Gwinnett Master Gardeners and guests visited the garden of internationally-known, madly passionate garden enthusiast Ryan Gainey. Not only is Ryan Gainey a gardener, but also a poet, raconteur, philosopher, mentor, visionary, designer, and showman all in one.
Upon moving to Atlanta, he began to nurture his own piece of land, a two-acre garden in Decatur, Georgia which has been featured in every major gardening publication in the United States and abroad. Visiting this paradise is a highlight each year for the thousands who partake of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Gardens for Connoisseurs tour. His garden has been a featured stop for 20 years.
As with all of our gardens, this garden reflects the personality of the owner. It is stimulating, thought-provoking, exuberant, creative, romantic, whimsical, embracing …. but in reality mere words are inadequate to describe this unusual garden.
After exploring the many garden rooms, through twists and turns and surprises in every corner, Ryan Gainey gave an overview of the development of the property and answered our many questions. Following the tour, we enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant to discuss what we had learned from this experience.
