Friday, December 13, 2013

Here are the top winners of our 2013 Art Competition.

First Place - "The State Botanical Garden of Georgia"
Sara Sturges, Watkinsville

Second Place - "Orchids"
Chelsea Morey, McDonough

 
Third Place, "Spiderwort"
"OC" Carlisle, Athens

Third Place - "Flowers of the Wild"
Analea Briceno, McDonough

Third Place - "Brown Thrasher"
Sara Sturges, Watkinsville



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

We have a winner!


Congratulations to Sara Sturges of Watkinsville, who won our 2013 State Botanical Garden of Georgia Art Competition. There were 57 entries, which very much impressed our judges. There is a glitch in getting all five winners (we had a 3-way tie for Third Place, including Sara's other entry) onto this blog post; we will post all five winners soon. In the meantime, here are the 2013 winners:


2013 State Botanical Garden of Georgia Art Competition

First Place:

Sara Sturges, Watkinsville                            Oconee County High School
   “The State Botanical Garden of Georgia” – digital

Second Place:

Chelsea Morey, McDonough                      Union Grove High School
   “Orchids” - Prismacolor

Third Place (Three-way tie):

Analea Briceno, McDonough                      Union Grove High School
   “Flowers of the Wild” – watercolor, ink

"OC" Carlisle, Athens                                       University of Georgia
   “Spiderwort” – colored pencil

Sara Sturges, Watkinsville                            Oconee County High School
   “Brown Thrasher” – digital

Certificates of Merit:

Andie Ashe, Athens                                        University of Georgia
   Untitiled – digital

Severen Brown, Athens                                                Athens Academy
   “Denizens of Detritus” - scratchboard

Erica Dutton, Rome                                         Armuchee High
   Ribbon Blooms” – pen, ink, colored pencil, marker

Sydney Fielding, McDonough                     Union Grove High School
   “Zinnias” – Prismacolor

Rosa Galdamez, Athens                                                Cedar Shoals High School
   “Saving Seeds in My Life” – oil pastel

Madison Hogan, Athens                                  Cedar Shoals High School
   “…Mother Earth Smiled” – watercolor, pencil

Jiade Li, Acworth                                              Furtah Prep
   “Inner Peace” – oil pastel

Natalie Pecasner, McDonough                   Union Grove High School
   “Lilly Pads” – Prismacolor, pencil, acrylic

Wick Prichard, Athens                                    University of Georgia
   “Southeastern Soil Ecosystem” – digital

Allison Rautmann, McDonough                 Union Grove High School
   “Flower” - Prismacolor

Thy Vo, Lawrenceville                                    Berkmar High
   “Connected” – digital

Trisha Walden, Commerce                           East Jackson Comprehensive High School
   “The Simple Life” – ink

Yan Lin Yang, Acworth                                    Furtah Prep
   “Rose” – pencil

Monday, December 9, 2013

Sculpture created by land artist Chris Taylor and children in the Garden.

Land artist Chris Taylor has posted photos of "Wooden Trail," an art installation that he created with children during our Fall Festival in October. Take a look at www.34north.org, then come to the Garden to see it in person.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Healthy Cooking for the Family, Healthy Cooking with the Family


A delightful evening at the State Botanical Garden with an author speaking about healthy cooking from your garden, a book signing, tastes of recipes prepared by Slow Food Greater Athens, plus a wine and cheese tasting by The Healthy Gourmet – all for only $12.

Limited tickets available - get yours at www.botgarden.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-9353.

 

 Healthy Cooking for the Family, Healthy Cooking with the Family


An evening celebration at the Garden to inspire and relax you into the holidays.

Family is gathering, schedules are filling, lists are building. You need inspiration for healthy food to cook for and, even better, with your family. You also need ideas for holiday and hostess gifts. And, oh yes, you could use a date night with your spouse or a night out with friends.


On Wednesday, November 20, the Garden will be celebrating the beginning of the holiday season with a wine and cheese tasting coordinated by The Healthy Gourmet of Athens from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in the Visitor Center & Conservatory. At 7:00 Patricia Moore-Pastides, author of Greek Revival From the Garden, will discuss cooking healthy, fresh foods to please the entire family, how she uses her garden harvest in the kitchen, and container gardens for Mediterranean cooking. Slow Food Athens will provide tastes of food cooked from recipes in the book. And to inspire holiday shopping, the Garden gift shop will be open for the evening and Patricia will be signing books after her talk.


Tickets are $12 each. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 706-542-9353 or visit botgarden.uga.edu.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Celebrate Nature and the Changing Seasons at the State Botanical Garden’s Fall Festival



Bring the family to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia on Saturday, November 9 for a Fall Festival celebrating nature, discovery and creativity. From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm children and their families will be able to learn about migrating birds, build structures using natural materials, play in fall leaves, create arts and crafts, and taste familiar and maybe not-so-familiar fall harvests. Local artist Chris Taylor will create an outdoor land art installation during the festival, guiding children to help with this creation. This event is free, but donations for the planned Children’s Garden will be accepted.

Before the free festival, the Family Hiking Club that will meet in front of the Visitor Center at 9:00 am. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes to explore the woods, streams, and gardens. Cost for the Family Hiking Club is $5/person or $15 per family (children 3 and under are free.)

For more information about these events call 706-542-6156, email ckeber@uga.edu, or visit www.botgarden.uga.edu.

Friday, October 25, 2013

2013 Art Competition


It’s fall again and that means it’s time for the annual statewide art competition sponsored by the J.A. and H.G. Woodruff, Jr. Charitable Trust.

If you are a Georgia student 9th grade and above, including full and part-time college students, we want to see your artwork!  The artist with the winning piece will receive $1,000 with additional awards of $500 and $250 for second and third place, respectively, and certificates of merit being presented.

We are looking for a piece of artwork to use to create unique items for the Botanical Garden’s gift shop, so please keep that in mind when submitting. Previous items the Garden has created include T-shirts, mugs, stationary and totes.
Submissions should follow the guidelines closely. Artwork must be two-dimensional in square, horizontal, round, vertical or oval format and be no larger than 24” x 36”. All two-dimensional media are allowed including pencil, pen and ink, photography, paint, collage and computer enhanced graphics.

Artwork does not need to be framed, but should be signed. For more information and the entry form please visit http://botgarden.uga.edu/docs/visit/artcomp.pdf.

Deliver submissions to the lower level of the Callaway Building at the Garden or mail to Connie Cottingham at 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, December 4, at 5:00 p.m.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Garden Travels: Quebec City and the Gardens at Les Quatres Vents


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuesday, October 22                                      
6:00 pm social hour, 7:00 pm talk
 
G
ardenside Room, Visitor Center                 
Free, please donate at the entrance
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens
 
Don’t you love to get together with friends and visit great gardens? Well, let’s do.
In August Connie Cottingham and Mike Sikes traveled to Quebec City to attend the Garden Writers annual meeting and spend a day at the Gardens at Les Quatres Vents, a 28 acre garden that has been described as one of the "most aesthetically satisfying and horticulturally exciting landscape experiences in North America."  We will gather for a social hour, enjoying dinner or coffee from Donderos’ Kitchen (Dutch treat,) and then have a seat and enjoy a vicarious tour of a historic city and amazing gardens and parks. No reservations necessary.
 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Medicinal Plant Symposium

Spend a day exploring at the Medicinal Plant Symposium on Tuesday, October 15, at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Learn from six medicinal plant experts about traditional and current uses of medicinal plants in your garden to the health food store to other continents. Join us as we go in-depth to discover: 1. plants and animals in traditional Chinese medicine, a diverse pharmacopoeia with a 5,000 year history 2. use of herbs to aid people experiencing emotional, physical and spiritual imbalances 3. herbs that can be harvested from your garden each season to promote health 4. how horticulturists are improving the production of Artemisia annua for the fight against malaria 5. herbal formulas in Chinese medicine that can be used for common ailments such as colds, upset stomachs and pain relief 6. the UGA Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden on the UGA campus, featuring over 150 species of ethnobotanical importance This symposium will be held from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm in the Callaway Building Auditorium, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens and costs $60 (including a buffet lunch.) Preregistration is required. Before the morning break, two State Botanical Garden staff members will talk about plants available in the plant sale that is open to the public from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. For more information about the symposium and instructors or to register call 706-542-6156 or visit botgarden.uga.edu.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

2nd Annual Bluestems & Bluejeans Native Plant Sale and Family Event

Adding to your garden this fall? Consider adding native plants to your garden. They are well suited for the area, are an important food source for birds and pollinating insects, and can add color and beauty to your garden. The perfect place to find these special plants is the State Botanical Garden of Georgia (2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens) on Saturday, October 5. The Bluestems & Bluejeans Native Plant Sale will be held from 9 am to 2 pm. But this free event is much more than a plant sale. There will be an opportunity to tour the Garden’s new Piedmont prairie area and tour the Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies, plus there will be special activities for children from 10 am to 1 pm. For more information call 706-542-9353. To help you with your shopping list, the Garden has posted the list of over 200 species that will be available at this sale at www.botgarden.uga.edu. More information on this event can also be found at this website.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Gold in Your Garden Symposium and Plant Sale at State Botanical Garden of Georgia

The biennial Gold in Your Garden symposium will be held from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia on September 12, 2013. Four speakers will be teaching participants how to design with and grow Georgia Gold Medal Plants, a palette of beautiful, reliable, easy-to-grow plants for Georgia gardens. “Designing with Gold: Creating a Garden for Year-round Interest” will be the keynote talk by Erica Glasener, who received the Garden Media Award from the Perennial Plant Association and an “Award of Excellence” from the Garden Writers Association of America for her work on HGTV’s A Gardener’s Diary. Glasener has authored and co-authored many gardening books, including books specific to gardening in Georgia. Dottie Myers, of Dottie Myers and Associates, Decatur, will speak on “Favorite Gold Medal Plants and Their Best Use.” Myers has grown Georgia Gold Medal plants in many client gardens in the Atlanta area and will share experiences, design and culture advice for specific plants. Horticulturist Mike Sikes of Athens will speak on “New Cultivars of Past Winners,” updating the audience on the latest cultivars of proven Gold Medal winners. Sikes discusses these cultivars with breeders, growers, fellow garden writers and Master Gardeners and travels to nurseries and gardens around the world to stay up-to-date on the horticulture industry. Matt Whiddon, President of Columbus in Color in Columbus, GA, will discuss “Color in the Garden” and how to use Georgia Gold Medal Plants to add life to your landscape. Cost is $60 in advance or $70 at door and includes lunch. The plant sale will be from 10:30 to 3:00 in front of the Callaway Building and is open to all, whether or not attending this symposium. Find out more about the Georgia Gold Medal Symposium at www.botgarden.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-1244. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is located at 2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Grogus Outdoor Concert under a Full Moon on August 20

Athens, GA - Grogus will perform the next concert in the Sunflower Music Series at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens) on Tuesday evening, August 20. The two-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. on the stage of the terraced Flower Garden. A crowd favorite, Grogus will play Latin jazz, traditional Cuban and Caribbean styles and funk versions of jazz standards. They are past recipients of the Flagpole Athens Music Award in both the Jazz and World Music categories. They just make you feel good, listening to the upbeat lyrics and tempo, so kick off your shoes and dance in the super-soft grass in front of the stage. Grogus has been part of the Sunflower Music Series for years, creating a joyful dance party on the lawn. Tickets are $15 each and $5 for children ages 6-12. Admission to each concert includes beverages and light snacks. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and picnic dinners or purchase dinner from Donderos’ Kitchen. Lawn chairs are only allowed for those with physical limitations. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be held inside the Visitor Center and Conservatory. For information on the concert series or to purchase tickets, call 706-542-1244. Tickets also may be purchased at the Garden Gift Shop or Wuxtry Records in Athens. The Sunflower Music Series is sponsored by Friends of the Garden, Northeast Sales Distributing, Inc., Athens Coca-Cola, Musicians Warehouse, and Flagpole.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Gold in Your Garden Symposium and Plant Sale - September 12


It’s time for the biennial Gold in Your Garden symposium, teaching us how to design with and grow Georgia Gold Medal Plants, a palette of beautiful, reliable, easy-to-grow plants for Georgia gardens. This year’s speakers include Dottie Myers, Matt Whiddon, and Mike Sikes. Keynote speaker Erica Glasener received the Garden Media Award from the Perennial Plant Association and an “Award of Excellence” from the Garden Writers Association of America for her work on HGTV’s A Gardener’s Diary. She has authored and co-authored many gardening books. Find out more about this symposium at www.botgarden.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-1244. 8:30 am – 3:00 pm, $60 in advance, $70 at door. 
The plant sale will be in front of the Callaway Building from 10:30am-3:00pm and is open to all, whether or not you attend this symposium.


Friday, June 28, 2013

Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance Receives National Award

The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA, gpca.uga.edu) was recently presented with the 2013 Award for Program Excellence at the American Public Gardens Association annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. Each year the Association honors one of its 500 members for innovation in developing programs and pioneering horticultural disciplines. GPCA joins recipients such as Missouri Botanical Garden, Smithsonian Institution, and Chicago Botanic Garden.


GPCA was created in 1995 by the State Botanical Garden, Call¬away Gar¬dens, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Georgia Depart¬ment of Nat¬u¬ral Resources’ Nongame Conser¬va¬tion Sec¬tion, the U.S. For¬est Ser¬vice, and The Nature Conservancy of Georgia with the goal of creating a network for statewide conservation projects. The mission of GPCA is to facilitate partnerships among private and government agencies that have the knowledge, land, and resources to implement high-priority, science-based plant conservation and education projects statewide. The plant conservation priorities of the GPCA developed from the Georgia Natural Heritage Program’s Biotics database, and reflect the 'high-priority species' and 'high-priority habitats' outlined in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP).

Almost 20 years later, GPCA includes 31 gardens, organizations, universities, and agencies working together on more than 70 rare and endangered plant species throughout Georgia. These organizations, ranging from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Power to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and Georgia Botanical Society to Georgia Native Plant Society, are supported by the Botanical Guardians, a team of citizen volunteers recruited to help monitor and restore imperiled native plant populations. GPCA has been so successful in meeting conservation goals that several states have created their networks based on the Georgia model, including Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, and Arizona.

During the tenure of GPCA, critical mountain bog habitat has been restored to the point where multiple generations of rare plants have reproduced in the wild, a sure sign of conservation success. More than 55 rare plant species have been brought into cultivation, into temporary safeguarding at gardens for study. And more than 27 rare species have been planted into wild safeguarding sites on protected lands. Two species have been removed from the GPCA priority project list, because the populations on protected land are thriving in the wild in Georgia.

In support of GPCA for the 2013 Program Excellence Award, Peter White, Director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, described the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance as “one of the best integrated conservation programs in the country, reaching across many individuals and institutions.”

“What you see in this program is robust and uplifting,” White added. “It is about plants in the wild. It is about plants in our hands, schools, and landscapes. It is about plants in botanical gardens. It is about germplasm samples stored for future use and as a last resort for conservation. It is about graduate student projects and public involvement and education at all levels. It is about people and the good they can do when they work together.”

GPCA Member Organizations:
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Augusta State University
Brenau University
Callaway Gardens
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Columbus State University
Fort Valley State University
Georgia Botanical Society
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
Georgia Native Plant Society
Georgia Power
Georgia Southern Botanical Garden
Georgia Tech
Georgia Wildlife Federation
Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Station
Kennesaw State University
Piedmont College
Southeastern Technical College
Shorter College
The Nature Conservancy of Georgia
TNC at Fort Benning
North Georgia College and State University
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
The University of Georgia
USDA Forest Service
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Field Office
Valdosta State University Herbarium
Zoo Atlanta
Jennifer Ceska accepts the award on behalf of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance at the 2013 annual conference in Phoenix. (From left, Ray Mims, APGA board member and Conservation Horticulturist of the U.S. Botanic Garden, D.C.; Jennifer Ceska; David Price, chair of the APGA Awards Committee and Director of Bok Tower Gardens, Fla.)


Photo by Darrylee Cohen of Haute Photography (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Friday, May 10, 2013

Sunflower Music Series

It’s almost summertime and that means the Sunflower Concert Series is just around the corner here at the State Botanical Garden. There is a great line up for you this year!


Shonna Tucker and Eye Candy will kick-off the series on Tuesday, June 4, with their debut performance at the Garden. Enjoy southern soul with pop overtones as the five piece band, including two original members of the Athens-based band Drive-By Truckers, gives you a night to remember.
www.shonnatucker.net

2006 Grammy nominee Caroline Aiken will return to the Garden stage to perform on Tuesday, July 9. The folk rock singer has toured with the Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt and released an impressive seven albums during her career.
www.carolineaiken.com

Get ready to dance! The annual favorites, Grogus, will be returning again this year on Tuesday, August 20, to perform a mixture of original and cover songs. From salsa to rumba this is sure to be a lively night.
www.myspace.com/grogus

World-renowned artist, Arvin Scott, will deliver a delightful show full of jazz with overtones of world music with his quartet on Tuesday, September 17. The jazz artist will play keyboard, drums, bass and guitar.

So bring a blanket and picnic basket with your favorite goodies or grab dinner at Dondero’s Kitchen at the Garden and settle in for a wonderful night of music!

Each concert is 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the stage of the State Botanical Garden’s terraced Flower Garden. Admission to each concert is $15 and includes light refreshments. Children’s tickets are also available. Tickets can be purchased at The Garden Shop, online, and at Wuxtry Records. Concerts will take place at the Visitor Center and Conservatory in case of inclement weather.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

2013 Plantapalooza!

Plantapalooza!

Imagine a huge plant sale with the latest cultivars displayed beside heirloom and tried-and-true plants, just as spring is warming up and you are in the mood to garden. Now add a group of experts to help you with your plant selections – horticulturists, garden curators, UGA professors and Master Gardeners – and multiply that image by three. Welcome to Plantapalooza!, when three plant sales will happen at the University of Georgia in Athens on Saturday, April 6 from 8 am to 2 pm:

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia – 2450 S. Milledge Avenue

The Trial Gardens at UGA – 220 W. Green Street

UGA Horticulture Club – Intersection of College Station Road and Riverbend Road


Each sale offers a different experience and the opportunity to gather plants and information to help grow a beautiful garden. Trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and more will fill the Visitor Center & Conservatory and its front and back plazas at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, with garden curators, horticulturists, and master gardeners in full force to help. UGA horticulture professors will share their knowledge at the UGA Horticulture Club sale. Allan Armitage will be offering tours and book signings at The Trial Gardens at UGA. All locations have free parking and the State Botanical Garden has a coffee/sandwich shop and garden-themed gift shop. More information is available at 706-542-6014 or plantapalooza.uga.edu.

Participants will receive a 5% discount stamp at each plant sale that can be used at the following local nurseries. All three stamps will add up to a 15% discount on full price plants during normal business hours that weekend:

Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace     706.353.1519
1145 Mitchell Bridge Road, Athens

Goodness Grows     706.743.5055
332 Elberton Road, Lexington
www.goodnessgrows.com

Piccadilly Farms     706.769.6516
1971 Whippoorwill Road, Bishop
www.sites.google.com/site/piccadillyfarm

Specialty Ornamentals     706.310.0143
3650 Colham Ferry Road, Watkinsville
www.specialtyornamentals.com

Thomas Orchards and Nursery     706.769.5011
6091 Macon Highway, Bishop
www.thomasorchardsandnursery.com

Wildwood Specialty Nursery     706.613.3758
4970 Lexington Road, Athens



Friday, March 8, 2013

Native Plant Nursery List

You want to use native plants in a gar­den­ing, farm­ing, or res­tor­ing pro­ject but you don’t know where to purchase plants, plugs, stakes, or seeds? Look no fur­ther than our list here! These spe­cialty nurseries and grow­ers and pro­duc­ing qual­ity native plants appro­pri­ate for Georgia and the SE US, and they are fol­low­ing eth­i­cal col­lec­tion and pro­duc­tion guide­lines.


None of the organi­za­tions listed here have pro­vided the State Botanical Garden of Georgia with any finan­cial or other ben­e­fits in order to be included. We offer this resource as a public ser­vice, serv­ing Georgia cit­izens as their State Botanical Garden. We try to keep this list updated. If you have infor­ma­tion to share, we would be inter­ested to hear from you.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Come say hi at this weekend's Home & Garden Show


We will be at the Home & Garden Show in the expanded Classic Center in downtown Athens this weekend: Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 12 noon to 5 pm. Tickets $5 per person and children under 3 are free. Please visit www.aahba.com for details and come say hi to us at booths #704 and 705.
If you are not quite sure when to come to the show – here’s the seminar schedule to help you plan.  

Saturday, February 23rd
11:00 - 12:00   Ted Stephens - Plants from Around the World
1:00 - 2:00       Dr. Allan Armitage - Tales from the Garden - Book Signing
2:15 - 3:15       Clint Garner - Irrigation for the Homeowner 101
3:30 - 4:30       Matthew Chappell - Top 10 Native Trees, Shrubs, & Perennials

Sunday, February 24th
1:00 - 1:45       Vince Dooley – Coach’s Perspective on Gardening – Book signing
2:00 - 2:45       Dr. Donglin Zhang - Innovative Plants
3:00 - 3:45       Dr. John Ruter - Conifers of the South

Seminars Sponsored by R.W. Allen

Monday, February 18, 2013

Exotic Birds and Reptiles on Planet Earth

Exotic birds and reptiles will come to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s Visitor Center on Saturday, March 2 from 10:00 – 11:30 am. For $5/person ($20/family, children under 2 are free) families can watch an informative and entertaining presentation by Roy Hodge of Exotic Paradise, Atlanta, and his cast of cockatoos, exotic parrots, spectacled owls, monitor lizards, anacondas, boa constrictors and more!

Discover amazing facts, adaptations, and conservation concerns of these animals, and then meet the animals and their handlers. After the 10:00 presentation, children are encouraged to participate in hands-on activities and crafts to learn more about forests of the world.

For more information visit botgarden.uga.edu or call 706-542-6156. The State Botanical Garden is located at 2450 South Milledge Avenue in Athens, one mile south of the Highway 10 Loop.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Like our summer camps? Join us for a spring break camp.


Spring Break Mini-Camp

MARCH 11 - 13, 2013 | 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

VISITOR CENTER & CONSERVATORY CHILDREN'S CLASSROOM

2450 S. MILLEDGE AVE. ATHENS, GA 30605

COST: $88 MEMBER COST: $79.20


Send your kids on a naturalist adventure at the Garden during our spring break mini-camp. Each day will be filled with activities connecting our youth to the natural wonders that surround us. We will explore the gardens, trails and streams using each of our senses and dissecting the importance of these systems on our lives through observation and investigation. 

Friday, February 8, 2013

Painting Workshops at the Garden this spring


Watercolor Painting Workshops
at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens
botgarden.uga.edu – 706/542-1244
Watercolor Painting Inspired By Nature

Saturday, February 23 (10-4) and Sunday, February 24 (1-4)
Visitor Center, Gardenside Room , $160
Kie Johnson - www.kiejohnson.com

The natural world with its endless variety will be the focus of inspiration for this two-day workshop.  This workshop is designed for students with a variety of experience levels. Students should have basic knowledge and experience with this medium.  After developing initial drawings, students will explore using value studies as important building blocks to a successful painting. There will be demonstrations during each class, plus individual work time during classes with one-on-one instruction.

Roadside Flower + Exotic Blossoms + Watercolor = Magic

Monday, March 11, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Visitor Center, Gardenside Room, $75
Margaret Walsh Best - www.margaretwalshbest.com

Margaret will lead you through her process of making a special plant the star of a painting, while at the same time giving it a background which makes it look at home in its landscape. In this one-day workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn about the history, anatomy, medicinal or culinary uses of specific plants before painting them. There will be plenty of demonstrations on techniques, accompanied by individual work with each participant. All skill levels welcome.

Botanical Watercolor Illustration

Saturday, May 11, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Visitor Center, Gardenside Room, $75
Dorset Trapnell, Plant Biology Department, UGA

Learn the gentle art of botanical watercolor illustration.  Using a flower of your choice selected from the Garden, learn how to compose, sketch, and paint a botanical watercolor illustration.  The class will focus on techniques and materials for execution of a lasting rendition.  The workshop is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced artists. 
 
More information on each workshop is available at botgarden.uga.edu

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Art Exhibits


Art Exhibits
at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s
Visitor Center Gallery – Spring 2013
2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens - botgarden.uga.edu – 706/542-1244
The public is invited to the free opening receptions.
 
through March 3:
Women on Paper: Lauren Kerbelis, Gail Smith, Caroline Swanson, Nancy Schultz, Karen Banker, Lillie Morris and Ingrid Hofer
Women on Paper is a small group of professional artists from Augusta, Georgia. They have been gathering weekly since 1989 to paint en plein air using a variety of media on paper. The purpose of the group is to celebrate the individual creative spirit while providing each other with encouragement and support.
Each contributes her own unique way of looking at the world while the support of the group encourages this special voice.
 
March 10 thru April 28; opening reception, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 pm
Margaret Walsh Best: Balancing Act: Invasive Alien Plants
Margaret Walsh Best is a watercolorist and art educator visiting the Garden from St. John’s, Newfoundland. This exhibition is part of a national and international tour.  Margaret was recently honored with a lifetime membership in the Art Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1999, Margaret’s work was chosen to create “Flowers of Hope”, a poster used in a fundraising campaign by the Canadian Cancer Society. While at the Garden, Margaret will offer a one day workshop and work with children, inspiring her students to study their subject matter,” to get up close and personal allowing for a greater appreciation of its intricacies”. 
 
May 12 – June 30, Opening reception May 12, 2:00-4:00
David Foster: Floral Wonders
David has been exploring photography for over 40 years. “My images are created as an ongoing celebration of the extraordinary beauty to be discovered in the natural world around us – beauty that lies in the delicate glint of a dewdrop, the glory of a waterfall, or the sweep of a radiant sunrise.” David has an image in the Atlanta Celebrates Photography exhibit in the Atrium Gallery at the Atlanta airport and was recently selected Artist in Residence at Cheraw State
Park in South Carolina.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

If you are interested in both gardening and history, the Southern Garden Heritage Conference is for you!

A day listening to fascinating speakers like Felder Rushing and William C. Welch talk about heirloom fruits and vegetables sounds good to me! How good? Good enough to take a day's vacation and come back to the same building where I work for that vacation day. I try to do that every year, because this is always a great conference. It is a relaxing, fun day, with time to interact with the speakers and other attendees, yet informative and detailed enough that landscape architects can count CEU credits. Come join us on Friday, February 15th! - Connie

Annual Southern Garden Heritage Conference celebrates heirloom fruits and vegetables

Gardeners, landscape architects, preservationists, and plant lovers of all levels of expertise will gather at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia on Friday, February 15 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm to learn about heirloom fruits and vegetables and explore the rich gardening traditions of the South. The 2013 Southern Garden Heritage Conference features speakers such as William C. Welch of Texas, author of Heirloom Gardening in the South, and Felder Rushing of Mississippi, author of Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and All Seasons. This event is sponsored by The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and UGA College of Environment and Design in cooperation with The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., Friends of The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Cherokee Garden Library ofthe Atlanta History Center, and the Southern Garden History Society. For more information or to register for this conference, call 706-542-6156 or visit www.botgarden.uga.edu.

Here's the direct link to the conference page.

 

Southern Garden Heritage Conference: Gardening with Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables
Friday, February 15, 2013 | 9 AM - 4 PM
Callaway Building Auditorium, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605
Cost: $105, includes lunch
Landscape architects can receive CEU credits for this conference.

Schedule:
9:00     Welcome
9:15     Georgia’s Agrarian History: Dreams, Successes and Failures, Jeff Lewis
9:45     Heirloom Gardens and Landscapes of the South, William C. Welch
11:15   Heirloom, Smeirloom – How Does it Look and Grow Today?, Felder Rushing
12:15   Lunch
1:30     Great Sources for Heirloom Plants, William C. Welch
2:00     Historical Overview of Blueberries in Georgia, Gerard Krewer
2:30     Heirloom Seedsavers: Their Contribution to Southern Landscapes, Virginia Nazarea and Susannah Chapman
3:30     Hyde Farm: Continuing Local Agriculture along the Chattahoochee River, Beth Wheeler Byrd and Cari Goetcheus

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Valentine's Dinner at The State Botanical Garden

Join us at The Garden for a romantic Valentine's dinner with declious food provided by Dondero's Kitchen!
Please click on the image to enlarge.






Thursday, January 3, 2013

Annual Native Plant Symposium at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia Helps Gardeners Create Beautiful, Sustainable Habitats

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm gardeners will gather at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to listen to talks on native plants for pollinators, pollination and fertilization in flowering plants, sustainable landscaping, Monarch butterflies and bees.  People are realizing that their landscape is so much more than a pretty stage set. Native plants in a landscape can support a complex web of life that includes insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and more by providing food and shelter. This year’s annual Native Plant Symposium emphasizes sustainability and plantings that support pollinating insects. The $60 fee includes the all-day symposium presented by The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., plus lunch. For more information or to register for the Native Plant Symposium, log onto botgarden.uga.edu or call 706-542-6156.

Native Plant Symposium

Wednesday, January 16, 2013             8:30 am - 3:30 pm              $60 includes lunch

People are realizing that their landscape is so much more than a pretty stage set. Native plants in a landscape can support a complex web of life that includes insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and more by providing food and shelter. This year’s annual Native Plant Symposium emphasizes sustainability and plantings that support pollinating insects

Native Plants for Pollinators
Kathryn Litton, owner of Litton Landscaping, Inc.

Monarchs: Their Migration, Host Plants and Conservation
Sonia Altizer, faculty member of UGA Odum School of Forestry

Pollination and Fertilization in Flowering Plants: As they Say in Facebook – It’s Complicated!
Linda Chafin, conservation botanist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Sustainable Native Plant Landscaping
Eddie Seagle, lecturer, agronomist, garden columnist and horticulturist

Bees: Important Pollinators
Cyndi Ball, master beekeeper and owner of Lazy B Farm

Sponsored by The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc..