enjoy an elegant cocktail reception and live music, followed by dessert and after-dinner drinks in the Fuqua Orchid Center surrounded by hundreds of exquisite and colorful orchids. To upgrade to Director’s Club or one of the Circle levels of membership, call 404-591-1538 CONTRIBUTING & ABOVE
Light Bites & Garden Insights GAINESVILLE: Thursday, April 16, 10:30 a.m. – noon Enjoy complimentary light bites and an educational presentation. Details at atlantabg.org/member-events. To upgrade to Contributing level, call 404-591-1544.
Clippings is available online at issuu.com/atlantabotanicalgarden
planthotline How can I condition my soil for the spring garden? Before conditioning your soil, evaluate its current nutrient state with a soil test. Winter and early spring are the best time to sample your garden soil. Plants are still dormant, and you are able to get a sample at a 4- to 6-inch depth. A soil test is available for a small cost from your local county extension office, and the extension agent will review the results with you. These results will include any recommendations (fertilizer or lime) for amending your soil. Soil tests are recommended every two to five years for flower gardens and annually for vegetable gardens.
404-888-GROW planthotline@atlantabg.org