Clippings August - December 2020 by Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta | Gainesville | September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2020

Tour private retreats New childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden Light show celebrates 10!

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| Atlanta President’s Message I know we are all tired of discussing Covid-19, so I will spare you that in this message. Instead, I want to thank our Garden members for your support during this challenging time. After a two-month closure, we welcomed you back in May with joy; it was truly lonely to be at the Garden without members, volunteers and visitors. But nature gifted us with a beautiful spring, an abundance of rain and plants that thrived in such weather. Reopening the Garden required a new way of doing business, and the extended hours work well, enabling so many to visit and still remain distant from other guests. While we miss concerts, large weddings and summer camp, the nightly Cocktails in the Garden – from a distance – has been a welcome change. And as we look forward to the fall and holiday season, you can expect more changes that address the safety of our members and visitors. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights will be as stunning as ever but with much smaller crowds to accommodate distancing. This will be the rare year when you can enjoy the show with half the number of visitors, so we hope that you will show up and enjoy Atlanta’s favorite holiday tradition. Speaking of change, I want to tell you about a major one involving our own Ron Determann (below), who after more than three decades recently retired as Vice President of Conservatories. Like most botanic gardens, Atlanta’s had a remarkable beginning with committed gardeners and volunteers who believed in a dream and tenaciously set about to make it a reality. In 1988, the Garden had the good fortune to hire Ron as its new Conservatory Superintendent. His knowledge was instrumental in the development of the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center. Ron has been a leader worldwide in the development of conservatories and plant collections; in many ways, he was an early pioneer, recognizing threats to plant biodiversity before others. He built the Garden’s orchid, Sarracenia and conifer collections over several decades, and today, we have the largest collections of orchids and Sarracenias in the world. This is a bittersweet time as we congratulate Ron on more than 33 years of dedication to plant collections and conservation, and we celebrate his success and legacy. My favorite line about Ron is that he “can make a pencil grow” – he has done that here and leaves a lasting living legacy for future generations. Mary Pat Matheson Anna and Hays Mershon President & CEO

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Atlanta |

Bring on fall! Cooler days. Crisp blue skies. Golden foliage. It’s all just around the corner as autumn nears, and with that change comes plenty of fun ways to celebrate a new season in the Garden. One is that perennial favorite, Scarecrows in the Garden, presented October 1 – November 1. Look for dozens of sculptures designed by area schools, businesses and families perched around both the Midtown and Gainesville locations. In Midtown, check out the scarecrows while enjoying your favorite craft ale during Fest-of-Ale Tuesdays – Sundays from 5 – 9 p.m. Finally, fall offers the final weeks to experience the giant topiary sculptures of Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined through November 1. It’s not too late to journey down that rabbit hole during this popular exhibition of mosaiculture. Sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, Isdell Family Foundation and Fulton County Arts & Culture. Details at atlantabg.org

| Atlanta STAS

I NG V I T I V

Seeing is believing Tour inspires guests to turn dreams into reality Quaint cottage gardens. Extensive plant collections. Exquisite hardscaping. Gurgling water features. Whimsical bronze sculptures. Welcome to the 2020 Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour, which always serves up a treasure trove of design and planting ideas, whether destined for an expansive landscape, a townhouse courtyard or an apartment balcony. This year’s 36th annual self-guided tour, which benefits the Garden, features four private home gardens in metro Atlanta (pictured here), including Buckhead, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. Some take in the tour to be inspired by unique design concepts, many to learn how to combine plants and still others just to enjoy a beautiful day surrounded by nature. All leave with plenty of ideas for trying back home.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour Saturday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets for the self-guided tour, held rain or shine, are on sale at atlantabg.org. $28 ($22 for Garden members). Details at atlantabg.org/tour.

NOTE: Masks and social distancing are required of all guests, staff and volunteers, and gardens will be monitored to ensure that a minimum of six feet apart can be maintained. For details, visit atlantabg.org/tour.

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Atlanta |

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| Atlanta

Channeling beauty New project adds water feature, new gardens to Storza Woods Storza Woods has long been one of the most beloved and restful areas of the Garden, and over the next year it will become even more inviting and serene. An initial phase of development of the Gardens in Storza Woods in 2015 included the Glade Garden with its 80-foot-long mirror pool that reflects artist Dale Chihuly’s lighted Saffron Tower and cascades over 12 steps into a ravine. As a second phase, construction will begin this fall on an elegantly modern water feature that will flow north to south from the wooden boardwalk, under the stone John Imlay Bridge and terminate in a pool at the base of the water stairs. Complementing the water feature will be three new gardens. Designed by Spurlock Landscape Architects, the project, expected to be completed next August, is made possible by a gift from the Imlay Foundation. “We are so excited about this remarkable and generous gift,” said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s President & CEO. “The new Channel Garden will bring the sweet music of water to Storza Woods and create a transformative new garden that will become a visitor destination.” Spring and summer will emphasize shade-loving shrubs and perennials in chartreuse, purple, yellow and white. Ferns, azaleas and hydrangeas will ebb and flow into other plants, wrapping around the water feature. All plantings are concentrated among three main gardens. Water will flow from the Flume Garden in a 160-foot-long, 4-foot-wide raised concrete, V-shaped channel, passing under the deck and slicing side to side before spilling dramatically four feet into the upper pool in the center of the grove. In the Stream Garden, water that will 6

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RENDERINGS BY SPURLOCK LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

flow under the Imlay Bridge will include a pool and a series of three small rapids. This part of the garden is about 150 feet long and the stream itself is up to 11 feet wide. In contrast to the flume, this part of the stream will feel carved into the earth. Finally, in the Lower Pool and Cascade, water will cascade at the base of a knoll into a quiet pool with a small island. The pool and the stream will disappear around the island and over a falls and be recirculated back to the flume.

Atlanta |

Look up! It’s SlothBot! Garden tests slow-moving robot as new conservation tool

High above the Canopy Walk, a slow-moving robot is perched in the treetops to monitor plants, animals and the environment below – all as a test for a new high-tech tool for saving some of the world’s most endangered species. For the next few months, visitors are able to observe the SlothBot, an energy-efficient robot that lingers in the trees of Storza Woods. Built by robotics engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and inspired by the low-energy lifestyle of real sloths, Slothbot demonstrates how being slow can be ideal for certain applications. Powered by solar panels and using innovative power management technology, the robot moves along a cable strung between two large trees as it monitors temperature, weather, carbon dioxide levels and other information. “SlothBot embraces slowness as a design principle,” said Tech professor Magnus Egerstedt, chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “That’s not how robots are typically designed today, but being slow

and hyper-energy efficient will allow SlothBot to linger in the environment to observe things we can only see by being present continuously for months, or even years.” About three feet long, SlothBot’s whimsical 3-D printed shell helps protect its motors, gearing, batteries and sensing equipment from the weather. The robot is programmed to move only when necessary and will locate sunlight when its batteries need recharging. “The most exciting goal we’ll demonstrate with SlothBot is the union of robotics and technology with conservation,” said Emily Coffey, the Garden’s Vice President of Conservation & Research. “We do conservation research on imperiled plants and ecosystems around the world, and SlothBot will help us find new and exciting ways to advance our research and conservation goals.” Supported by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research, SlothBot could help scientists better understand factors affecting critical ecosystems, providing a new

tool for developing information needed to protect rare species and endangered ecosystems. After testing in the Garden, the researchers hope to move SlothBot to South America to observe orchid pollination or the lives of endangered frogs. “SlothBot could do some of our research remotely and help us understand what’s happening with pollinators, interactions between plants and animals, and other phenomena that are difficult to observe otherwise,” Coffey said. “With the rapid loss of biodiversity and with more than a quarter of the world’s plants potentially heading toward extinction, SlothBot offers us another way to work toward conserving those species.” atlantabg.org

Celebrate a decade of

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights! When the Garden decided after years of planning to launch a holiday light show in 2011 the result was not only the start of a new wintertime attraction for guests but also a holiday tradition for both Atlantans and tourists from throughout the Southeast. “This show has been in the planning stages for years because we wanted it to be unique and innovative – an elegant winter wonderland,” Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s President & CEO, said 10 years ago. “The intent is to throw a sparkling veil over the landscape, transforming how people perceive gardens, particularly the trees.” Since then, nearly 1.5 million guests have passed through the Visitor Center and into the Garden to stroll the Canopy Walk, gaze at Ice Goddess, roast some s’mores, marvel at the model trains, dance to the Orchestral Orbs and grab a selfie at the Poinsettia Tree.

Virtual Reindogs!

Submit a photo of your pup dressed in its holiday finest for the annual Reindog Parade. Don’t have a dog? Don’t worry! You can vote for your favorite costume on our Facebook page. Stay tuned there for details, and until then, happy howl-idays!

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Families and grandparents. Teens and date-nighters. Tour groups and office partiers. If it sounds like a crowd, it was. That, however, was before a pandemic struck the country last spring, and messages like “keep your distance,” “wear a mask” and “wash your hands” became the new normal. This year’s light show, presented nightly November 14 – January 9, will emphasize all of those safety measures and much more to ensure visitors enjoy a worry-free experience. By limiting the nightly capacity for the show and offering timed tickets reserved only online, guests will be able to spread out among the Garden’s 33 acres for what could be their most enjoyable visit ever. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights presented by Invesco QQQ with support from The Home Depot Foundation, Georgia Power and Isdell Family Foundation.

To celebrate the show’s anniversary, here are 10 things to look forward to: 1

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Mark your calendars for October 1 when tickets go on sale at atlantabg.org. Look for a timed-ticketing system much like is used for visiting the Garden during regular daytime hours. Look for all new colors – emphasizing purple, green and aqua – as the Garden purchases new LED lights every three years. Check out your favorite giant plant sculptures from the current exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined costumed in lights instead of annuals, such as the Red Queen, the White Rabbit and the Phoenix. Don’t miss Ice Goddess’s new locks. Her chilly blues, silvers and whites have been warmed up in a nod to spring and the promise of hope. Enjoy a new soundtrack at Nature’s Wonders, the vertical, musical light display descending over the Canopy Walk. Depictions of volcanic eruptions, summer thunderstorms and tranquil sunrises are choreographed with stirring classics and nostalgic favorites.

Reminisce with perennial show favorites like the Great Lawn’s Orchestral Orbs. Be ready to capture those little ones dancing on video!

Grab a hot chocolate and head over to Alston Overlook for taking in the Holiday Model Trains.

Document your annual visit with that traditional photo in front of the Orchid Center’s Poinsettia Tree. Don’t blink and say “cheese”!

Toast the holidays with a Rudolph cocktail in the Skylights Lounge while drinking in commanding views of the city.

Satisfy that hungry appetite after all the walking with dinner at Longleaf restaurant (Reservations recommended). atlantabg.org

| Atlanta

Exotic beauties Conservatory new home to Bromeliads

Recent renovations to the Fuqua Conservatory have included the addition of some new exotic plant species, including brilliantly colorful Bromeliads mounted atop the trunks of tree ferns and surrounding rocks. For those not familiar with the plant, consider the pineapple (Ananas comosus) or air plant (Tillandsias), both of which are in the family Bromeliaceae. With about 3,000 known species, their floral and foliage variation is noteworthy. Many are epiphytic, growing from ground level to high up in the canopies on their host trees. One of the most unique characteristics of Bromeliads is the way in which they collect reservoirs of water within their leaves. These “tanks” host a myriad of fauna such as ants, spiders, tree frogs and snails – highly diverse and complex communities that play an important role in rainforest ecosystems. In the Conservatory, most species are native to Brazilian rainforests, while others represent flora of countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Although native to warmer climates, certain species will grow quite easily

indoors. Within the last decade Bromeliads have made their way into homes as more consumers learn how easy they are to grow. Because they are exceedingly diverse and can easily cross pollinate and interbreed, numerous hybrids, varieties and cultivars area available. Most Bromeliads are monotypic, meaning that they flower only once before sending out offshoots. They will grow under a variety of light conditions, and despite being called air plants, they do not live on air moisture alone; they actually like a daily watering. When growing a Bromeliad in a container be sure to give it very coarse, well-draining media, similar to what’s used for orchids.

Great cover ups Opt for evergreen ground covers over demanding lawns

A healthy, beautiful lawn is a ton of work for those who desire lush green grass all year long. For that reason, ground covers provide the perfect alternative. These plants have the ability to stay compact and stretch across the ground much like turf. Ground covers eliminate the need to mow, fertilize seasonally and water daily, and once established are easy to maintain. 10

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Some of the best options among ground covers include: Marlberry (Ardisia japonica) is a slow-growing evergreen that reaches 5 to 12 inches tall. This ground cover is best for shady or partly shady areas. It bears a pale pink flower from June through August. From mid-September the flower produces a bright red fruit that nestles underneath the foliage through the winter months. Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is another easy-growing plant. It likes shady areas and will take full sun only if the soil is consistently moist. This ground cover produces

Mick Erickson Conservatory Horticulturist

a yellow daisy-like flower in spring and another light bloom in the fall. Deadheading spent blooms improves the appearance of the ground cover. Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’) is a low-growing, evergreen shrub that reaches 4 to 6 inches in height. It has a medium to rapid growth rate, and the foliage turns purplish in winter. This lush evergreen is drought tolerant once established. Japanese spurge, (Pachysandra terminalis) is a shrubby, evergreen perennial that is great for any outdoor space. It produces tiny white subtle flowers. This groundcover looks good under trees, around shrubs and also along walkways. Ori Wright Assistant Horticulturist

Atlanta |

Feast on AgLanta Eats!

PHOTO BY ERIK VOSS

The fifth annual hyper-local food celebration AgLanta Eats returns to the Garden on Monday, Oct. 26, highlighting Atlanta’s rich cultural and agricultural traditions. The event 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 and tours. 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. “AgLanta Eats has truly blossomed from a grassroots gathering of people ‘in the know’ in Atlanta’s local food movement to a wildly fun event bringing together diverse community members to celebrate our city’s agricultural past, present and future,” said Carly Queen, president of the Groundwork Atlanta board. For ticket information and health and safety protocols, visit atlantabg.org.

Circles Members In recognition of their continuing support, below are members of a distinguished donor community that sustains and enhances the Garden: ORCHID CIRCLE $10,000 annually Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Cary Jr. Dr. Lawrence E. Cooper and Mrs. Carol Cooper Mr. and Mrs. John Dyer Virginia and Mitchell Ermentrout Mr. and Mrs. Martin L. Flanagan Mr. and Mrs. J. Rex Fuqua Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Furniss Mr. and Mrs. S. Taylor Glover Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harrison Mrs. Sara Hoyt Mrs. Cara Isdell Lee and Mr. Zak Lee Mr. and Mrs. Michael Z. Kay Mr. and Mrs. James C. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. W. David Knight Ms. Linda Lively and Mr. Jim Hugh Linda and Ed McGinn Mr. and Mrs. Ray D. Moses Mr. and Mrs. Craig D. Perry Mrs. Robin Pollack and Mr. Marc Pollack Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Reiser Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Rigby Mr. and Mrs. H. Bronson Smith Mrs. Linda Sward Carol and Ramon Tomé Janeen and Mark Traylor MAGNOLIA CIRCLE $5,000 annually Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Allen Ms. Elkin Goddard Alston Melissa and Philip Babb Mrs. Natalie Batchelor and Mr. David Batchelor Mr. and Mrs. Dameron Black III Ms. Suzanne M. Dansby Mr. and Mrs. William W. Dixon Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Gatley Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Glenn II Mr. and Mrs. William F. Henagan Ms. Nicolette Hennings and Mr. Michael Paulk Mr. and Mrs. Howell Hollis III Angela and William Hoyt Mr. and Mrs. John J. Huntz Jr. Mrs. Mary Ellen Imlay Mr. Gene J. Kansas Mr. and Mrs. Neville Isdell Bill and Cheri Lennie Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Levy Mr. and Mrs. John F. McMullan Mr. and Mrs. John Hays Mershon Mr. and Mrs. W. Thomas Mobley Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Morgens Mr. and Mrs. George Nemhauser Mr. and Mrs. Howard Palefsky Mr. and Mrs. David Poroch Mr. and Mrs. Marbury Rainer Cindy and Joseph Ronchetti Dr. Deborah Levy and Mr. Bert Russo Mrs. Laura S. Spearman Mr. and Mrs. James D. Spratt Jr. Stephanie and Austin Stephens Mrs. Harriet Warren Kay Watson Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wood ARBOR CIRCLE $2,500 annually Ms. Robin Aiken and Mr. Bill Bolen Mr. and Mrs. Douglas R. Aldridge Jena Alford Mr. and Mrs. H. Inman Allen Dr. Firelli Alonso and Mr. Jon Crate Andreane and Mike Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Asher Mr. and Mrs. Jerry B. Attkisson Ms. Marcia Bansley Ms. Kathleen M. Barksdale Ms. Jan Beaves Mr. Steven Behm Mr. and Mrs. Matthew C. Berberich Christina and Paul Blackney Mr. and Mrs. Frank Blake Ms. Diana Blank Mr. Arthur M. Blank Mr. and Mrs. Moses Bond Mr. Merritt S. Bond Mr. and Mrs. Sam Boyte Lisa and Ron Brill The Honorable Ronit Walker and Mr. Matt Bronfman Susan and Michael Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Norris A. Broyles Jr. Dr. Patricia Burd and Dr. John Burd Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burke Mrs. Dorothy Burns and Dr. Peter Burns Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Butner Ms. Candace Carson Mrs. Carolyn Caswell Mr. Daniel J. Chen Ms. Suzanne Christensen and Ms. Jenni Madragona Martha Clinkscales and David Forquer

Mrs. Christine Tryba-Cofrin and Mr. David Cofrin Kate and Matt Cook Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Cousins Dr. Martyn Crook Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Cushing Robin Cutshaw and Donna Godsey Mr. and Mrs. John Dark Dr. Teresa Dau and Dr. Amanda McMillan Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Peter T. de Kok Washington Dender and Litchfield Carpenter Audra Dial and Matthew Ford Mr. Robert Ditty and Ms. Lisa Yeager Mr. and Mrs. John Dollarhide Mr. and Mrs. David Dorton Mr. and Mrs. H. Alan Elsas Dr. Charles Epstein and Mrs. Terry Epstein Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Fasy Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fraundorf Ms. Jennifer Fuqua Lauren Fuqua Maronnier and Arnaud Maronnier Carolyn Gibbs Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Gossage Mr. and Mrs. Bernard L. Greer Jr. Mrs. Robert Griffith Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Luther T. Griffith Mr. and Mrs. John Hatfield Ms. Anne E. Hayden Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hertz Mrs. Kay Hodges Ms. Caroline Howell Mr. and Mrs. William C. Humphreys Jr. Kay and M. Douglas Ivester Ms. Cynthia Jeness Mr. Robert A. Jetmundsen Emily and Hugh Kendrick Lewis and Minde King Ms. Dorothy Kirkley Mr. James H. Landon Ms. Deborah Levey Mr. John Lewis Jr. Jeannie and E. Glenn Lightsey Mrs. Lynn Lowance Mr. and Mrs. James MacGinnitie Mrs. Cindy Mallard Mr. and Mrs. David S. Martin Ms. Molly Martin and Mr. Jeff Cordle Mr. Albert S. McGhee Mrs. Liza McSwain

Mr. and Mrs. T. Randolph Merrill Mr. and Mrs. K. Ward Miller Mr. James B. Miller Jr. Ms. Melissa Monk Mrs. Nancy Montgomery Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Moore Ms. Christy O’Neill Mrs. Jean Parker Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Parker Mrs. Tonya Paro and Mr. Steve Paro Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Pasquarelli Ms. Kathleen Powell Mr. and Mrs. James E. Prickett Ms. Heather Prill Ms. Denita Pryor Mrs. Mary Anne Quin Mr. and Mrs. Gordon P. Ramsey Mr. and Mrs. William C. Rawson Mr. and Mrs. Roby Robinson Ms. Sylvia E. Russell Lynn and Jan Saperstein Mr. and Mrs. David Schachter Kellie and Eric Schonberg Mrs. LuAnne Schwarz Mr. Matthew Sena Mrs. Dawn Severt and Mr. Timothy Severt Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Shields Jr. Beckie and Dave Smith Mr. Roger Smith Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Staats IV Mr. and Mrs. Mason W. Stephenson Mr. and Mrs. Terry L. Stinson Mrs. Kay Stueve and Mr. James Stueve Sarah and David Sutherland Ms. Margaretta J. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Jason Taylor Kathleen and Jack Thornton Mr. and Mrs. Keith Townsend Ms. Paula Turner Mrs. William G. Vance Pam Wakefield Mrs. Nancy Allen Waterfill Mr. Josh Wilson II Mr. and Mrs. George Wolfes Mrs. Nancy Allen Waterfill Ms. Joni R. Winston Mr. and Mrs. George Wolfes

The above gifts were made as of July 12, 2020.

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atlanta happenings

| Atlanta

Cocktails in the Garden Daily through September, 5 – 9 p.m. Enjoy cocktails from cash bars while exploring Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined.

Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined Through November 1 Journey down the rabbit hole with Alice and her cast of giant plant sculptures during the final weeks of this popular exhibition of mosaiculture.

Fresh Plates Series Select Wednesdays, September – October, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening dining, sipping and learning as local chefs prepare a four-part small plate menu in the Outdoor Kitchen. See enclosed Education brochure or go to atlantabg.org/freshplates for details.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour Saturday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Explore four of Atlanta’s most spectacular private gardens, from tranquil estates to intimate urban spaces.

Virtual ChocolateCovered Weekend Saturday, Sept. 12 - Sunday, Sept.13 Go online to learn about the Garden’s cacao trees inside the Fuqua Conservatory. Enjoy a cooking demo video featuring a homemade chocolate float made by a local chocolatier. Join in the fun with virtual creative chocolate ideas for kids, all on atlantabg.org.

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Atlanta |

Scarecrows in the Garden October 1 – November 1 Dozens of creations by local schools, artists, designers and families are perched throughout the Garden during this popular fall tradition (Scarecrows registration through September 4 at atlantabg.org).

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights presented by Invesco QQQ Saturday, Nov. 14 – Saturday, Jan. 9, 5 – 11 p.m. The 10th annual holiday extravaganza dazzles the Garden nightly with millions of brilliantly-colored new LED lights and displays.

Holiday Model Trains Saturday, Nov. 14 – Saturday, Jan. 9 Join kids and the kids at heart for this holiday favorite.

Fest-of-Ale

Goblins in the Garden

October Tuesdays – Sundays, 5 – 9 p.m. Explore Scarecrows in the Garden during a favorite annual beer fest featuring a variety of specialty ales from cash bars.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Show off your child’s Halloween costume and enjoy a few sociallydistanced fall family activities while exploring Scarecrows in the Garden.

atlanta happenings

HOLIDAYS IN THE GARDEN

Holiday Ride-on Train Saturdays – Sundays, Nov. 14 – Jan. 3 All aboard the Botanical Express for a trip around the Great Lawn. $5 per passenger, $3 for members.

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AgLanta Eats Monday, Oct. 26, 5 – 8 p.m. Enjoy a variety of farm-fresh tastings prepared by local chefs at a hyper-local food celebration featuring locally-grown ingredients.

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| Gainesville

A Note from the Director While we have all enjoyed the summer and reopening of the Garden, fall is always a special time to celebrate the outdoors. I would like to thank our horticulturists for their dedicated, hard work during the time we were closed. Their continuing efforts to maintain the gardens and collections absent of visitors paid off, as returning members and visitors were amazed by the beauty of the Garden. We actually celebrated our fifth anniversary during the shutdown – so it is not a “new” garden any longer but a maturing, full landscape filled with both botanically interesting and beautiful plants. October will be busy, with our Scarecrows in the Garden – creative and fun scarecrows made by students, artists, businesses and members sure to delight and engage as you stroll through the Garden. October will also offer extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays – the perfect time to grab a glass of wine or special seasonal beer and stroll the pathways from 5 to 8 p.m. And we are going to bring back the online plant sale, first offered this spring, with more perennials and woody plants for our members. We have had more time to plan for this sale, so look for a better format, plant descriptions and the opportunity to enhance your garden while socially distancing by shopping online and contact-less pickup. Look for an email with details coming soon. While October and November are always a great time to enjoy spectacular color, we end the year with our annual Holiday Tree Trail. During December, small evergreen conifers will be added throughout the Garden, each decorated with a nature theme. It’s a great way to get out and enjoy the brisk December air and get in the holiday spirit! Even though many of our “normal” activities have been postponed or modified, fall and early winter will be a fun, beautiful time to enjoy the Garden Hope to see you soon! Mildred Fockele Gainesville Garden Director

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Play, learn, grow Some things are worth waiting for. Gainesville’s long-awaited Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden, which opened this spring, has proven to be a hit with families, bringing smiles to guests, parents and kids alike. The garden’s continued growth along with seasonal changes make no two visits the same. Fall’s cooler days offer no better time to play, learn and grow.

Gainesville |

Consider Cyclamen

Think beyond asters and mums for fall In fall, not every plant can take hold of the senses and command attention like the Aromatic aster or Chrysanthemum. But one plant that offers fall interest that can be easily overlooked is Cyclamen. Also commonly known as Persian Violet, the Cyclamen is an herbaceous perennial that generally only reaches three to four inches tall in the landscape and persists in the ground via tubers. Hardy in Georgia, Cyclamen hederifolium, has elegant flowers that rise on tiny stalks in late summer or early fall that are followed by gorgeous ivy-shaped foliage that remains throughout the winter before going dormant in spring. These petite and intricate blooms vary in shades of pink, purple and white, and the foliage has an intriguing mottled pattern in shades of dark green contrasted with silver accents. Some cultivars such as C. hederifolium ‘Silver-Tongued Devil’ have particularly striking leaves that are predominantly silver with a thin dark green margin

and stripe down the center. For really vibrant color, C. coum is a must-see for its fuchsia petals. Cyclamen are especially suited for shaded rock gardens and for fall and winter interest can be effectively overplanted en masse with summer annuals. They enjoy the somewhat dry shade of Gainesville’s woodland garden and can be found in permanent plantings around the base of large trees. Alaina Mansueto Assistant Horticulturist

gainesville happenings Wine in the Woodlands Fridays - Saturdays, 5 – 8 p.m., September – October Explore the Garden with wine, beer or soft drinks from a cash bar (credit or debit card only). Pre-order dinner delivery from 2 Dog Restaurant and dine al fresco on the Event Lawn or the Ivester Amphitheatre. Pre-order details at gainesvillegarden.org.

Story Time & Smiles Wednesdays, 10 – 11 a.m., September – October Enjoy Story Time & Smiles on the lawn in the Glade Garden (weather permitting). Listen to a storyteller with props and a microphone for social distancing to delight children with natureinspired fairytales and stories.

Garden Grooves Thursdays, 10 – 11 a.m. September - October This new family program engages children to sing, dance and wiggle their waggles away! A Garden educator facilitates the shows with music and a microphone and encourages everyone to get up and groove. Families will have designated spots for spacing in the Glade Garden.

Scarecrows in the Garden Thursday, Oct. 1 - Sunday, Nov. 1 Stroll the Garden in autumn and enjoy unique and interesting scarecrows created by local businesses, schools and organizations. Registration details at gainesvillegarden.org.

Goblins in the Garden Sunday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Show off the kids’ Halloween costumes while strolling through fall color. Grab ‘N Go crafts will be available along with musical entertainment.

Holiday Tree Trail Tuesday, Dec. 1 – Sunday, Jan. 3 Discover holiday-themed trees nestled throughout the Garden created by artists, businesses and staff. Registration details at gainsevillegarden.org. Details at gainesvillegarden.org

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

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Learn more at atlantabg.org/memberevents

Member Appreciation Month

Light Bites & Garden Insights

September is Member Appreciation Month, and Garden members enjoy a 15 percent discount in the Garden Gift Shop on all items as well as the chance to win great prizes. Get an early start on holiday shopping! Details at atlantabg.org/ memberevents.

Gainesville: Friday, Sept. 25, 10:30 a.m. – Noon Atlanta: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Contributing-level and above members are invited to enjoy light bites and exciting presentations by Garden experts. An email with details and RSVP information will be sent before the events. Upgrade to Contributing: 404-591-1544.

Member Fall Day Monday, Sept. 14, 4 – 9 p.m. Members are invited to enjoy cooler fall weather and surprise fun activities and entertainment throughout the evening. Dine at Longleaf (reservations recommended) or grab a snack at the Quick Café or the Snack Bar. Details at atlantabg.org/memberevents.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights Member Premiere Thursday, Nov. 12, 5– 10 p.m. Be among the first to experience the 10th annual holiday lights show before it opens to the public (member discount tickets apply). Enjoy festive activities, and food and drink for purchase. Guest passes not accepted.

QUESTIONS? Call 404-591-1539 or email membership@atlantabg.org

planthotline What are the most important gardening tasks in fall? Fall is a great time to walk the garden and evaluate which plants worked and which did not. Then treat yourself and your garden to newly discovered shrubs, trees, bulbs and perennials. Also remember to

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Gift of Membership A Garden membership is a gift for any occasion! Recipients enjoy 12 months of free admission and other valuable benefits. Details at atlantabg.org/join.

commonground SUPPORT THE GARDEN AS A VOLUNTEER!

Garden Lights Volunteers Thursday, Nov. 5, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Spread holiday cheer during the 10th annual light show! Training will cover all the information needed as a volunteer in helping greet and direct visitors, and take their photos. Volunteers must attend the introductory orientation session and commit to volunteering for five shifts during the show, opening November 14. For details and other volunteer opportunities, contact Josh Todd 404-591-1548 or email jtodd@atlantabg.org for details.

Help sow seeds of support Because of the pandemic, the Garden of Eden Ball will not be held this year, but its effort to support the Garden continues. Normally set for September, the ball is the Garden’s largest annual fundraising event, providing critical support for the mission and operations. Continued support comes from Cox Enterprises, Presenting Sponsor, and Dean DuBose Smith as Ball Adviser. For information on how to join the ball’s fundraising effort, “Seeds of Support,” visit GardenofEdenBall.org. The next event is scheduled for September 25, 2021.

keep up with garden maintenance. Rake fallen leaves, divide and move perennials, remove unwanted weeds and imagine great garden additions. Edible plants are increasingly popular. Lettuce provides a bright spot of color in sunny borders. Broccoli, cabbage, escarole, spinach and many more green, leafy plants enjoy the cooler temperatures. Plant most fall vegetables three to eight weeks before

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the first frost, and many, such as collards and kale, will continue to grow during the colder months. Explore the Edible Garden for ideas to try in your home garden. Email the Hotline photos of plants for identification and planting requirements.

404-888-GROW planthotline@atlantabg.org