River Garden

Our Gift to the Community and to Our Many Friends Beyond

Submitted by Betty Cobb

Warm days and cool evenings in the north Georgia Mountains. Summertime has arrived. Come celebrate with us! It is our 14th annual Flower Festival. Our theme this year is God’s Creation “Behold, I Make All Things New”. The Festival will take place July 9th & 10th, 9:30am – 4:00pm at St. James Episcopal Church located at 260 Warwoman Road, Clayton, Georgia.

Come early and enjoy the morning demonstrations: Friday at 10:30, Forging the Forest Apothecary with Cara-Lee Langston. Saturday at 10:30, A tisket, a basket with Bev Mannes.

We are delighted to have Cara-Lee Langston joining us. She is a South African-born nutritionist, herbalist, wellness cook and educator. She holds an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Georgia State University, a Certificate in Medical Herbalism from the Botanologos School of Herbal Studies, a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health, and is a Certified Wild Mushroom Food Safety Specialist. Cara strives to build relationships with local farmers and engage community interest in integrative health and wellness.

We are always happy to have our own very talented Bev Mannes who will be with us on Saturday. Bev has loved arranging flowers since she was a little girl growing up in her dad’s flower shop in Holland, Michigan. What she learned in combining colors and varieties of flowers has carried over into her art quilts. Teaching people to repair computers puts her at ease when speaking and demonstrating arrangement techniques using creative containers and designs.

As you enjoy the flower arrangements depicting many of God’s Creations, take a few minutes to reflect on “All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful: The Lord God made them all”. The wonders of God’s creation are all around us, we just need to look for them. Experience one interactive exhibit and try to identify as many plants named for God’s creatures as you can. Look for everything from monkey grass to birds of paradise. The honey bee and honey have significant meaning in religion and are often mentioned in the Bible. Honey bees have been the official insect of Georgia since 1975. The mountains, trees, the galaxy and a miniature garden will all be represented in floral arrangements. We will surprise you with many more.

Leave with a new appreciation, and a heightened awareness of the wonders that surround us every day. “God in his heaven, all’ right with the world”. Tour our lovely gardens while visiting our campus. They are planned and cared for by volunteers and considered sacred. The Mission Of Saint James: To worship God, renew our hearts and minds, and serve others.