Category: Field Trips

When Danielle Green of the Atlanta Zoo spoke to our group in the spring of 2012, Margaret immediately worked to accept her invitation to visit and set up a field trip. In October, we all had a great time and Danielle is a very knowledgeable, sharing tour guide! We learned about appropriate horticulture for the zoo. I had never really considered that there were plants that should not be in a zoo, not only for the animals but also for the visitors to the zoo. The education about different types of bamboo needed for the pandas; overwintering plants; plants appropriate for our zone – we all learned a lot of good information. Absolutely worth the trip! Related Images:

An adventurous group of Gwinnett County Master Gardeners traveled to Southern Highlands Reserve located in western North Carolina.  At an elevation of 4500’, summer is later there and we enjoyed cooler weather and different flora.  The average temperature for this date is still in the upper 70’s!  The wildflowers were in bloom and there was plenty of shade to make this July field trip a pleasure. The Reserve’s 120 acres are dedicated to celebrating the natural history of the Southern Appalachian Highlands, and was well worth a beautiful drive with friends to just inside our neighboring North Carolina.  The Highlands’ Core Park is home to destination gardens such as The Woodland Glade, The Azalea Walk, The Wildflower Labyrinth and Vaseyi Pond.  These are manicured display gardens planted with native species and their cultivars.  The Reserve is home to a vast array of naturally occurring native plants and one of the largest natural stands…

Gibbs Gardens opened to the public for the first time on March 1, 2012.  The Garden is nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.  The Gibbs family has creatively planned and developed more than 220 acres of gardens that include 16 garden venues in the Manor House Gardens and the Valley Gardens. GCMGA members and guests enjoyed a full day of experiencing the “harmony of nature.”   We took in the Manor House Gardens with seasonal floral displays, Rose Arbor, Woodland Shade Gardens and Nature Canopy Walk. After lunch, we also toured the Valley Gardens featuring Japanese Gardens, Monet Waterlily Gardens, Grandchildren’s Sculpture Gardens, Rose Gardens, Fernery, Pleasance, Daylily and Bride’s All White Garden. Mr. Gibbs spoke to our group and provided information on his research and travels that inspired his development of a “world class” garden.  Information obtained has added to your knowledge of landscape design and provides…