The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

 

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.”

Aristotle

So you love gardens? Did you know there are dazzling botanical gardens in Athens, Georgia to see and enjoy not far from the University of Georgia called The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia? This is a 313 acre horticultural conservatory with enchanting walking paths and exquisite gardens to view and is a part of the University of Georgia. This legendary park was established in 1968.

                                                                                    

We drove from Augusta, Georgia, a 90 minute drive through small historic towns, passed pleasant farmlands, passed Kettle Creek Battlefield (Revolutionary War), old country stores long closed, and an old fashioned farmers stand called The Vineyard that was selling muscadine grapes that were plentiful and in season. Yes, we made a pit stop for grapes and yes, they were sweet and delicious. What a treat.

We drove through the entrance to the gardens on a winding road through a beautiful wooded area till we came to the Visitors Center. The Visitors Center, gift shop, and conservatory is in the magnificent two story glass atrium. When we went inside, it felt like we just entered into a tropical paradise with fabulous tropical plants, trees and flowers. The beautiful orchids were on display in many brilliant colors and were stunning to see. After spending some time wandering around this amazing display of plants, we headed out to see the outside gardens.

There are numerous brilliant gardens to see while in this well planned park. There are Rose Gardens, International Gardens, Shade Gardens, Heritage Gardens, herb and medicinal gardens and many others to view and enjoy. Each garden is set up in a unique one of a kind designs that were a pleasure to see. I loved the tranquil Japanese Gardens and the Dahlia Gardens. There were beautiful butterflies flitting from one flower to another enjoying the nectar and putting on quite the colorful show. The Azalea Garden was not in bloom but must be gorgeous in springtime. We will have to come back to see these gardens in the other seasons. It was a hot summer day when we were strolling from garden to garden so the shaded benches throughout the park were very welcomed. There were many beautiful fountains to see and we particularly enjoyed the giant globe water fountain.

The serene beauty of these gardens was delightful. Lots of birds sang happily above us as if they were welcoming us as we wandered down the winding pathways. The paths are all paved and most are handicap accessible. The attractive architectural design of the bridges in the park added to the beauty of this place. The formal Heritage Gardens were stunning and beautiful to see. I could just imagine this garden in a castles courtyard. The Heritage Garden is known for its heirloom flowers and beautiful antique roses. The crown jewel of that section is a fountain that is topped with a bittern, a member of the heron family. There was a large open grassy area that has an attractive stage where live bands come and play and benches bound with a lovely long hedge. During our time here, we passed many friendly volunteers and students working on the gardens to make them even more beautiful than they already were. They were very nice and glad to share their knowledge of the plants and answer questions.

We came upon a beautiful small vineyard loaded with grapes being grown near a decorative pavilion. In that same area, was a fruit tree orchard. There was a fascinating garden with experimental plants and unique plants like Indigo, a variety of different gourds, and many other special plants. Along with all the different garden areas, there are also five miles of nature trails. Many locals come to the park daily to run or walk for exercise. The White and Orange Trails are loop trails that is a moderate challenge. Both of those trails have views of the Oconee River. The white trail is the longest of the trails and one of the most challenging.

This park also offers educational classes on plant biology, plant ecology, and horticulture. You can work to get a certificate or if you just want to take gardening classes, they also offer them. They enjoy school children coming and educating them about horticulture.

The gardens are free to see but they welcome donations to help with the upkeep and to add new sections. They are open through all seasons and are well maintained. The gardens are open from 8 am to 7 pm – Monday through Sunday. The Visitors Center is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

As we headed back towards the Atrium, we spotted a nice area with picnic tables. There is also a snack bar where you can get food and drinks but it wasn’t opened during the COVID 19 pandemic. When we exited the Atrium, there was a circular driveway up front with a small park with bronze statues of children that was whimsical and fun.

We got in the car and drove to see the Day Chapel – called St. Thomas Anglican Church which was founded in 2015 and is a lovely church set back in the woods. It would be a lovely venue for a wedding. It was so quiet and peaceful area set back in this secluded wooded landscape.

We enjoyed our time at this lovely park and will be back again. This is definitely a must see if you are into nature and horticulture. What a gem we discovered. Go and take time to smell the roses. Check them out at: www.botgarden.uga.edu.

Till next time. Bye for now.