Free Concert Sunday

All American Brass Concert
The Athens Brass Choir
Sunday, August 2 3:00 pm
Visitor Center & Conservatory Free
The Athens Brass Choir returns to the State Botanical Garden Conservatory with "All-American Brass", a concert of American music including Copland fanfares, Sousa marches, music from the movies, and more. Come join the Athens Brass Choir’s celebration of the diversity of our nation's musical heritage.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112474849338&ref=nf

Construction Begins on the State Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Complex

Construction begins this week on The State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s new $2.5 million horticulture complex, a facility that will support the 313-acre public garden. This facility will include outdoor growing areas, greenhouses, spaces for repair and storage of equipment and offices for the Horticulture staff. “This behind-the-scenes facility is essential to the collections and displays throughout the Garden,” explains Interim Director Shirley Berry. “Moving these facilities to this new location is another step in enriching the visitor’s experience and safety in the Garden. Although the initial impact will be visible, soon this area will be screened with plantings and maintenance equipment and delivery trucks will no longer need to intrude into public areas to reach the horticulture complex.” Construction of the horticulture complex is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

In the International Garden, bog garden restoration and lawn resodding are taking place this week. The outdoor Sunflower Concert Series moved from the International Garden to the new 5-acre, terraced Flower Garden this summer. The Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center & Conservatory renovation is nearing completion. Updates include new classrooms and a redesigned café.

For more information, call Connie Cottingham, Publicity and Special Events, at 706-542-6014.

Twilight Toasts in the Athens Banner-Herald

Click here to read the article on Geoffrey Garland, who will be playing at Twilight Toasts this Thursday.
Click here to read the article on Plant a Row, featured at Twilight Toasts.
Call 706-542-1244 to purchase your tickets for this great event!

Twilight Toasts in the Garden
Thursday, July 23, 2009 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Visitor Center & Conservatory $10 Friends members/ $15 non-members
What a combination: a warm summer evening in the Garden, live music that suits the weather, light hors d’oeuvres, and new wines to sample. Our horticultural segment will be information about Plant a Row for the Hungry, a small idea that has grown into a nationwide movement where community groups and backyard gardeners help their neighbors. Wine tasting by The Healthy Gourmet in Athens. Light hors d’oeuvres by Trumps Catering. Live music by Geoffrey Garland, a very talented classical guitarist. Come join the many that have found out that this eclectic after-work event is the place to gather, relax and enjoy the Garden.
Presented by Athens First Bank & Trust and Athens Area Health Plan Select in cooperation with FRIENDS of the Garden, The Healthy Gourmet and Trumps Catering.

FiveEight Performing July 14th

Well-known Athens band FiveEight will be performing at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia for the Sunflower Concert on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. They have toured with REM (fall 2004) and were featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered (link to broadcast here). Read their Wikipedia article here.

Sunflower Music Series:
For the 9th annual Sunflower Music Series three well-known Athens bands will play outdoors in the new Flower Garden from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (inside in wet weather). Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members and $5 for children ages 6 – 12. Season tickets for all three shows are also available. Ticket prices include beverages and light snacks. Please feel free to bring a blanket and picnic, lawn chairs, however, are not allowed. Call 706-542-1244 for more information or tickets.
June 23: Modern Skirts (power-pop quartet)
July 14: FiveEight (three-piece rock band)
August 25: Grogus (Latin jazz, salsa, Afro-Caribbean jazz and reggae)

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Maybe for the first time in a few years you are enjoying a bumper crop in your garden – beans, melons, tomatoes, zucchini, berries and more. We certainly hope so! If your garden harvest is good this year, you’ll want to know about two events happening at the State Botanical Garden this month that will give you ideas on what to do with all that healthy, fresh produce.
Brenda and BJ will teach a class on canning beans and tomatoes on July 16 - they have a lot of experience growing and canning both. The relaxed class setting allows for lots of comments and questions.
Twilight Toasts in the Garden is a popular quarterly wine tasting that includes live music and light hors d’oeuvres, plus Master Gardeners on hand to explain Plant a Row for the Hungry, a people-helping-people program that encourages gardeners to grow a little extra to donate to food pantries. Take home a row marker for your garden and information on where to take that extra zucchini.

Canning the Summer Garden
Brenda Beckham & BJ Garrett, Athens Area Master Gardeners
Thursday, July 16 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Callaway Building Auditorium members $12; nonmembers $14
Beans and tomatoes coming out your ears? Freezer full and neighbors no longer answering the door? Join Brenda and BJ for an introduction to the pressure cooker method of home canning. Learn the basic tools and techniques used for canning fruits and vegetables from your garden. Sterilizing jars, peeling tomatoes, and assuring jars are sealed correctly will be covered. This marvelous teaching team will also cover how to make jams and jellies. Pre-registration required.

Twilight Toasts in the Garden
Thursday, July 23, 2009 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Visitor Center & Conservatory $10 Friends members/ $15 non-members
What a combination: a warm summer evening in the Garden, live music that suits the weather, light hors d’oeuvres, and new wines to sample. Our horticultural segment will be information about Plant a Row for the Hungry, a small idea that has grown into a nationwide movement where community groups and backyard gardeners help their neighbors. Wine tasting by The Healthy Gourmet in Athens. Light hors d’oeuvres by Trumps Catering. Live music by Geoffrey Garland, a talented classical guitarist. Come join the many that have found out that this eclectic after-work event is the place to gather, relax and enjoy the Garden.
Presented by Athens First Bank & Trust and Athens Area Health Plan Select in cooperation with FRIENDS of the Garden, The Healthy Gourmet and Trumps Catering.

Lotus photo

The lotus by the International Garden are blooming beautifully today - truly a treat to see. The Garden is a great place to spend time with your camera.