Georgia Garden is published three times per year by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the Friends of the Garden.
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a public non-profit educational organization within the Office of Public Service & Outreach at the University of Georgia.
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Susana Alvarado Tina Christie
Laurel Clark Kimberly Futrell
Adam Stewart Shené Stroud
Heather Schwartz
DEVELOPMENT
Johnathon Barrett
Kathy Adams
EDUCATION
Cora Keber
Audrey Mitchell
Emory Perry
HORTICULTURE
Jason Young
Alex Ankirskiy Ken Duffey
Emily James Sheldon Jones
Katie McCollum Carol Dyer McKeen
Eli McKinney Jim Moneyhun
Zoë Prince Brian Santos
Samantha Simmons
SCIENCE & CONSERVATION
Heather Alley Jennifer Ceska
Emily Laske Will Rogers
Zachary Wood
VISITOR SERVICES & FACILITIES
Daun Fest
Andrea Fischer Noel Fortunato
Oliver Hirt Dan Hudson
Adam Lowe Grace Moorman
Deirdre Peters
As one of eight diverse units of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, the State Botanical Garden serves communities in Georgia and beyond by applying university expertise and developing partnerships to address challenges and improve the environment.
The garden is a significant cultural, regional and ecological resource for Georgia. As part of the cultural landscape of Georgia, we offer social, scenic, economic, recreational and educational opportunities to help communities thrive. The core mission of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is conservation, education and horticulture. Through existing facilities and programs, the garden offers safe, free and accessible connections to nature for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This past year, we welcomed more than 370,000 visitors.
Our programs are designed to engage students, faculty, staff and the public at our 323-acre botanical garden just a few miles from UGA’s main campus in Athens. We also work to support the interests of partners and communities across the region and far beyond with expertise and resources that enhance our lives, increase resiliency and support diverse and healthy natural environments. We host unique experiences year-round for visitors of all ages to increase their knowledge and enjoyment of outdoor recreation and nature.
Our adult educational programs and workshops focus on the ecological significance of native plants and pollinator conservation, as well as instructional children’s programs, including camps. Our Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden offers visiting families the opportunity to learn and play in an interactive environment and provides an outdoor classroom for teacher training and education research.
We also host an award-winning experiential learning program for students, Learning by LeadingTM, which provides leadership skills and experience to help students address critical environmental issues. Students work with garden staff and mentors on projects relating to science, conservation, environmental education, visitor services and horticulture. During the past year, 9,316 people (7,309 youth) participated in educational programs. More than 3,150 students participated in field trips to the garden.
As we move past the winter season and look ahead to spring, we close out Winter WonderLights, and we hope to maintain connections with visitors from more than 43 states and across Georgia’s counties who enjoy our annual light show. We look forward to a month full of events celebrating the beauty and inspiration of orchids during our annual Orchid Madness celebration. We also anticipate our annual Questival event in the children’s garden.
In this issue of Georgia Garden magazine, you will learn more about how our programs engage visitors through multisensory experiences in the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum. You will also learn about our year-round programming for families and learners of all ages in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. You will learn from one of our horticultural experts how to create a pet-friendly garden at home. We also feature the 2025 Pollinator Plants of the Year to help enhance the ecological benefits in your home garden.
As we begin a new year and season at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, we look forward to growing and learning with you, our Friends.
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, director
Introducing the Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year for 2025
The Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year (GPPY) program annually recognizes four top-performing landscape plants that support pollinators and grow beautifully in a garden.
Plants are recognized and promoted from the following categories: spring bloomer, summer bloomer, fall bloomer and Georgia native. The program is funded in part by the Vaughn-Jordan Foundation.
Nominations are solicited from plant enthusiasts throughout Georgia and are then determined by a selection committee based on each plant’s horticultural value, ease of propagation throughout Georgia and ecological significance.
We’re excited to introduce you to this year’s pollinator plants of the year!
Spring Bloomer
Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia)
Light: Full sun-part shade
Water requirements: Medium
Height: 4-15 ft.
Bloom time: March-April
Wildlife value: Chickasaw plum is a member of the keystone genus Prunus, serving as a larval host to many butterflies, such as the eastern tiger swallowtail, coral hairstreak, spring azure, viceroy and red-spotted purple. This species is also a valuable early-spring nectar and pollen source for many bees, butterflies and other insects. Chickasaw plum tends to form thickets, which serve as cover for songbirds and small mammals. The fruit is eaten by mammals, songbirds and other wild birds and is edible to humans, although usually too tart to be eaten raw and preferred as preserves and jellies.
Horticultural recommendations: Chickasaw plum can be a shrub or a small tree, depending on environmental conditions and pruning. This species is prone to forming thickets, so it is recommended to prune root suckers if you prefer the plant not to spread.
Fall Bloomer
Climbing aster ( Ampelaster carolinianus)
Light: Full sun-part shade
Water requirements: Medium-high
Height: Sprawling vine
Bloom time: September-November
Wildlife value: Climbing aster is a larval host to the pearl crescent butterfly. This vine flowers profusely and attracts crowds of butterflies, bees and other insects. The seeds, which set in late fall, are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
Horticultural recommendations: Climbing aster can tolerate occasionally wet soil but prefers to be in welldrained media. This species grows enthusiastically and requires occasional pruning if spread is not desired. We recommend planting this vine with plenty of space to grow, such as over fence lines or in more spacious beds.
Summer Bloomer
Beardtongues (Penstemon)
Light: Sun-shade
Water requirements: Medium
Height: 1-3 ft.
Bloom time: May-July
Wildlife value: Penstemons are well-known hummingbird magnets. They also serve as significant nectar sources for bees, including the specialist Distinct Mason Bee, which will only feed from species in the penstemon genus. Other insects like moths, flies, solitary wasps and butterflies enjoy their nectar.
Horticultural recommendations: Penstemons can grow in a range of light conditions but flower best in full to partial sun. While they tolerate a range of soil types, they require welldrained soil.
Georgia Native
Golden groundsel (Packera aurea)
Light: Full sun-shade
Water requirements: Medium-high
Height: 1-2 ft.
Bloom time: March-April
Wildlife value: Golden groundsel is an important early spring pollen and nectar source for many native bee species and other insects.
Horticultural recommendations: This species can form a thick groundcover, especially in shady areas, creating a golden carpet-like display of flowers. Golden groundsel is also known to be deer-resistant.
o matter the time of year, there is always something happening in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. Come on a journey through the seasons in the garden, starting with our spring family festival, Questival, and ending with the beautiful Winter WonderLights!
As the garden begins to wake up in spring, bulbs that have been planted with care over the winter begin to peek out from under the soil. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths offer pops of color throughout the landscape just in time for our first family festival of the year, Georgia Questival. This festival allows participants to explore Georgia’s natural history through activities, exhibits and vendors. Guests receive a map upon entry, which they can use to find each of the six stations needed to complete their quest and receive a special prize!
Georgia Questival begins our spring educational programming in the Children’s Garden, which includes Sweet Pea Club and the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden Performance Series. Sweet Pea Club is a program designed for learners ages 3-5 as an introduction to our natural world. Each week, children and their adult helpers join garden staff and volunteers for a 45-minute lesson highlighting different topics about nature and the outdoors, including plants, colors, animals, weather and more.
The Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden Performance Series takes place on the third Saturday morning
Katie McCollum, children’s garden curator
of the month, April through August, at the Theater in the Woods. A variety of engaging shows are offered throughout each series free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Garden, who sponsor the event.
As these educational and entertaining programs begin, the garden also begins to grow and change. The Dig and Grow edible garden gallery is planted with summer annuals like tomatoes, peppers and okra in late spring and early summer. Once the fruits of these plants are ready to harvest, they will be used for educational programming, including summer camp. The Bee
Smart Eat Smart summer camp uses produce to make engaging and fun recipes that help campers connect with the idea of healthy food, healthy body, healthy community,
Any extra produce that is harvested from the garden is donated to Campus Kitchen, a studentpowered hunger relief program from the Office of Service-Learning at UGA that helps to spotlight sustainable solutions
to food waste and hunger. Since the start of this partnership, the Children’s Garden has donated over 5,000 pounds of produce to Campus Kitchen!
As summer turns into fall, the garden hosts Insectival, a family festival all about insects. Entomology experts join garden staff and volunteers to offer activities all about our six-legged neighbors to attendees. This season also marks the changing of the Dig and Grow edible garden from summer to winter-hardy crops. Kale, broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens, radishes and beets are all planted to be used for educational purposes and donation. These edible plants also offer one of the many beautiful backdrops for Winter WonderLights.
Winter WonderLights spans multiple spaces at the State Botanical Garden, including parts of the Children’s Garden. Guests are transported to a magical wonderland of snowflakes, jingle bells and light displays that will create lasting memories for all. As the Winter WonderLights show brightens up wintry evenings, preparations begin in the garden for the next season. Bulbs are planted to enjoy in the spring, and staff prepare for another delightful year of inspiring a love of nature and the outdoors in children of all ages.
Carol Dyer McKeen
tropical collection and herb and physic garden curator
ardening is a favorite pastime of many. Propagating, planting and watching your plants grow can be meditative and bring a sense of accomplishment. Growing your own herbs, fruits and vegetables can help save you a little money.
However, sometimes cultivating a lovely garden and sharing that space with your pets may cause issues. So what are we to do?
Safety is the most important aspect of a pet-friendly garden. If you plan on sharing your outdoor space with your fur babies, it’s crucial to pick nontoxic plants. While many plants are harmless, some or all parts can be poisonous if ingested.
We certainly cannot control every plant that may grow on our property, but we can at least have some choice over the primary plants we’d like to incorporate into our garden area.
First and foremost, do your research! The plants you choose (indoor or outdoor) should do no harm through any interaction, such as physically brushing up on the plant or any nibbling that will most likely occur. Although safety is at the top of the list, you’ll also want to think about plants that aren’t only pretty but that you don’t mind your pets interacting with or eating.
While designing a pet-friendly garden, dedicate some room for play. Many pets, particularly dogs, need ample space to explore and frolic. Targeted stimulation will keep them occupied throughout the day while providing exercise as they run around. And if your furry friends are tired from playing in their fun garden space, they may be less likely to cause trouble in other parts of your garden or home.
Another thing to consider while designing your garden is using petsafe mulch. Mulches made from pine are a good option. Also, adding petfriendly garden ground cover plants, like thyme, adds an innocuous texture and color to the area.
Below is a quick list of some pet-friendly garden plants (specifically for dogs and cats). Cat
mulch can cause intestinal obstruction or other health problems.
Also, certain chemicals in garden products can pose significant health risks to animals, especially when ingested. These quick fixes aren’t so safe when growing a pet-friendly
garden. Always read the labels! If in doubt, look for pet-safe labels or talk with your vet to ensure it is completely safe.
Using compost, natural predators (like ladybugs), and eco-friendly alternatives (diatomaceous earth or a naturalistic or wildflower garden design) can help to maintain the garden’s health without compromising
your pet’s safety. This also limits harm to other wildlife in the area, including essential pollinators and birds we want to welcome into our gardens.
No matter the style of your garden, by adding some of these pet-friendly ideas, you’re sure to have peace of mind that you are creating a space that you will feel comfortable sharing with your best buddy.
Susan Mays began volunteering at the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum in May 2024. She brings with her decades of museum education experience and an infectious enthusiasm for sharing information about the museum and garden.
Since Mays began volunteering, she has created two museum scavenger hunts for visitors that focus on slowing down and examining the museum’s collections.
If a visitor only had 10 minutes in the museum, she would guide them to its focus on the connections between art, nature, science and technology, as seen in objects like Trailer McQuilkin’s hyperreal botanical sculptures and an Imari teacup with a Geisha lithophane that highlights the transparency of porcelain.
Mays said she encourages visitors to come back many times so they can continue to engage with other wonderful examples of artists using their gifts to explore, educate and encourage the preservation of the beautiful natural world.
Mays said she thinks the museum is a great place to volunteer because she loves education and the chance to help open new content areas for others.
“The museum presents so many directions for learning new things – nature, art, science, and social and cultural history,” said Mays. “For myself, the staff and other volunteers are a rich resource. I have already learned so much in the short time I have been volunteering.”
Mays has been amazed at the opportunities to meet people from all over our country, as well as from all over the world. In her short time at the garden, she has talked with UGA students, residents from the Athens area, as well as visitors from Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, other parts of Georgia and a couple from New Zealand.
Thank you, Susan, for your time and dedication to the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum and the State Botanical Garden!
Volunteer opportunities are available for many positions. Please contact Andrea Fischer for more information at 706-542-6195 or afischer@uga.edu.
Garden of Georgia
Tips and Tricks
for a pet-friendly garden space
Make pathways to help train your pet to know where it should and shouldn’t be in the garden. Notice which route your pet usually takes to a favorite area and make it into a pathway. Use materials such as flagstones or smooth gravel to protect sensitive paws.
Create densely planted areas in your furry friend’s space with hardy shrubs for shade and sturdy perennials to protect tender plants.
Friends of the Garden has joined Brent and Becky’s Bulbs’ Bloomin’ Bucks. It is a simple program: you buy bulbs, plants, tools and more from Brent and Becky’s Bulbs through a special website and the Friends of the Garden receives a generous percentage of your payment. Your order is sent directly to you when it is the appropriate time to plant. Just follow these simple steps:
1 Go to www.bloominbucks.com (no ‘g’) and from the pull-down menu of orgnizations select FRIENDS OF THE STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA.
2 You will be sent to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs website where you can order whatever you want.
3 Your order is delivered directly to you and a percentage of the proceeds of your order helps to support the garden.
Susan Mays
Classes & Events
ADULT CLASSES
ATHENS BEGINNERS BEEKEEPING SEMINAR
Saturday, Feb. 1
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association
UGA Bee Lab
Garden Club of Georgia, Terrace Room Fee: $65 (includes lunch) https://tinyurl.com/yc4trbye
Beekeeping is a complex and fascinating pursuit with plenty to learn and sweet rewards! If you want to become a beekeeper, this comprehensive seminar featuring Georgia Master Beekeepers and industry professionals will prepare you to create a successful hive. This workshop will guide you through understanding the honey bee and the steps to obtain your bees, tools and hives. This program will also cover harvesting, various hive products and how to use them. Participants will also learn about proper care and some common challenges beekeepers face today.
Each participant will receive a box lunch, a copy of “First Lessons in Beekeeping” and a one-year membership to the Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association. As a bonus, all participants can participate in a follow-up, hands-on class at a nearby apiary on March 22 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-3 p.m.
LEARNING BY LEADING™ SPRING INFORMATIONAL SESSION
Thursday, Jan. 23
6-8 p.m.
Virtual
Are you a student interested in working at the botanical garden alongside other students and staff to address important environmental issues? The State Botanical Garden of Georgia Learning by Leading™ program provides students with leadership skills and real-world experience with education, conservation and horticulture through handson experiential projects. Interested students are welcome to learn how to get involved in this student engagement program and receive experiential learning credits. RSVP at uga.givepulse.com.
LEARNING BY LEADING™ END OF SEMESTER SPRING SHOWCASE
Thursday, April 24
6-8 p.m.
Porcelain & Decorative Arts Museum, classroom
UGA students are working alongside staff at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to help address important environmental issues and develop hands-on horticulture skills. Learning by Leading™ provides students with leadership skills and real-world experience with education, conservation and horticulture through hands-on experiential projects. This event will allow students to share what they have been working on throughout the semester.
NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM
Thursday, Feb. 20
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Garden Club of Georgia, Terrace Room Fee: $65 (lunch included) https://t.uga.edu/6wn
Growing and protecting native plants are important for many reasons: they celebrate our state and region, they are well suited to our region’s growing conditions and they are the foundation of the complex ecosystem that supports insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Native plants can be tough, beautiful plants for your home landscape, as well as delicate harbingers of the changing seasons. Join us for this year’s Native Plant Symposium to explore the beauty of native plants. Please see the complete agenda on the garden’s website at botgarden.uga.edu.
CHILDREN & FAMILY PROGRAMS
FIELD TRIPS AT THE GARDEN Tuesdays-Fridays
Available times between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. State Botanical Garden education staff Children’s classroom, gardens and trails Fee: Varies with program, $5-$8 per student Ages: Varies with program, preK-grade 12
Bring your students to the garden to learn about natural ecosystems near and far. Each field trip program includes hands-on learning through our gardens and trails and a chance to connect with nature. Field trip date availability for the spring will be confirmed in December and January. For more information, please contact sbgeduc@uga.edu.
ADVENTURE PACKS
Available times between 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Self-guided Fee: $20 for materials for up to 20 participants Ages: pre-K through grade 12
Explore the State Botanical Garden and trails on your own selfguided adventure. Each pack contains maps and supplies for hands-on science activities, plant hunts and forest explorations, which will be completed throughout different garden areas. Bring your family or students to enjoy activities and games introducing you to our shared Earth at your own pace. For more information, please contact sbgeduc@uga.edu.
ALICE H. RICHARDS CHILDREN’S GARDEN PERFORMANCE
SERIES
Every third Saturday of the month, April through August 9:30 and 11 a.m. show times Theater-in-the-Woods Free and open to children of all ages
Every third Saturday of the month, April through August, enjoy a variety of engaging shows taking place on the Theater-inthe-Woods stage in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. Experience music, laughter and connection in nature as our artists bring excitement to your weekend. All performances will take place at 9:30 a.m., with a second showing at 11 a.m.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT THE GARDEN Saturdays and Sundays
9 a.m.–noon or 1–4 p.m.
State Botanical Garden education staff Visitor Center, children’s classroom Fee: $350 for up to 30 guests
Ages: 5-10
Are you looking for a memorable, magical, kidfriendly birthday? Look no further! The State Botanical Garden of Georgia offers a variety of birthday programs from September through May. You can choose from Animal Encounters, Critter Catchin ’, Forest Treasure Hunt and more. Each party includes one hour of guided activities in our conservatory or forest trails and use of the children’s classroom for a total of three hours. Parents or chaperones must accompany all children for the duration of the program and are included in the participant numbers. For more information, please contact sbgeduc@uga.edu.
SWEET
PEA CLUB
Every Thursday, March 20 through Oct. 30 10:15-11 a.m.
Theater-in-the-Woods
Fee: $3 per class
Ages: 3-5
Join the State Botanical Garden of Georgia education team for Sweet Pea Club at the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. Families will join one another for a morning of adventure in the garden through various activities, including songs, puppets, stories, hikes and games. Each week will highlight a new theme, such as water, soil, foods we eat, pollination, plants or trees. The Sweet Pea Club program is an informal way to give young naturalists a better understanding of the importance of our shared earth. This program is geared towards ages 3-5. Please note this program typically takes place outdoors, and the location may change depending on weather. Registration is required and can be found on our website.
SUMMER CAMPS
The State Botanical Garden education department offers six different week-long summer camps for ages 5-10. Each week focuses on a different outdoor theme to inspire fun and to connect with nature. Registration for all camps is available online through the State Botanical Garden of Georgia website.
Available by week June-July
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Fee: $300
Ages: 5-10
JUNE 2-6 GEORGIA CRITTERS
Learn to bound like a deer, sneak like a fox and build a home like a beaver. Georgia is full of many fascinating creatures that we can discover all around us. From turkeys to snakes, mayflies to owls, we will meet a variety of creatures that call Georgia “home” and learn what they need to survive in their habitats. Come to this week of camp and leave a Georgia animal expert.
JUNE 9-13 AQUATIC ADVENTURERS
Want to meet creatures that can change colors, breathe through their skin and have their stomachs on their feet? Explore the wacky world of water. Catch salamanders and crayfish in our stream, play water games that leave you soaked and learn what you can do to keep our water clean. This week of camp is sure to cool you down and excite your imagination.
JUNE 16-20 FOREST EXPLORERS
The environment changes across the globe, and so do the ways people interact with it. In this week of camp, we will travel the world to discover how humans have used the natural world throughout history. Try your hand at various historical practices in farming, eating, social gathering and survival. We have a world of fun during this week of community-building and exploration.
JUNE 23-25 SWEET PEA CAMP
Monday-Wednesday 9-11 a.m.
Fee: $75
Ages: 3-4 with an adult helper
This camp is planned especially for young nature lovers and their parent or other adult helper, offering a marvelous introduction to the natural world. Each day focuses on a different topic, such as “A Visit with Old Man Spruce Tree” or “Adventures with Oli the Earthworm.” Programs involve puppet shows, storytelling, outdoor games, nature crafts and garden explorations. This camp provides a great way to spend time outside this summer with your child.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CAMP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUMMER CAMP ACADEMY
June 23-27
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Registration is through the Georgia Center for Continuing Education
Learn about different fields of study in the world of environmental sciences from professionals in horticulture, conservation, botany and more! Explore careers in these fields through hands-on experiential learning and interactions with experts. Have fun exploring the State Botanical Garden grounds and learning about the diverse ecosystems in the Georgia Piedmont and your backyard.
JULY 7-11 AQUATIC ADVENTURERS
Please be advised that this week’s schedule will replicate the first week of Aquatic Adventurers camp. We ask that campers join only one of these duplicate weeks to allow space for others.
JULY 14-18: BEE SMART, EAT SMART
The Bee Smart, Eat Smart camp introduces campers to gardening, nutrition and cooking by discussing the connection between nature and the foods we eat.
Campers will have the opportunity to try various fruits and vegetables throughout the week, and the final project will include a Chef Day in which kids will work under the close supervision of camp counselors to create two healthy, kid-friendly recipes for all to try.
JULY 21-25 NATURE RANGERS
Join the Nature Rangers for a week packed with outdoor exploration. Campers will participate in various exciting games and adventurous activities showcasing Georgia’s natural history and resources. From the mountains to the coast, see what makes our great state unique.
GEORGIA QUESTIVAL
Sunday, March 16
1-5 p.m.
State Botanical Garden education staff and partners Fee: $5 per individual, $20 per family and children 2 and under are free
Join the State Botanical Garden of Georgia staff, students, volunteers and local partners for our spring family festival, Georgia Questival. Exhibitors and vendors will be stationed throughout the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden and the Visitor Center, leading adventurous activities showcasing Georgia’s natural history. Check our website for details about this fun and family-friendly event.
FULL MOON HIKES
Monday, Jan. 13
7-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
7-8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 14
8-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12
8-9:30 p.m.
Monday, May 12
8-9:30 p.m.
State Botanical Garden education staff
Meet at the fountain in front of the Visitor Center Fee: $5/person, pre-registration required
See the garden come alive at night! Join our monthly Full Moon Hikes to enjoy the State Botanical Garden after hours and hear discussions on nocturnal plants and animals, the changing seasons and moon folklore. Be prepared to hike up to 2 miles on our wooded trails and in the garden, where visibility may be low at times. If you have young children or infants, a backpack carrier is suggested. Pre-registration is required.
SPRING BIRD RAMBLES
8 a.m.
See State Botanical Garden of Georgia website for dates Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
Upper Parking Lot
Free and open to the public
Come join the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society for a morning bird walk in the garden. Look and listen for our spring migrants. First time birding? No problem. ORAS members will help you spot and identify the feathery creatures. All birding levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. For more information, visit www. oconeeriversaudubon.org.
NATURE RAMBLERS
Thursdays, March 6 through Nov. 20
9 a.m. (each ramble lasts about 90 minutes) Leaders rotate among a group of local naturalists and biologists featuring guest guides Meet at children’s garden arbor
Join the Nature Ramblers to learn more about the State Botanical Garden’s natural areas, flora and fauna while making new friends and enjoying the fresh air. Rambles start with an inspirational reading by a nature writer such as Annie Dillard, John Muir or Janisse Ray. Ramblers are encouraged to bring their own nature writings or favorite poems and essays to share with the group. This is a ramble, not a hike; stopping to view interesting plants, insects, butterflies and mushrooms, etc., along the way is part of the experience each week. You can join for just one or all sessions. These informal rambles are free, but donations are accepted in the garden’s donation box in the lobby of the Visitor Center. To get a feel for what these rambles are like, visit https://naturerambling.org/.
PLANTS & POLLINATORS SPECIALIZATION
The garden has expanded its successful Certificate in Native Plants program to include a Plants and Pollinators Specialization designed for anyone ready to take an interest in protecting our native plants and pollinators! The specialization is open to people currently enrolled in or graduated from the CNP program and those who have not yet participated but are looking for an opportunity to get involved in pollinator protection in their area.
PLANNING FOR POLLINATORS: THEIR BIOLOGY AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Friday, April 11
9 a.m.-noon
Rachel Hughes, lecturer, Biology, University of North Georgia
Kevin Tarner, professional horticulturalist
Virtual program, see our website for more information
https://t.uga.edu/6wi
Have you heard the buzz? Pollinators are in decline and need our help. One way to support local pollinators is to incorporate native plants into your garden. In this class, you will learn about the importance of pollinators in our environment, their interaction with native plants and how to provide space for these important creatures through garden landscaping. This course will provide an overview of some basic insect biology and explain the ecology of why insects are critical to the environment and society. You will also learn about the native plants you can plant to attract your local pollinators and how to keep those plants healthy and arrange them beautifully in your garden design. Come learn about these cool bugs and see what you can do to transform your garden into a native pollinator habitat. This class consists of two elements: a pre-recorded, asynchronous video and a three-hour Zoom session.
ENTOMOLOGY FOR GARDENERS: IDENTIFYING & UNDERSTANDING COMMON BACKYARD ARTHROPODS
Saturday, April 26
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Scott Clem, PhD, assistant professor of ecology, Illinois State University Virtual program, see our website for more information https://t.uga.edu/9ze
In this course, you will learn how to identify common arthropods (i.e., insects and arachnids) commonly encountered in Georgia gardens. This class will equip you with the necessary knowledge and tools for distinguishing beneficial insects from those potentially harmful to the local ecosystem. As a participant in this course, you will also learn about common invasive and introduced arthropods and simple methods for improving arthropod biodiversity.
CERTIFICATE IN SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The Certificate in Sustainable Landscape Design provides hands-on instruction in the design and implementation of sustainable and stunning residential designs. Participants will work through four full-day, participant-centered classes that offer straightforward, practical design strategies. The series takes a step-by-step approach, starting with design graphics and moving through spatial composition, sustainable design principles and planting design.
Bundle Cost: $470
Register at: https://t.uga.edu/9xZ
FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN GRAPHICS
Feb. 26
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s “GardenSmart,” past garden specialist for Southern Living State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, gardenside room
This course provides intense, hands-on instruction in design illustration and graphics. The full-day workshop offers participants bold yet efficient strategies to communicate design concepts on paper. This course is recommended for participants who wish to improve their design communication and drawing skills. All drawing supplies and course materials are included.
CREATING THE ULTIMATE LANDSCAPE DESIGN
March 26
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s “GardenSmart,” past garden specialist for Southern Living State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, gardenside room
This course is developed for participants to enhance their design philosophy and create plans that are stunning, unified and functional. The class takes an architectural approach and emphasizes topics such as form composition and lines of force. This hands-on workshop provides extensive training in design theory, moving from a basic understanding to creating a master plan in just one day. Improve your skills as you create beautiful, practical, sustainable design solutions.
DESIGNING THE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE LANDSCAPE: A NATURE-INSPIRED APPROACH
April 23
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s “GardenSmart,” past garden specialist for Southern Living State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, gardenside room
This full-day, hands-on workshop is for participants wishing to create stunning landscape designs. This course focuses on weaving ecologically sound concepts into traditional residential design. In addition, this class provides basic graphics instruction to communicate ideas efficiently and boldly on paper. By centering around an in-depth, hands-on understanding of curvilinear-based drift designing, this class will prepare you to create native plant displays and gardens that are visually pleasing and environmentally conscious. All drafting equipment and supplies are included.
PLANTING DESIGN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
May 21
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s “GardenSmart,” past garden specialist for Southern Living State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, gardenside room
This workshop focuses on the effective use of all types of plant material. This full-day workshop takes an artistic approach centering on how to combine form, texture and color. How to create and manipulate visual energy is a central theme as well. Students use the paradigm of block design to create stunning combinations. The course also teaches drawing in a realistic elevation view to help communicate your ideas. Finally, the workshop provides research-based knowledge on soil preparation for herbaceous and woody plants.
SAVE THE DATE
FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING
March 14, 2025
The meeting will feature Carol Reese, a retired Extension Horticulture Specialist at the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee Ag Research. Reese is a noted horticulturist, writer and speaker who will present a program after a short business meeting and refreshments. For more information, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
35th Annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest:
Colors of the Wild: Blend in or Stand Out?
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. encourage you and your students to participate in the 35th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest! As part of DNR and TERN’s “Kids for Conservation” initiative, this art contest provides a unique opportunity for kindergarten through fifth-grade students to explore the wonders of Georgia’s native plants and animals through the 2024–25 theme: Colors of the Wild: Blend in or Stand Out? For rules and specific guidelines, visit https://georgiawildlife. com/PosterContest.
Orchid Madness
Orchid Madness is an annual event that raises money for the horticulture department of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Tickets for each event are available for purchase online at botgarden.uga.edu.
BOTANIC MUSICALE
Saturday, Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m.
The Day Chapel
$25 per person
The Botanic Musicale piano concert will feature internationally acclaimed musical artist Liza Stepanova and include a champagne “meet and greet” reception. This is the 18th year for Botanic Musicale, a concert series funded in honor of Neva Fickling, a former Miss America and longtime member of the board of advisors for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
ORCHIDS AND CHOCOLATES
Thursday, Feb. 13, 5-7 p.m.
Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum classroom
$55 per person
Join us for a chocolate tasting and demonstration by Peter Dale of Condor Chocolates. While sipping chocolate, learn about the cacao bean and some of the unique orchids in the garden’s collection from Jason Young, director of horticulture and grounds. Guests can also enjoy drinks and appetizers.
JOHNSTONE LECTURE
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center and Conservatory
Free, registration required
As associate director of conservation horticulture and plant breeding at Longwood Gardens, Peter Zale leads a team of scientists and horticulturists focused on conservation horticulture, plant exploration, plant breeding and living collections through a combination of field, garden and laboratory-based projects and approaches. A light reception will follow the lecture.
SIP N’ PAINT
Saturday, Feb. 15, 6-7:30 p.m., or 8-9:30 p.m.
Visitor Center and Conservatory
$60 per person
A local artist will lead painting a beautiful orchid while you enjoy drinks and appetizers with your significant other or make it a special night out with friends. Choose one of two sessions. Supplies are provided for each guest.
ORCHID REPOTTING CLASS
Saturday, Feb. 22, 9-11 a.m.
Horticulture Greenhouse
$25 per person
Horticulture staff will lead a hands-on orchid repotting class. Basic supplies of orchid repotting media included. Choose one of six 20-minute sessions. Please only bring one orchid and a pot for repotting. Orchid repotting kit also offered for additional $25 and includes extra media for future repotting and a small pot.
CERTIFICATE IN NATIVE PLANTS
The Certificate in Native Plants offers committed individuals a comprehensive series of short courses in the identification, cultivation, propagation, ecology and conservation of native Georgia plants. With an emphasis on participatory learning, the short courses are designed to provide a supportive and challenging learning atmosphere. Participants will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of native plants in a broad context.
The certificate program is appropriate for home gardeners, garden club members, native plant enthusiasts, green industry professionals, conservationists and others interested in studying native plants. The program is also designed to appeal to professionals working in land, resource and park management, including natural resource agencies and private conservation programs. Knowledge and skills gained can be applied to both volunteer and professional services in conservation, horticulture, landscape design, land management and environmental education. One of the program’s goals is to have certified students participate in ongoing public and private efforts to preserve and restore Georgia’s flora and natural habitats. For a complete course listing, visit botgarden. uga.edu.
Core
PLANT TAXONOMY: THE IDENTITIES OF THE PLANTS
Online course content available March 12
Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. lab session
Monday, April 7, 6-8 p.m. Zoom lab session
Tuesday, April 8, 6-7 p.m. Zoom Q & A
Sabrina Sewell, botanist Virtual program, see our website for more information https://t.uga.edu/6Pa
Taxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and, ultimately, the names and identities of plants. This process utilizes pertinent data such as phylogenetics, phytogeography and phenology, but most essentially, plant morphology: the forms of plant parts. In this multi-session virtual course, students will focus on these diverse morphological characteristics of plants (descriptors of leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) and their utility in investigating unknown plants. Students will also survey the history, principles and practices of plant taxonomy as a discipline and be guided through plant identification via dichotomous keys. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students take Basic Botany before this class.
Course Structure:
This class consists of four elements: a series of prerecorded introductory videos; at-home exercises exploring plant anatomy, collecting and dichotomous keys; an in-person lab session or virtual lab session and a wrap-up discussion session through Zoom.
• Part 1 Introductory Video Lectures: content released March 12
• Part 2 At-Home Exercises: content released March 12
• Part 3 Plant ID Lab: choice of in-person session April 5; 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. OR virtual session April 7; 6-8 p.m.
• Part 4 Online Discussion Session: through Zoom April 8; 6-7 p.m.
Electives
NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION
Friday, Feb. 7
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Emily Laske, assistant conservation horticulturist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia State Botanical Garden, Mimsie Lanier Center https://t.uga.edu/7vh
Learn the basics of propagating native wildflowers and shrubs from seeds, cuttings and divisions. Models for inexpensive grow-light systems and a propagation timeline will be provided to ensure your seedlings are ready to be transplanted outdoors in early spring. Participants will leave with several types of seeds to propagate at home. Time and weather permitting, we may walk around the Mimsie Lanier Center to collect woody cuttings for propagation, so please dress for the outdoors.
WINTER TREE IDENTIFICATION
Saturday, Feb. 8
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Linda Chafin, botanist
State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, classroom 2 https://t.uga.edu/7ve
Trees may be most beautiful in the winter when stripped down to their basic architecture. But can we know them without their leaves? In this class, students will learn the basics of identifying trees in the winter by learning about twigs, bark, leaf scars, fruits and tree form. Students will learn to use a hand lens and a simple key for woody plants to identify species. Class time will be divided between classroom exercises and a field trip to the deciduous woods at the State Botanical Garden.
SPRING WILDFLOWERS OF UPLAND DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF GEORGIA
Saturday, March 8
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, classroom 2 https://t.uga.edu/7zp
The cool, moist forests of the Piedmont’s ravines and slopes support a wealth of spring wildflowers. Students will learn the botanical terminology to identify and describe plants and will learn a variety of tools to identify spring-blooming plants. We will then visit the Dunson Native Flora Garden and learn about several spring ephemerals and other early-blooming plants.
SPRING WILDFLOWERS OF THE GRANITE OUTCROPS OF GEORGIA
Georgia is home to 90% of the Southeastern Piedmont’s granite outcrops, one of the most endangered and botanically interesting natural communities in the U.S. Students will be introduced to the ecology, habitats and plant communities of the granite outcrop ecosystem during an interpretive hike. As the mountain wakes up after a long, cold winter, we will celebrate spring wildflowers on the outcrop and learn more about their life histories, adaptations and resiliency as they survive and thrive in this challenging yet beautiful place. This will be an entirely field-based course on a multi-hour hike. Please note that this class is located outside of the Athens area.
SOILS OF THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT AND BEYOND
Saturday, March 29
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mac Callaham, research ecologist, U.S. Forest Service
State Botanical Garden Visitor Center, classroom 2
https://t.uga.edu/7vk
In this course, we will discuss the history of our Georgia Piedmont soils, the history of public land in Georgia and general soil ecology and biology. What is soil? What factors affect soil properties? These are a couple of the questions we will address in this class, which will include a lecture and a lab portion where we will explore soil in nature. Prepare to get a little dirty and learn about the fascinating, mysterious world beneath your feet.
FRIENDS FIRST FRIDAY
FRIENDS FIRST FRIDAY
First Friday each month
9–10:30 a.m.
Fee: $12 general admission, $10 for members
Pre-registration is required
Jan. 10 - Breeding plants for a crowded market with David Roberts
David Roberts has a deep love for plant breeding and propagation and hopes to inspire gardeners with exciting new plants that are unique and easy to care for. Roberts earned his master’s degree in horticultural science from North Carolina State University with a concentration in ornamental plant breeding.
Gather for breakfast and find out what brings folks to the garden to visit and volunteer. Each month, a different garden subject is presented and conversation is encouraged among the attendees. To reserve your place for Friends First Friday, register online at botgarden.uga.edu.
Bailey Nurseries, Inc. hired Roberts in 2015 as the general manager and head plant breeder for Bailey Innovations. He now serves as the director of plant breeding at Bailey Innovations, where he leads the breeding team and coordinates plant trials from their nursery in Winterville, Georgia.
Feb. 7 – Dorothy Doughty’s American Birds with Grace Moorman
Please join us as Grace Moorman explores the life and art of master sculptor Dorothy Doughty, focusing on Doughty’s American Birds series. Doughty is best known for her work with the Royal Worcester porcelain manufactory, where she designed numerous sculptures of birds and flowers. She was an avid lover of nature, claiming that one of the happiest ways to live was to work closely with nature. Moorman joined the State Botanical Garden as the curator of Porcelain and Decorative Arts in January 2024 as she was finishing her master’s degree in art history at the University of Georgia. She received her bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Mississippi. Previously, Moorman was the assistant manager of exhibitions and collections at the University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses.
March 7 – Who is Oconee Joe? Look into these waters and tell me what you see
Are you curious about the natural and cultural history of the Oconee River? Join us as we welcome David Titshaw with Oconee Joe Paddle Co. Titshaw is wellknown for leading kayaking tours throughout the Upper
Oconee watershed from Athens downstream to Lake Oconee. He also has a vast knowledge of the history of Native American communities along the Oconee River. Learn more about the river flowing through the State Botanical Garden.
April 4 – Ryan McNeill with UGA’s Horticulture Farm
Have you ever wondered what’s happening on Hog Mountain Road in Watkinsville? As you ride by, you can see unusual plants, shrubs, flowers and fruits. Ryan McNeill, superintendent of the UGA Durham Horticulture Research Farm, will discuss the behind-thescenes research that takes place there.
McNeill grew up in Lithonia, Georgia, and first came to Athens as a biochemistry major at UGA in 1992. He was the first curator of the Heritage Garden, which opened in
Beginning in 2005, he has served as the superintendent of the Durham Horticulture Research Farm in Watkinsville.
McNeill has a master of science in horticulture and is currently a PhD candidate working on improving the somatic embryogenesis of American chestnuts. He lives on-site at the Durham farm with his wife, Carri, and their daughter Molly. He is active in the Georgia chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation as well as Keep Oconee County Beautiful.
FRIENDS
Dear Friends,
By the time you read this, we will have moved through our fall weather and winter holidays, complete with a hurricane, and started receiving the new seed, bulb and gardening catalogs tempting us with spring garden dreams. The State Botanical Garden staff is also dreaming big as they ready the garden for a new year.
The Friends organization continues to provide learning opportunities through the Friends First Fridays and our Annual Meeting, which will be held on March 14 . The meeting will feature Carol Reese, a retired Extension Horticulture Specialist at the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee Ag Research. Reese is a noted horticulturist, writer and speaker who will present a program after a short business meeting and refreshments.
Reese has served as a columnist for Horticulture Magazine and written articles for Fine Gardening and Horticulture Weekly magazines. She will be presenting her unique and humorous angle on her garden philosophy. We hope you will join us and bring a friend who might also be interested in joining the Friends of the Garden.
First Fridays will include presentations by David Roberts, the general manager and head plant breeder for Bailey Innovations at Bailey’s Nurseries, Inc. Grace Moorman, curator of the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum at the State Botanical Garden will explore the art of Dorothy Doughty’s American Birds series.
David Titshaw will introduce the Friends to “Oconee Joe” and the natural and cultural history of the Oconee River. Ryan McNeil will introduce us to the UGA Research Farm in Watkinsville. Please join us as we enjoy these events, which provide an opportunity to learn more about gardening, activities at the State Botanical Garden, to introduce newcomers, meet new friends and to learn about opportunities to volunteer at the garden.
Friends members are always welcome to help in the garden, lead tours and volunteer in the gift shop and greenhouses. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Andrea Fischer, is very happy to find a place for you to help showcase our special garden.
We are grateful to many happy music lovers who supported the Sunflower Concert Series. All concerts were well attended as visitors enjoyed the wonderful summer nights in the garden, the great variety of music presented and the joy from the attendees. Plans are already underway for the 2025 season.
Happy 2025 to all of our members. Please join us in the New Year as we support the garden staff and provide more educational opportunities, plant sales and additions to the garden.
Happy Spring!
Karen Radde, president Friends of the Garden
President
Karen Radde
Vice President
Pamela Bracken
Treasurer
Dennis Calbos
Recording Secretary
Kay Petroff
Membership Services
Lynn Bryant
Immediate Past President
Eileen Hale
Endowment Trustees
Mercer Brockenbrough
James LaBoon III
John Quackenbush
Tom Wilfong
Ellen Wilkins Wiley
Board of Directors
Merry Anderson
Shirley Berry
Nancy Black
Barbara Bourque
Cheryl Briscoe
Cheri Crowley
Betsy Ellison
Juli Fields
Andrea Fischer
Celia Fowler
B.J. Garrett
Susie Haggard
Rosemary Maulden
Mary Mills
Teresa Morrison
Beverly Morton
Marsha Mulderig
Shelly Prescott
Mike Sikes
Rosemary Stancil
Gale Thomas
Barbara Turner
Anne Walker
Bill Walker
Dot Williams
SUPPORTING THE GARDEN
Online Gifts. Make a one-time gift. Make a recurring gift.
Pledges. Pledges enable a donor to plan a personal gift that is both convenient and tax-wise. A pledge may enable a donor to consider a more significant gift than would have otherwise been possible. Terms for payment on pledges are flexible.
Matching Gifts. Many employers support matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees. Ask your employer about its matching gifts program.
Memorial and Tribute Gifts. Memorials, tributes and other named gift opportunities will be remembered with a plaque recognizing the honoree and donor. Gifts range from benches and trees to statues and garden sections. Unique dedication opportunities are available throughout our landscape.
Endowments. An endowed fund is a dependable and continuous source of support, since the principal is invested and only a portion of the earnings is spent annually.
Planned Gifts. Long-term gift planning can be a preferable means of giving from an estate, financial and tax planning perspective.
Please contact Johnathon Barrett, director of development, at (912) 398-9750 or Johnathon.barrett@uga.edu to learn more about giving opportunities.
2450 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, Ga. 30605
botgarden.uga.edu 706-542-1244
HOURS
GROUNDS OPEN DAILY, 7 A.M.-7 P.M.
VISITOR CENTER GIFT SHOP
PORCELAIN AND DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM TUES.-SAT. 9 A.M.-4:30 P.M. SUNDAY 11:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M. MONDAY CLOSED
Sign up for the garden’s monthly e-newsletter, The Garden Buzz!
Thank you to our 2024 Winter WonderLights Sponsors!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PREMIUM SPONSOR
TITLE SPONSORS
LEAD SPONSORS
RADIANT SPONSORS
Malcolm Burgess and Family
GLOWING SPONSORS
Pat Brussack
Geoffrey Cole and Mary Bess Jarrard
The Terrell Family Foundation
CREATURES STIRRING SPONSORS
Betsy and Mark Ellison
Paula and Mark Hennessy
SNOWY NIGHT SPONSORS
American Pest Control, Inc.
Jim and Sandy Boyles
Friends of the Garden
Friends of Lele Griner
Georgia United Credit Union
Joanne and Robert Hecht Heritage Garden Club
Jackson Spalding Junior Ladies Garden Club Rose and Dahlia Garden Club
Glenn and Nancy Black
Chris and Lanse Leach In Memory of McClellan Mobley
Mrs. Cynthia Willett Lynne and Steve Wrigley
TRUIST
Whitlow Electric
Whitworth Land Corporation
Please touch!
Carved coconuts and value of touch in museums
Grace Moorman, Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum curator
he Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum was recently gifted a fine collection of carved coconut cups and chalices. These objects, ranging in date from the 16th to the 19th centuries, display exquisite decorative carvings and are often embellished with silver or gilt mounts.
They contain many stories within them – some connected to expanding empires, economic development and a fascination with “exotic” nature. To people indigenous to the native tropical range of coconuts, these drupes (coconuts are not nuts, despite their name) were long a permanent staple of their cultures before the arrival of Europeans.
Europeans believed that coconuts, or “Indian nuts” as they were sometimes called, had magical healing powers and the ability to detect and neutralize poison in drinks. By adding intricate carvings of Biblical scenes, royal portraiture and floral designs, the cups were further elevated as functional vessels and prized objects in collections of the wealthy.
While much of this historical context is readily teachable to visitors at the museum, the process of creating these vessels proves more challenging to illustrate. Like most works
of art in museums, the coconuts at the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum are placed behind a glass barrier – inviting guests to look but not touch.
This barrier is an essential aspect of collections care and ensures the longevity of objects. However, when deprived of the important sense of touch, viewers are left to wonder about the texture, weight and process of creating the cups. Creating interest by engaging more than the sense of sight is a perennial problem for museums as object function (and therefore some understanding) of decorative arts is often lost for the sake of careful preservation.
Engaging senses beyond sight in museums is a growing concept as the benefits of a multisensory experience are increasingly recognized.
To help address this gap, museums, including the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, have come up with clever ways to engage more than just the sense of sight. For example, a designated “touch basket” was suggested by museum docent Susan Mays, who spent her professional career in museums.
This basket contains coconuts in various stages of preparation – one with its outermost layer (the exocarp) still intact, another with its interior layer or seed pod (endocarp) still surrounding what was once the “meat” of the drupe, and finally halved sections of the coconut with the interior of the endocarp exposed and the meat of the coconut removed. This final section allows the viewer to better understand the extensive and delicate work required to carve detailed images into the fruit.
One can almost imagine themselves performing the various processes involved in creating a finished cup –halving and hollowing out the shells, understanding how thin yet strong the endocarp of the fruit is, and better appreciating the sanding, carving and polishing techniques needed to complete the work of art.
Engaging senses beyond sight in museums is a growing concept as the benefits of a multisensory experience are increasingly recognized. Touch is an important tool used to learn about and engage with art, nature and the world. As an institution dedicated in part to education, the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum invites you to look for the basket of coconuts and please touch.
The Deen Day Sanders Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum Lecture Series
Wednesday, April 16, 11 a.m.
The Deen Day Sanders Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum Lecture will feature Copenhagen-based Jamie Lago, who will discuss the rich and lengthy history of the Flora Danica dinner service—one of the world’s most exclusive porcelain collections steeped in history and craftsmanship.
Lago worked for Royal Copenhagen, the producers of Flora Danica, for more than 22 years before beginning her own business called “Danica Experience.” Through “Danica Experience,” Lago has continued to share her passion for the exquisite dinner service.
Her extensive experience ensures that this will be an engaging lecture exploring Flora Danica’s fascinating origins and enduring connection to European royalty. She will share stories of kings and queens and a remarkable legacy that spans over two centuries.
Guests are invited to a light reception following the lecture. For more information and to register, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
SPRING PLANT SALE
April 17 - Friends preview sale 2-6 p.m.
April 18 - 2-6 p.m. April 19 - 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
The spring plant sale is a great way to get wonderful plants, receive expert advice and support the garden. Staff from the horticulture and conservation departments will be at the plant sale, along with Master Gardeners, to help answer gardening questions and make recommendations for your specific needs.
All proceeds from the April plant sale go directly to the operational costs of the horticulture and conservation departments. With these profits, we add new plants to our botanical collections, purchase necessary supplies and hire parttime employees to help keep the gardens beautiful year-round.
Thursday, April 17, is the preview sale for Friends of the Garden members only. Members of the Friends of the Garden will receive a 10% discount and get to shop early.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Kelly Simmons, director of strategic communication initiatives for Public Service and Outreach at UGA
Garden volunteer Chris Leach is as excited as the 3- to 6-year-olds gathered Thursday morning at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia for the weekly Sweet Pea Club. It’s carnivorous plant day, and the activities and crafts planned for the next 45 minutes are all about insect-eating plants native to the southeastern U.S.
The first activity is an experiment with Pitcher Plants, bog dwellers with long, skinny leaves that appear to replicate a pitcher at the top. Bugs get trapped in the openings and fall into a deep cavity of digestive liquid, where they die and become food for the plant.
Each of the 17 Sweet Pea kids gets a freshly dried pitcher plant from the botanical garden bog, safety scissors, plastic tweezers and a magnifying glass to examine the remains of their plant’s last meals.
With their parent’s help, they cut the bottom inch or two of the plant and then pull the layers of leaves apart to see what’s inside.
“It’s a ladybug!” Leach says excitedly as she helps 4-year-old Zoe Oosthuizen empty the contents of the plant stem into a specimen dish. “That’s so cool!”
Leach spends as much time at the garden as some employees. When she’s not there, she is often promoting programs or sewing vests made from fabric covered in images of green pea pods for garden educators and volunteers who help with the Sweet Pea Club week after week. She’s also using the fabric to make bags to give to the children on Oct. 31, the last Sweet Pea Club scheduled for 2024.
Education has always been a big part of her life. In Ohio and later in Georgia, Leach’s students, from pre-K to age 21, were profoundly disabled. There is no educational curriculum that meets all of their needs, so teachers are challenged to find different strategies to reach individual students who are self-contained in the same classroom. After retirement, the botanical garden offered the perfect place to apply her expertise.
“I wasn’t ready to give up the teaching,” she says. “I get to use my skills to work with kids.”
Her husband of 16 years, Lanse Leach, also has a teaching background. Career military, retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel, Lanse also holds a PhD in computer science, which he taught at West Point.
He has used those skills to help improve technology at the State Botanical Garden.
Working with Jason Young, director of the garden’s
horticulture and grounds, Lanse donated funding for technology to create GPS maps to help visitors find specific benches or plants donated in someone’s memory. The maps also allow garden employees to locate specific plants within botanical collections across the grounds.
Funding from the Leaches paid to upgrade computers that control the climate in the garden’s greenhouses, maintaining temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Young said.
“Chris and Lanse have impacted multiple areas of the garden with their generosity,” said Jenny CruseSanders, State Botanical Garden director. “From helping with educational programming to funding technology upgrades, we are extremely grateful for the Leaches’ support of the garden.”
will be installed at the theater for easy access and will provide another permanent venue for learning through educational puppet shows.
“They are extremely generous,” Young says. “Chris has a deep appreciation and love for the children’s garden.”
The big educational gift from the Leaches this year is an outdoor puppet stage for the Theater in the Woods in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. The children’s education department has a permanent indoor puppet stage and a small portable puppet stage. The outdoor stage
The Leaches say providing funding and volunteering time are just what they want to do.
“We made an intentional decision to live our lives to the fullest while we’re here,” Chris Leach says.
Andrea Fischer, volunteer and tours coordinator for the State Botanical Garden, began her career at the garden as a volunteer more than 20 years ago.
She said volunteers are “ambassadors” for the garden. They enjoy connecting with the people who come here.
In FY2024, 434 volunteers worked 14,796 hours at the garden, the equivalent of seven full-time staff. Put another way, volunteers provided the garden with $204,185 worth of essential labor that year.
But, Fischer said, volunteers don’t think of the monetary value of their service.
“They like helping, they like being social, they like the garden,” Fischer says. “Volunteers come out here because they want to, and their impact is incredible!”
For more information about volunteer opportunities at the State Botanical Garden, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
NEW GARDEN STAFF
GARDEN STAFF NEWS
SAMANTHA SIMMONS
The State Botanical Garden recently welcomed Samantha Simmons to the staff as the Shade and Native Flora Gardens Curator. Samantha is from Monroe, Georgia, and in her most recent position, she worked part-time in the State Botanical Garden’s greenhouses. She enjoys hiking with her dog, thrifting and kayaking.
ZOË PRINCE
Please join us in welcoming Zoë Prince to the State Botanical Garden horticulture team! Zoë recently joined the garden as the Heritage Garden Curator. She graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2024 with a degree in horticulture. While at UGA, she was very involved in the Horticulture Club and served as the club’s president her senior year. Zoë’s favorite part of the garden is the Conservatory, which is fitting because she is having her wedding in the Conservatory in February.
Please join us in congratulating Katie McCollum and Audrey Mitchell for their recent UGA Public Service and Outreach Employee Spotlight recognition! Thank you both for your hard work and dedication to the garden!
The garden received several awards at the annual Public Service and Outreach Faculty and Staff Appreciation event. Johnathan Barrett and Jason Young won the Vice President Award of Excellence in Development, and the garden staff won the Vice President Award of Excellence in Outstanding Event for Winter WonderLights. The garden’s communications manager, Laurel Clark, also won an individual Staff Award for Excellence.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Armando Gomez has worked at the State Botanical Garden for three years and is a valued member of the garden’s education team. He recently received his bachelor’s of science in biology from the University of Georgia and is currently working on a master of arts in teaching in science education.
Gomez’s first experience at the garden was in the spring of 2022 when he volunteered for Georgia Questival, one of the annual family festivals highlighting Georgia’s natural history and resources. That fall, he joined the Environmental Education Learning by Leading™ team. Members of this team can learn more about the garden’s educational programming and assist in leading the programs themselves.
Gomez progressed through the Learning by Leading leadership ladder and became a co-student leader for the Environmental Education team in spring 2023. Student leaders of this team continue to assist with educational programming, plan weekly meetings and work on signature projects. During this semester, he worked on curriculum development for Georgia Questival and planned a student social, and over the summer, he had his first experience as a summer camp counselor.
Since then, Gomez has remained a co-student leader for the Environmental Education Learning by Leading team, working on more projects like homeschool curriculum, improving field trip programming and facilitating adult classes.
During his time at the garden, Gomez learned teaching, communication, professionalism and leadership skills, which he hopes to apply to his future career as a science teacher.
Proceeds go to the Piedmont Gardeners Scholarships for horticulture and landscape architect students at UGA.
Rare firefly identified in UGA’s State Botanical Garden
Kate Hall, communications intern
A rare species of firefly has recently been discovered at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia. The Loopy Five, named for its looping flight pattern, has been spotted in high concentration in the wetlands boardwalk area on the garden’s orange trail.
The firefly, petitioned to be on the Endangered Species List, was first spotted by a community scientist involved with the Firefly Atlas outside his home in Monroe, according to Anna Yellin, a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Georgia DNR investigated and found more Loopy Five populations in the surrounding Athens area.
The search for the Loopy Five and the partnership between Georgia DNR and the State Botanical Garden led biologists to identify the garden as a potential location for the fireflies. The garden’s wetlands boardwalk area contains what biologists suspect are the right conditions for these fireflies to thrive, and on a visit to the garden, DNR biologists found many Loopy 5 fireflies.
Lexi Bryan records environmental data and observations on the Loopy Five firefly.
“It’s exciting to find such a rare firefly in this area. It shows we still have opportunities to discover and conserve native species within our communities, even in areas surrounded by development,” said Yellin.
The Loopy Five firefly has been spotted in a handful of locations in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, but there’s not much documentation on this species, according to the Firefly Atlas.
“It’s a great site that can be accessed without disturbing vegetation,” said Yellin. “There’s been such a decline in wetlands that places like this are not as common as they once were.”
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia has over 290 acres of natural areas that garden staff work to preserve as an example of stewardship of Georgia’s natural Piedmont habitats. In recent years, the garden has received funding from the federal Recreational
BOARD OF ADVISORS 2024-2025
Tootsie Adams, Athens
Cyndae Arrendale, Atlanta
Lisa Bell, Savannah
Malinda Bergen, Savannah
Betsy Birkholz, Marietta
Mary Bishop, Sea Island
Sherri Callaway, Hamilton
Natalie Coghill, Augusta
Jeff Cole, Athens
Geri Coleman, Atlanta
Amy Cowsert, Athens
Andrew Crawford, Atlanta
Martha Deméré, Sea Island
Betty DeVore, Athens
Evelyn Dukes, Athens
Cindy Edwards, Savannah
Betsy Ellison, Athens
Susan Braselton Fant, Sea Island
James Farmer, Perry
Melissa Fontaine, Athens
Ann Frierson, Athens
Kelly Grow, Athens
Robert Hallock, Savannah
Catherine Hardman, Athens
Mary Hardman, Athens
Francie Hargrove, Cashiers, NC
Paula Hennessy, Atlanta
Melba Hill, Atlanta
Ken Hodges, Albany
Maudie Huff, Columbus
Karen Hull, Augusta
Truett Jarrard, Atlanta
Jimmy Jeter, Moultrie
Sally Jobe, Atlanta
Dori Jones, Columbus
Sally Jones, Sea Island
Gena Knox, Athens
Merry Jo Kurrie, Valdosta
Betsy Leebern, Columbus
Carrie Lovein, Atlanta
Brenda Magill, Athens
Polly Mattox, LaGrange
Marianne McConnel, Atlanta
Tavia McCuean, Atlanta
Jim Miller, Atlanta
Farolyn Mobley, Moultrie
Caroline Morris, Augusta
Alannah O’Quinn, St. Simons Island
Sandra Paris, Atlanta
Alex Patterson, Gainesville
Hart Payne, Gainesville
Doreen Poitevint, Bainbridge
Kathy Rainer, Atlanta
Georgia Schley Ritchie, Atlanta
Hart Roberts, Athens
Riley Sams, Sea Island
Victoria Simms, Sea Island
Henrietta Singletary, Albany
Lacy Sinkwich, Athens
Janie Skinner, Atlanta
Eileen Small, Atlanta
Haynes Studstill, Lakeland
Colleen Sullivan, Albany
Nancy Thomas, Screven
Elizabeth Townley, Bogart
Sally Tyndall, Atlanta
Ruth Wellborn, Greensboro
Joel Wernick, Greensboro
Tom Wight, Macon
Cynthia Willett, Bluffton, SC
Kathy Young, Marietta
Trails Program, which Georgia DNR administers in the state, and the Riverview Foundation to renovate and widen sections of the garden’s trails, build an accessible boardwalk and install adjacent ADA-accessible parking spots.
“Identifying the Loopy Five at the State Botanical Garden demonstrates how important it is to preserve native ecosystems,” said the garden’s director, Jenny Cruse-Sanders. “We are proud to be a partner with
Georgia DNR, and a prime location for scientists to research native species of all kinds.”
The Loopy Five can be identified by a series of light blinks, usually four, followed by a loop of motion on the fifth blink, thus giving the species its name. Yellin says that this unique pattern makes them easier for nonfirefly experts to identify.
In addition to being rare, the Loopy Fives are important to identify because
EMERITUS MEMBERS
Betty Balentine, Atlanta
Diana Barrow, Savannah
Dottie Blitch, Athens
Mark Callaway, Atlanta
Pat Carlock, Atlanta
Linda Cravey, Atlanta
Susan Duncan, Highlands, NC
Jim Gatewood, Americus
Sylvia Gibson, Athens
Lynwood Hall, Moultrie
Georgia Hatcher, Macon
Mimsie Lanier, Sea Island
Sissy Lawson, Gainesville
Peggy Lientz, Atlanta
Alden Maier, Rome
Cindy Moore, Savannah
Felton Norwood, Atlanta
Colleen Nunn, Atlanta
Penny Nunnally, Atlanta
Stephen Reichert, Macon
Margaret Robinson, Sea Island
Deen Day Sanders, Atlanta
Betty Sponcler, Dalton
Nancy Tarbutton, Sandersville
Robert Winthrop, Athens
LIFETIME MEMBERS
Kathy Lanigan, Thomasville
Marilyn McNeely, Clarkesville
Mark Preisinger, Sea Island
they, along with other nocturnal species, are significant pollinators. The garden’s Connect to Protect and Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year programs educate Georgians about the crucial need for pollinators and how they can make a difference for pollinator conservation in their backyards.
Yellin urges Georgians to participate in community science programs like the Firefly Atlas and Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas. Both programs can be accessed through DNR’s Biodiversity Portal, which has links to these programs and more: https://georgiabiodiversity.org/ portal/invertebrate_volunteer.
When asked about the partnership between the State Botanical Garden and Georgia DNR, Yellin said, “We have the same priorities with native wildlife. Plants are fundamental to the invertebrates, and the invertebrates are fundamental to plants, so there’s that continuous network.”
For more information about the State Botanical Garden’s pollinator programs, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
POSTCARDS FROM THE GARDEN
706.542.1244 . botgarden.uga.edu . garden@uga.edu
Goodbye, winter! Hello, spring!
Now is the time to come out of hibernation and enjoy the longer, warmer days. Spring is in sight, and with it comes opportunities to revitalize and refresh your garden and home. Find your spring must-haves at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia gift shop!
From large watering cans—the same used by our incredible horticulture team—to UV-protecting sun hats, planting journals and kneepads, we are stocked up and ready to help you find the perfect accent for your garden or patio.
Spring brings many opportunities to celebrate the people most important to us, whether through graduations, Mother’s Day or birthdays. The gift shop carries a variety of greeting cards and note cards that are perfect for letting someone know you’re thinking of them. Gift-giving is what we love to do! If you’re purchasing a gift, please let us know, and we’d be happy to wrap it up for you. See you in the garden!
