Wednesday, May 27, 2015

State Botanical Garden of Georgia Celebrates National Pollinator Week with Pollinator Webinar and Walk

Across the globe, people will be celebrating Pollinator Week June 15 - 21. In Georgia, the State Botanical Garden in Athens will anticipate Pollinator Week with a webinar on June 9 featuring renowned pollinator expert, Dr. Stephen Buchmann, followed by a flower and pollinator walk around the Garden led by naturalists Dale Hoyt and Linda Chafin.
Black Swallowtail Butterfly visiting Obedient Plant along the Altamaha River.  Photo by James Holland.
Dr. Buchmann is an entomologist and Adjunct Scientist at the University of Arizona, as well as the International Director for the Pollinator Partnership, the largest organization in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection of pollinators and their ecosystems. He is the author of two books, “The Forgotten Pollinators” and “The Reason for Flowers.” Dr. Buchmann’s online presentation will explore the complex relationships between plants and pollinators and discuss the global threats to pollinator health.

Providing pollinator habitat has been a focus of the Botanical Garden for years. “The Flower Garden was created seven years ago to be a pollinator garden,” said Shelly Prescott, Director of Horticulture at the State Botanical Garden. “The Bee Pasture especially provides year-round forage for bees. But really, all of the Botanical Garden is focused on increasing pollinator habitat and the number of pollinators.”

Pollinator Week started eight years ago with a designation of National Pollinator Week by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It has since grown into an international celebration of the importance of pollinators. Without pollinators, 30% of our food crops would disappear, including most of the fruits and vegetables that Americans love. Pollinators support the plants that clean the air, stabilize soils, buffer severe weather events, and support other wildlife.

In his annual Proclamation of National Pollinator Week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack states that pollinators “are essential partners of farmers and ranchers in producing much of our food supply” and “provide significant environmental benefits for healthy, diverse ecosystems.”

The webinar will be held from 1:00 - 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 9, in the Administration Building auditorium at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, followed by an hour-long walk through the Pollinator Garden. Both the webinar and walk are free but the public is asked to register at http://tinyurl.com/sbgpollinate.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Outdoor Summer Concerts Return to the State Botanical Garden

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is pleased to announce the Sunflower Concert Series schedule for 2015. Concerts will be held Tuesday evenings in June, July, August and September in the Flower Garden and offer an eclectic mix of music in one of the most beautiful and relaxing settings possible.

Tickets are $15 each and $5 for children ages 6-12. Admission to each concert includes beverages and light snacks. Please feel free to bring blankets and picnic dinners.  Lawn chairs are allowed on one designated level of the terraced Flower Garden. 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, visit www.botgarden.uga.edu or the Garden Gift Shop, or call 706-542-9353.

The Sunflower Music Series is sponsored by Friends of the Garden, Northeast Sales Distributing, Inc., Athens Coca-Cola, Musicians Warehouse, and Flagpole.

Tuesday, June 2: Caroline Aiken, with The Twangtown Paramours opening
Caroline is an award-winning folk singer, whose new album “Broken Wings Heal” has just been released. Caroline has recently performed on NPR’s “Mountain Stage,” and in the past toured with the Indigo Girls. The Twangtown Paramours hail from Nashville, and bring fine harmony singing and inventive musicianship to the stage.

Tuesday, July 28:  Grassland String Band, with Claire Campbell
The Grassland String Band will bring their take on bluegrass/Americana music, with a set with special guest Claire Campbell (from the acclaimed band Hope for a Golden Summer).

Tuesday, August 25: Grogus
Grogus, returns for their annual celebration of Latin jazz, traditional Cuban and Caribbean styles and funk versions of jazz standards. The band is a past recipient of the Flagpole Athens Music Award in both the jazz and world music categories. Dancing barefoot on the grass is encouraged!

Tuesday, September 29: Arvin Scott, with Marti Winkler

Drummer/percussionist Arvin Scott, an Athens resident who is world-renowned as a jazz musician, and his combo will deliver a jazz performance. Jazz singer Marti Winkler will open the show. This late September concert offers an earlier nightfall and cooler temperatures than the other concerts.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!