Personally I am usually leery of young botanical gardens and arboretums. Trees take a long time to grow into their mature shapes!!!! But Jim Gibbs, who owns the largest landscape company in Georgia as well as Gibbs Garden, was at work creating the manicured landscape long before he opend the garden gate to the public six years ago. He started working on his private 300 acre estate in 1980. So it is 'young' in terms of being open to the public but benefits from 30+ years of being manicured. If you love daffodils this would be the place to come in March -- there are over FOUR MILLION daffodil bulbs underground just waiting for Spring. Fifty acres of daffodils! You can check on their website for more up to date info on when things will bloom, but in general they expect the daffodils to be in bloom in early March through mid-April. Cherries will be in blossom the last two weeks of March and dogwoods in early April. They have festivals celebrating ferns, azaleas, rhododendrons, roses and hydrangeas. The hydrangeas make their splash starting in late May. And there are eight acres of wildflowers! But if you are reading this website it is because you love TREES, so let me tell you that there are more than 2,000 Japanese maples. There are 150 varieties of Japanese Maples, most concentrated in the 40-acre Japanese Maple section, so there are different varieties coming into their peak fall colors throughout the season. As if the trees themselves aren't enough to bathe your eyes in beauty -- there are also reflecting ponds, decorative bridges and pieces of artwork and statues scattered throughout the area. This beautiful 220 acre garden will be closed on December 10 and will not reopen until the first of March. It is located outside a tiny town (Ball Ground) about an hour north of Atlanta. Lots of free parking. Admission for adults is $20 for one day, annual passes cost $50. There is a cafe with prepackaged sandwiches (the chicken salad is quite good) and beverages. Seating is only available outside. Be forewarned the garden is always closed on Mondays, and for most of the year is also closed on Tuesdays.
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Ruthie RosauerRuthie photographs trees because she loves them. Archives
February 2019
CategoriesUpcoming EventsDecember 7 1 - 3pm A Walk in the Woods 423 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC BOOK SIGNING Photographer and editor Ruthie Rosauer will be on hand to autograph copies of her book, THESE TREES. The book, a compilation of 140 trees photos paired with poems, has been described as "A gorgeous book, a heart-opening photo collection." |