Georgia Garden Year in Review
Fiscal Year 2026
263 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH
14,800+ YOUTH AND FAMILY PARTICIPANTS
67,500+
Garden Impact
468,000 GARDEN VISITORS The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, is one of the state’s most treasured resources. With 323 acres of natural areas and cultivated gardens, the State Botanical Garden offers unique experiences for nature lovers.
WINTER WONDERLIGHTS VISITORS
350
VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTING OVER
15,000
HOURS OF SERVICE
The garden offers eight specialty gardens, including the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden, and over seven miles of trails within an Audubon-designated important birding area. Throughout the year, the garden hosts educational programming, including camps, classes, workshops, concerts and festivals for visitors of all ages. Facilities across the garden feature art exhibits and annual lectures, including the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum. The garden is also the headquarters for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, a network of more than 100 institutions, agencies and organizations committed to ecological land management, native plant conservation, and protection of rare and endangered plants.
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From the Director It has been an incredible year of growth and change at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. We were thrilled to welcome more than 468,000 visitors to the garden this year from across the state, the U.S. and internationally. Our continued growth in visitorship makes our new entrance and expanded parking essential for serving communities in Athens and beyond. We appreciate the Friends of the Garden for their noteworthy generosity early in our fundraising campaign for the Gateway to the Garden. We are also sincerely grateful for the full support from our Board of Advisors, the state of Georgia and many generous donors. This project will transform our entrance and provide additional parking connected to natural areas and trails. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in January 2026 and construction officially began in March 2026. The new entrance and parking garden, which will feature an expanded entry driveway, rain gardens and new trail connections, will open in late 2026. Another area of growth this year was in the continued expansion of our Georgia Native Seed Network team. We now have 10 staff members across the state collecting seeds and growing native plants for restoration projects. One of the most productive partnerships for
this project is on Jekyll Island, where restoration of native grasslands is supported by the Jekyll Island Authority and a generous gift from the Riverview Foundation. The Georgia Native Seed Network team is led by the GNSN Manager, Zach Wood, and our new Director of Science and Conservation, Emma Neigel, whom you can learn more about on page 4. During the past year, our education team continued to grow our support of student success through the experiential program, Learning by Leading™. We have also collaborated with graduate students and partners across campus to offer Meet Me at the Garden, an innovative program designed for people living with dementia and their care partners to connect through gardening, nature and shared experiences. You can read more about these programs in the pages that follow. We truly could not continue to grow and evolve without our staff, volunteers, Friends of the Garden, Board of Advisors, donors and more who pour their time, energy and resources into making this garden such an incredible resource for our state. Thank you again for your steadfast support, and I look forward to seeing you in the garden soon.
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, director
YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
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THE GEORGIA PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (GPCA) HAS TAKEN ON THE RECOVERY OF
191
SPECIES IN GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED
Conservation I received a warm welcome back to the South this spring as the Director of Science and Conservation at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Although I grew up in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada, where my love of plants began, much of my career has been in the Southeast. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture at Mississippi State University. My first visit to Athens came in 2014 during an internship with Callaway Gardens, when I toured the UGA Trial Gardens. After completing my master’s research focused on identifying habitat for milkweed, I joined the conservation team at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville, Georgia, as the conservation horticulturist for the safeguarding nursery. There, I developed expertise in conserving the rare plants of the Southeastern U.S. and became involved with the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA). I have since completed my PhD, published research in the Journal of Ecology, and further developed my expertise in rare plant reintroductions and conservation horticulture. My role is a joint appointment between Public Service and Outreach and the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Beginning in Fall 2027, I will be teaching courses to UGA students on topics including conservation horticulture, native plants and public gardens.
THE MIMSIE LANIER CENTER FOR NATIVE PLANT STUDIES PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED
18,000+ NATIVE PLANTS
20
STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED
1,200+
INTERNSHIP HOURS IN CONSERVATION THE CONSERVATION TEAM MAINTAINED
22
LIVING CONSERVATION COLLECTIONS OF RARE GEORGIA PLANT SPECIES
I look forward to teaching the next generation of conservation horticulturists and strengthening the garden’s research portfolio through our conservation initiatives, including the Georgia Native Seed Network. Together, our efforts will help ensure Georgia’s native plant diversity is safeguarded for generations to come.
- Dr. Emma Neigel, Director of Science and Conservation 4
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Georgia Native Seed Network: A fishy origin story Rare fish conservation was the catalyst for the development of the Georgia Native Seed Network. The Trispot Darter, a federally listed fish species, was discovered in an unnamed tributary in northwest Georgia, prompting habitat restoration efforts to improve water quality. The State Botanical Garden partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore this upland habitat, which revealed that locally sourced seeds were in limited supply. The network was born of the need to supply ecologically appropriate seeds from Georgia’s six ecoregions. Established in 2024, the GNSN’s mission is to increase native seed production in Georgia by incentivizing local farmers and creating locally sourced seed available for commercial purchase. This includes a 7-year goal of providing enough seeds to restore 17,000 acres annually. This year, we welcomed four new team members across the state, including three seed lab technicians based at the U.S. Forest Service National Seed Lab in Dry Branch, Georgia, who focus on cleaning seed for the federal Seeds of Success program. This nationwide program, led by the Bureau of Land Management, aims to collect wildland native seeds for research, conservation and ecosystem restoration. In Americus, Georgia, at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center, Troy Selhorst is planning for native seed production. The team will be planting more seed increase plots, which will serve to provide seeds for larger planned production plots. Our target end-user sites include wildlands disrupted by natural disasters such as wildfires and disturbed areas in need of restoration, such as highway rights-of-way, solar fields and powerline rights-of-way.
YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
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Jennifer Ceska recognized with Award of Merit from the American Public Gardens Association By: Laurel Clark, communications manager The State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s Conservation Coordinator, Jennifer Ceska, was recognized with an Award of Merit from the American Public Gardens Association at its annual conference in June. The American Public Gardens Association is the leading professional organization for the field of public horticulture and comprises nearly 600 public gardens in North America and internationally. The Award of Merit recognizes an association member who has performed with distinction in the field of public horticulture and has excelled as a public garden professional. “Each year, we look forward to celebrating the most influential and innovative professionals and organizations in our industry, and I’m so proud of all of this year’s winners,” said Michelle Provaznik, CEO of American Public Gardens Association. “Jennifer has become a recognized leader in native plant conservation, and her mentorship of the next generation of conservationists will shape the future of plants and the people who work to save them.”
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STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Ceska was recognized in 2025 for 30 years of service at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia. As part of her master’s thesis at UGA, Ceska designed the garden’s plant conservation program and was hired to see that vision come to life. Also, as part of her master’s thesis, Ceska researched how botanical gardens can support and promote conservation and developed the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA), which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The alliance, coordinated by Ceska, has grown into a network of over 100 partner organizations working to conserve 111 imperiled plant species. A success story from the GPCA’s efforts is the recovery work on the Smooth Coneflower, Echinacea laevigata. When the GPCA began work with the Smooth Coneflower, there were only six significant populations left in Georgia, and all were in decline, according to Ceska. The plants were struggling to exist on roadsides, and one of the largest populations was at risk of being poached. State Botanical Garden Conservation Horticulturist Heather Alley has
grown more than 2,500 plants, and GPCA has planted over 2,000 plants and sown 3,700 seeds directly into the wild. The six natural populations are now stabilized through better management, and all have flowering plants and are producing seed.
America’s Regional Zone VIII Conservation Commendation in 2023.
In August 2022, the Smooth Coneflower was downlisted under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from endangered to threatened, with the GPCA credited for its recovery work on this species in Georgia.
“Jennifer not only consistently brings a wealth of knowledge, but possesses a truly incomparable combination of emotional intelligence, sensitivity to others, warm humor, and a powerful force of will. She wields these tools in such a way that change happens, things get done, and everyone around her feels good about it,” said Ray Mims, retired Conservation and Partnerships Manager for the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Ceska has consulted with 20 states across the U.S. seeking to create similar statewide conservation programs, with Georgia’s network described by the Southeastern Partners in Plant Conservation as “the gold standard of plant conservation networks.”
“She leads consistently by lifting others, providing encouragement, and making pointed suggestions without ever attracting a spotlight to herself. She simply never seeks recognition for the hugely consequential work she coordinates.”
Outside of Ceska’s work with the GPCA, she and the garden’s conservation team have created nine new statewide plant conservation programs and initiatives, including the Georgia Grasslands Initiative, which seeks to restore prairie habitats throughout Georgia, and the Georgia Native Seed Network, a collaborative partnership to produce locally adapted seeds and other plant materials across much of the Southeast. “Jennifer Ceska is truly a champion for plant conservation in Georgia, the Southeast, and nationally, and has led transformative partnerships that have a lasting impact on native plants throughout the U.S.,” said State Botanical Garden Director Jenny Cruse-Sanders. “Anyone who has an opportunity to talk with Jennifer knows how passionate she is about her work, and she is so deserving of this honor from the American Public Gardens Association.” Ceska also has a passion for mentoring students to become the next generation of plant conservation leaders, having mentored 42 students since 2018, including 18 who have become plant conservation professionals. She was designated as a Conservation Champion by the National Center for Plant Conservation in 2020 and received the Garden Club of
2,619 INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTED THE GARDEN
$1.16 million IN DONATIONS
$390,000 IN GARDENS OF THE WORLD BALL SPONSORSHIPS
$150,000 IN WINTER WONDERLIGHTS SPONSORSHIPS
Development This was a year of gratitude, transition and continued philanthropic momentum at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. After more than three years of dedicated service, Director of Development Johnathon Barrett retired from the University of Georgia, leaving a lasting impact on the garden and its development program. Through his leadership, commitment and ability to build meaningful relationships, Johnathon helped elevate fundraising at the garden to new heights and established a strong foundation for continued growth. During FY2026, 2,619 donors supported the garden with $1.16 million in gifts. Signature events remained an important part of this success. The Gardens of the World Ball secured $390,000 in sponsorship support, while Winter WonderLights received $150,000 in sponsorships. The garden also received two six-figure gifts from individual donors in FY2026. These investments continue to advance the garden’s work in conservation, horticulture, education, public service and memorable visitor experiences. I joined the garden as Director of Development in May 2026. I look forward to continuing to meet the many donors, volunteers, sponsors and Friends whose generosity makes the garden’s work possible. Building upon the foundation established by the development team, I plan to increase focus on major gifts that advance the university’s most important priorities and create meaningful, lasting impact. Thank you to every individual, business and foundation that contributed during FY2026.
- Eric Schmidt, Director of Development 8
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Board of Advisors 2026-2027 Tootsie Adams, Athens
Melba Hill, Atlanta
Hart Roberts, Athens
Lynwood Hall, Moultrie
Betsy Barge, Marietta
Ken Hodges, Albany
Victoria Simms, Sea Island
Georgia Hatcher, Macon
Lisa Bell, Savannah
Maudie Huff, Columbus
Henrietta Singletary, Albany
Karen Hull, Augusta
Malinda Bergen, Savannah
JP James, Brookhaven
Lacy Sinkwich, Athens
Mimsie Lanier, Sea Island Sissy Lawson, Gainesville
Mary Bishop, Sea Island
Truett Jarrard, Atlanta
Janie Skinner, Atlanta
Lenora Buckley, Bellville
Jimmy Jeter, Moultrie
Eileen Small, Atlanta
Peggy Lientz, Atlanta
Sherri Callaway, Hamilton
Sally Jobe, Atlanta
David Smith, Decatur
Cindy Moore, Savannah Felton Norwood, Atlanta
Susan Clapp, Augusta
Dori Jones, Columbus
Michael Strickland, Moultrie
Natalie Schweers Coghill, Augusta
Sally Jones, Sea Island
Haynes Studstill, Lakeland
Colleen Nunn, Atlanta
Jeff Cole, Athens
Gena Knox, Athens
Jane Anne Sullivan, Albany
Penny Nunnally, Atlanta
Geri Coleman, Atlanta
Merry Jo Kurrie, Valdosta
Nancy Thomas, Screven
Stephen Reichert, Macon
Amy Cowsert, Athens
Betsy Leebern, Columbus
Elizabeth Townley, Bogart
Margaret Robinson, Sea Island Deen Day Sanders, Norcross
Andrew Crawford, Atlanta
Carrie Lovein, Atlanta
Sally Tyndall, Atlanta
Christopher Davidson, Gainesville
Brenda Magill, Athens
Ruth Wellborn, Greensboro
Betty Sponcler, Dalton
Martha Demere, Sea Island
Polly Mattox, LaGrange
Joel Wernick, Greensboro
Robert Winthrop, Athens
Betty DeVore, Athens
Marianne McConnel, Atlanta
Tom Wight, Macon
Katherine Young, Marietta
Evelyn Dukes, Athens
Tavia McCuean, Atlanta
Cynthia Willett, Bluffton
Cindy Edwards, Savannah
Jim Miller, Atlanta
Betsy Ellison, Athens
Farolyn Mobley, Moultrie
LIFETIME MEMBERS EMERITUS MEMBERS
Cyndae Arrendale, Atlanta
Susan Fant, Sea Island
Caroline Morris, Augusta
Betty Balentine, Atlanta
James Farmer, Perry
Melissa Fontaine, Athens
Alannah O’Quinn, St. Simons
Diana Barrow, Savannah
Kathleen Lanigan, Thomasville
Ann Frierson, Athens
Sandra Paris, Atlanta
Dottie Blitch, Atlanta
Marilyn McNeely, Clarkesville
Kelly Grow, Athens
Alex Patterson, Gainesville
Mark Callaway, Atlanta
Mark Preisinger, Sea Island
Bob Hallock, Savannah
Hart Payne, Gainesville
Patricia Carlock, Atlanta
Catherine Hardman, Athens
Doreen Poitevint, Bainbridge
Linda Cravey, Atlanta
Mary Hardman, Athens
Kathy Rainer, Atlanta
Susan Duncan, Highlands
Francie Hargrove, Cashiers
Loulie Reese, Atlanta
Jim Gatewood, Americus
Paula Hennessy, Atlanta
Georgia Schley Ritchie, Atlanta
Sylvia Gibson, Athens
It has been my honor to serve as chair of the Board of Advisors of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia over the last year. I want to express my gratitude and thanks to all who made our FY2026 a success. As you will see in this publication, exciting progress continues to be made on numerous fronts at the garden. In January, we celebrated the generosity of several individuals who donated to the Gateway to the Garden project at our Giving Tree celebration and groundbreaking ceremony. This transformative project, which we anticipate completing by the end of 2026, would not have been possible without the support of many who help to make the garden an important resource for our state. As we look to the promise of FY2027, we have a great opportunity to build on our momentum. We continue to improve sections of the gardens and trails and provide new programming opportunities and events to bring more visitors to the garden to learn from and experience nature. This is an incredible time to be involved with the State Botanical Garden. I hope to see you soon at the garden.
- Natalie Schweers Coghill, Chair of the Board of Advisors YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
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A Legacy in Bloom: Honoring Deen Day Sanders A visionary benefactor to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Deen Day Sanders has an immense passion for the natural world. Her generosity has shaped many of the outdoor spaces and facilities at the State Botanical Garden.
of garden club members and The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. Sanders was president of GCG from 1987 to 1989, president of National Garden Clubs, Inc. from 1999 to 2001, and vice president of World Association of Floral Artists from 2008 to 2011.
Sanders’ love for gardening first took root in the small town of Adrian, Georgia, where, as a young girl, she planted flowers with her grandmother. She learned early which flowers would attract butterflies. She knew how to shake seeds out of petunias. She recognized which plants were most fragrant and which provided the best visual appeal in landscape design.
A driven philanthropist and lifelong learner, she has remained committed to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and continues to support the garden’s plants, trails and facilities.
As she grew up, she began volunteering, joining the first garden club in 1959 and organizing an Atlanta neighborhood garden club in 1961. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia was established in 1968, largely due to the efforts
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STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Sanders assisted in developing plans for the Cecil B. Day Chapel, which was named for her late husband, and was completed in 1994. It is a tranquil venue in the woods, used for weddings, receptions, memorial services and acoustic music performances. Nestled in the trees, the Chapel has an awe-inspiring cypress interior and meticulous wood carvings of delicate vines, leaves and blossoms. Following her Garden Club of Georgia roots, Sanders facilitated the establishment of the
UGA officials and donors cut the ribbon for the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, Discovery and Inspiration Garden, and entrance and accessibility project in April 2022.
Garden Club’s headquarters on the Garden’s grounds. Opened in 1998, the neoclassical building links the historical to the present with its collection of fine furnishings and state-ofthe-art meeting and gathering spaces. “Deen Day Sanders is an inspiration to all of us in The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.,” said Barbara Bourque, former Garden Club of Georgia president. “Her lifetime of leadership and unwavering support is unsurpassed. Our beautiful Headquarters House on the grounds of the State Botanical Garden is but one example of her gracious generosity, a gift that cemented the strong bond between the Garden Club and the Garden.” A longtime dream of Sanders came to fruition with the dedication of the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum in 2022. The museum features her collection of porcelain and art from around the world, and the pieces on display highlight how art is inspired by flowers, butterflies, birds and all aspects of nature. The two-story building includes beautiful gallery spaces and a large classroom that opens onto the display gardens, enriching the learning experience. In addition to the museum, Sanders endowed a lecture series focused on art and nature, which allows the garden to invite artists and historians to further emphasize the connection between the natural world and art showcased in the museum. “The State Botanical Garden of Georgia would truly not be the incredible resource for our state
that it is today without the support of Deen Day Sanders,” said the Garden’s director, Jenny Cruse-Sanders. “Deen’s passion for nature is evident through the influence she has had in transforming the State Botanical Garden through the additions of the Cecil B. Day Chapel, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. headquarters and most recently, the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum.” “Deen’s generosity is evident at the State Botanical Garden through these contributions, as more visitors come to learn about the natural world and the impact that plants have in our everyday lives. As Deen often says, ‘I see God’s hand in every flower, every tree and in all of nature’s beauty.’”
58,000 HOURS OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES
84 LEARNING BY LEADING™ STUDENTS CONTRIBUTING
7,650 HOURS
Education At the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, education connects people with plants through a lifelong learning pathway that begins in childhood and continues throughout adulthood. By fostering environmental literacy at every stage of life, the garden helps develop informed citizens, engaged community members and future environmental leaders equipped to address the challenges facing our natural world.
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ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH
2,200+ PARTICIPANTS
The journey begins with children and families. Summer camps, school field trips, Sweet Pea Club, festivals and programs in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden introduced more than 12,000 participants to hands-on exploration of the natural world. These early experiences help cultivate curiosity, environmental awareness and a lifelong connection to nature. During the 2025–2026 academic year, staff mentors in Learning by Leading™, the garden’s nationally recognized experiential learning program for university students, worked alongside students on projects involving education, conservation, horticulture and visitor engagement. Through mentorship and real-world experiences, students develop leadership and career-readiness skills while supporting the garden’s mission. Adult education programs explored topics such as native plant conservation, pollinator ecology, sustainable landscape design, botany and arboriculture in the Certificate in Native Plants, Plants and Pollinators Specialization and the Certificate in Sustainable Landscaping programs. These courses empower participants to apply science-based practices in their communities and become advocates for environmental stewardship. Partnerships further amplify this work. Collaborations with University of Georgia units, schools, nonprofits, government agencies and healthcare partners expand educational access and strengthen community impact. Together, these efforts demonstrate the transformative power of connecting people with plants to create a more informed, engaged and resilient future for Georgia and beyond.
- Cora Keber, Director of Education 12
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Cultivating care through therapeutic horticulture By: Laurel Clark, communications manager The healing power of nature has long been central to the mission of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Through partnerships across the University of Georgia, that mission is taking root in new ways. Programs such as Meet Me at the Garden, a partnership between the State Botanical Garden and UGA’s Cognitive Aging Research & Education (CARE) Center, bring together expertise in dementia care, horticulture and education to create meaningful experiences for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Launched in the spring of 2023, the program provides interactive education and sensory activities in a garden setting to people with dementia and their caregivers. The program has been held at the State Botanical Garden and the CARE Center to explore how the program can be delivered beyond a garden setting. The goal of Meet Me at the Garden is to “expand the bubble” of those living with dementia and their caregivers through interactive education and sensory activities. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, dementia-related behaviors, such as outbursts and agitation, tend to increase. When caregivers find these dementia-related behaviors distressing or embarrassing, they avoid bringing their loved one out into social settings. The result is a patient who receives less social and sensory stimulation, and caregivers who feel increasingly isolated. Meet Me at the Garden was designed to offer an experience where everyone can be in a space designed to restore connections to nature, promote new connections between families living with Alzheimer’s disease and stimulate the senses. “Senses are the gateway to the brain,” said Lisa Renzi-Hammond, associate dean of outreach and engagement for UGA’s College of Public Health and founding co-director of the CARE Center. “If you are going to stimulate a brain and have it do something magnificent, it happens through the senses.
“Gardens are the ultimate sensory experience, and we want families to engage their senses more fully without the stress that often comes with public outings with Alzheimer’s disease.” The CARE Center is engaged in multiple levels of research to better understand and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The center also provides outreach to communities to offer better support and education on an issue that affects over 7 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 188,000 Georgians. Meet Me at the Garden is one of the center’s longest running programs, thanks to strong collaboration and partnership with the UGA outreach units that support it. “Meet Me at the Garden provides a supportive and stimulating environment for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Jenay Beer, professor at the College of Public Health and founding co-director of the CARE Center. “Dementias can feel tremendously isolating for persons living with these diseases and their families, who struggle to connect with each other. Meet Me at the Garden is social engagement, sensory stimulation, and support all in one.”
Horticulture Therapy Partnership
Expanding access
To build on Meet Me at the Garden, a joint position with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at UGA and the State Botanical Garden has been created to expand opportunities for horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture (HT/TH) programming and train the next generation of professionals to offer these services.
The State Botanical Garden received a Teaming for Interdisciplinary Research Pre-Seed grant from UGA for its project “Cultivating Care: Advanced Therapeutic Horticulture for Georgia’s Well-being and Resilience.”
Sheri Dorn is an assistant professor of sociohorticulture and horticultural therapy in CAES and is splitting her position between the Department of Horticulture and the State Botanical Garden to provide HT/TH programming in the garden and offer servicelearning opportunities to students. Horticultural therapy (HT) uses plants and gardening activities to help individuals improve physical, cognitive, social or mental health outcomes. It is facilitated by a trained professional who works with clients to achieve specific therapeutic goals. Therapeutic horticulture (TH) is a broader approach that uses plant-based activities to enhance overall well-being or social connection, often in group settings, without formal goal tracking and sometimes without a trained therapist. Horticultural therapy can be used in conjunction with other therapies for patients recovering from major injuries or illnesses, according to Dorn. For example, horticulture activities such as lifting a watering can to water plants can help stroke patients regain strength during their recovery. Working in horticulture can provide opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability to learn skills specific to horticulture, such as greenhouse work, as well as general workplace skills, such as interacting with coworkers and completing a timesheet. Another benefit of horticultural therapy is its social aspect, which helps individuals experiencing grief or isolation find community in public garden spaces through programs that enable them to interact with others while gardening.
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STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
With this grant, the garden has hosted workshops that brought together local and regional partners with expertise in academic research, applied practice and community outreach to explore how therapeutic horticulture can support people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. A goal of the therapeutic horticulture program and its collaboration with other UGA units, such as the Archway Partnership, is to provide rural communities across the state with the knowledge and resources to host their own Meet Me at the Garden programming. “Our mission at the State Botanical Garden is to create an environment for learning, inspiration and engagement, and the Meet Me at the Garden program has demonstrated that by allowing persons with dementia and their care partners to experience the healing power of nature,” said the director of the State Botanical Garden, Jenny Cruse-Sanders. “We look forward to continuing to work with our internal partners at UGA and our external partners to deliver this programming to Georgians across the state.”
54 YEARS SUPPORTING THE GARDEN
1,450+ FRIENDS MEMBERSHIPS SUPPORTING THE GARDEN
60+
NEW MEMBERS JOINED DURING THE SPRING PLANT SALE
$55,000
Friends of the Garden
DONATED TO THE GARDEN’S NEW ENTRANCE
The Friends of the Garden were proud to support the State Botanical Garden in many meaningful ways this past year. One of our most significant contributions was completing the third and final payment of our three-year, $180,000 commitment to the Gateway to the Garden entrance project. It has been exciting to watch construction progress, and we eagerly anticipate celebrating the grand opening later this year. We were especially honored to receive the Southern Magnolia Award at the Giving Tree event in recognition of our support of this transformational project. The Friends also continued our support of the garden’s annual student art competition. The creativity and talent showcased each year are truly inspiring. Selected artwork is transformed into signature items sold in the State Botanical Garden Gift Shop, including premium greeting cards, stickers, magnets, pins, prints and other unique keepsakes that allow visitors to bring a piece of the garden home. Throughout the year, Friends funding also helped support a variety of programs and events that enrich the garden experience for visitors of all ages. From the beloved Sunflower Concert Series and educational programs to volunteer recognition events, Winter WonderLights and Orchid Madness, Friends members played an important role in helping these opportunities flourish. 16
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Have you attended one of our Friends First Friday programs? These popular monthly gatherings spotlight fascinating gardening and environmental topics through engaging presentations by guest speakers and garden experts. This year’s highlights included a look back at the property’s history before it became the State Botanical Garden, a hands-on floral design program and informative talks on chestnut trees and composting. One memorable Hosta program even included a tour of a private garden featuring an impressive collection of these shade-loving favorites. As we reflect on another successful year, we are grateful for your membership, enthusiasm and support. Everything we accomplish together helps the garden grow as a place of beauty, education, conservation and inspiration. Thank you for being part of the Friends family. We look forward to another year of learning, celebrating and enjoying the garden with you.
- Pamela Bracken, President, Friends of the Garden
President Pamela Bracken Vice President Merry C. Anderson Secretary Beth Campbell Treasurer Gayle Burnham Immediate Past President Karen Radde Endowment Trustees James L. LaBoon III John V. Quackenbush Ellen Wilkins Wiley Mercer Brockenbrough Members at Large Shirley Berry Nancy Black Anne Davis Betsy Ellison Juli Fields Celia Fowler Susie Haggard Taylor Jenkins Shelly Prescott Teresa Morrison Rosemary Stancil John V. Quackenbush Anne Walker William A. “Bill” Walker
YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
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5,360+ PLANTS SOLD AT SPRING PLANT SALE
28,600+ PLANTS PRODUCED BY THE GREENHOUSE
28
TREES REMOVED FROM BLOCKING TRAILS
Horticulture Mapping into the Future: How Learning by Leading’s GIS Team builds careers and transforms the garden Learning by Leading™ is the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s experiential leadership development program. Through a progressive model, students develop technical expertise, professional competencies and leadership skills while contributing to the garden’s mission. Supported by staff mentorship, peer leadership and experiential learning, students gain realworld experience across teams in the garden. Since its launch in 2018, more than 300 students have contributed over 30,000 hours of service to the garden.
support the garden’s future. Through Learning by Leading, students transformed that vision into reality.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping into the Future Team was one of the first Learning by Leading teams, created under the mentorship of Emily James, horticulture and collections manager. Faced with inconsistent plant records and challenges locating specific plants, James envisioned a comprehensive mapping system to improve curation and
The team’s impact extends beyond mapping. Student leaders train successors, pass down institutional knowledge and expand the project’s capabilities year after year. Landscape architecture student Jackson Keesee has progressed from team member to student leader and intern. He now combines ArcGIS and landscape design skills on garden projects.
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STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Using ArcGIS technology, GIS Team members have created detailed digital maps of plant collections and infrastructure, developed a standardized bed-numbering system, and integrated records with the garden’s IRIS-BG database. Today, the GIS system supports horticulture, research, irrigation management and master planning.
“It created an amazing feedback loop,” Keesee said. “I was able to apply what I learned in my major to the garden, and then bring what I learned here back into my coursework.” The GIS Team exemplifies Learning by Leading’s
dual impact: students gain leadership, technical expertise and career readiness, while the garden benefits from an evolving management tool that strengthens stewardship, planning and operations for years to come.
YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
19
25 UGA STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH UGA OPERA IN BLOOM: MANSFIELD PARK
133
TICKETS SOLD TO THE YOGA CELEBRATION
44
SEASON PASSES PURCHASED FOR THE SUNFLOWER CONCERT SERIES
Major Events What a remarkable year it has been in special events at the State Botanical Garden! Our events have grown, bringing our community together in beautiful new ways while welcoming many new faces.
$10,500+
RAISED FROM ORCHID MADNESS TO SUPPORT THE HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT
This spring, we debuted “UGA Opera in Bloom: Mansfield Park,” presented in celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. In collaboration with the University of Georgia Opera Theatre and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, we hosted two enchanting evenings of performances that transformed our Flower Garden into a captivating outdoor venue and an enriching educational environment for University of Georgia students. In the fall, we introduced a new tradition: a Yoga Celebration that united yoga community partners to offer an event for participants of all experience levels with the opportunity to gather for 108 Sun Salutations in the Flower Garden. Witnessing the group come together with such intention demonstrated how the garden continues to serve as a meaningful setting for collective well-being. We also enjoyed our long-running annual events, including the Sunflower Concert Series, which filled summer nights with music from local bands like Abbey Road LIVE!, Randall Bramblett, the New Orleans Jazz Stompers and The 80’s Walkmen. February brought the return of Orchid Madness, honoring the beauty and diversity of orchids from around the world. This series supports the garden’s horticulture department and provides guests of all ages a chance to immerse themselves in orchids. I hope you will look at our upcoming events and join us at the garden soon for another exciting year!
- Kimberly Futrell, Major Events Manager 20
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
13,390 MUSEUM VISITORS
10,000+ VISITORS FROM GEORGIA APRIL 2026 WAS THE BUSIEST MONTH WITH
2,915 VISITORS
Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum This year at the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, we continued to have significant growth in both visitors and programming. We surpassed the previous fiscal year’s total, with a record 13,390 visitors at the museum. This exciting growth reflects a continued dedication to further integrating the museum into the workings of the larger garden, the Athens community and arts communities around the country. Since last year, we have welcomed significant cultural institutions, such as the American Ceramics Circle and the Decorative Arts Trust, to the museum for extensive, specialized tours. We also introduced the weekly Tuesday Tour program, which offers public tours. The museum was excited to participate in the garden’s immensely successful Questival and Insectival festivals, offering up activities focused on art, nature, the state of Georgia and insects. Each of these events has only expanded the museum’s audience and increased its accessibility for all ages. We are proud to have educated over 650 people through tours and other programs. In addition to expanding our programming, the museum’s collection grew through strategic additions donated by Mrs. Deen Day Sanders. Gifts that round out the collection, including rare American Tucker porcelain, exquisite Meissen vases and even a plate belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte, were added with the express hope of telling a fuller story about the history of porcelain and its interactions with nature. It has been a wonderfully busy year here at the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, and we look forward to the new year with great enthusiasm.
- Grace Moorman, Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum Curator
YEAR IN REVIEW 2026
21
136,000 VISITOR CENTER GUESTS
147
RENTAL EVENTS WITH
21,000 GUESTS
67,500
WINTER WONDERLIGHTS VISITORS
Visitor Services This year, the Visitor Services Team focused on developing opportunities for Georgians to build on existing traditions and create new ones centered on garden experiences. More than 67,500 visitors enjoyed learning about the garden’s seasonal changes as they wandered through Winter WonderLights. For the fifth year, families returned to Winter WonderLights as part of their holiday traditions. Another growing tradition is families bringing their out-of-town guests for a tour to learn about the history of native plant conservation here at the garden. Paid rentals of garden spaces for events, including weddings, retreats, meetings, classes and workshops, generated a 7% increase in revenue over the last year. With more visitors to the garden, the Gift Shop increased overall sales, including through Winter WonderLights merchandise, by 14% over last year. This revenue is one of many ways we are able to offer free general admission and parking to the garden. All revenue generated by the Gift Shop, rental venues, special events and Winter WonderLights helps cover the operating budget and conservation research. The Visitor Services team could not continue to serve increasing numbers of visitors without the consistent help of over 250 volunteers. This year, they gave over 12,000 hours of their time, and we had 60 active volunteers who worked at least two shifts a month supporting curators in the garden, Gift Shop and plant sales, and welcoming visitors to the Museum and Visitor Center. We are looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to the garden this year, thanks to our new entrance and parking lot.
- Daun Fest, Associate Director for Administration and Visitor Services 22
STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA
Winter WonderLights The fifth season of Winter WonderLights continued to provide the fun family tradition of experiencing the garden in winter, with the excitement of colorful lights, hot chocolate and s’mores. This year, the garden welcomed over 67,500 visitors to experience Athens’ favorite local event. We hosted 30 evening Winter WonderLight shows in November and December and four Disco Nights in January, that generated important revenue to support the garden’s annual operations. Our Holiday Market was expanded to provide more opportunities for visitors to take home a memento from their visit. We also introduced a light-up dance floor for Disco Nights that had our visitors dancing to the hits! We are looking forward to the sixth year of Winter WonderLights, with some exciting additions coming to Disco Nights.
- Tripp Dukes, Winter WonderLights Manager
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE
PAID
ATHENS, GA PERMIT #165
706.542.1244 . botgarden.uga.edu . garden@uga.edu
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