If you want to experience the quaint and quiet charm of a botanical garden, look no further than the small gem called Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville. A sister garden of the larger Atlanta Botanical Garden located in the state capital, this tucked-away spot is certain to delight the eye with its winding woodland trails, rotating exhibits, and beautiful plant collections. Here are a few things to look out for on your visit.
Mosaiculture
After taking the long and unassuming country road — past wooden cabins, convenience shops, and burger bars — you enter into a serene oasis set right on the edge of a former wood. Perhaps an unlikely and yet well-placed location, the Gainesville Botanical garden offers special exhibits throughout the year. Now until September, the exhibit is themed Mosaiculture — Imaginary Worlds, featuring the art of creating shapes and figures from scaffolding and plants. Impressive displays of pandas, frogs, and a remarkably realistic ogre head await.
Professional welders create the steel frames, which are then filled with planting medium. Horticulturists lay out the plants, relying especially on colourful foliage rather than blooms to bring the figures to life. Particular attention is paid to watering the plants regularly, as the sweltering Georgia heat is quick to burn. These larger-than-life figurines serve as the perfect setting for kids to play in and for visitors to admire.
Nature trails
There are three nature trails, cleverly designed to feed into one another, allowing visitors to choose their desired walking distance. The shortest Sourwood Trail starts as a brisk but majestic 1/2-mile walk along the outskirts of the gardens. From there, more adventurous explorers can venture out on the Holly Ridge Trail, leading half a mile deeper into the forest, and still further onto the Dogwood Trail. The trails transport you to a serene woodland, filled with singing birds and architectural branches. The garden doesn’t dispose of fallen trees and branches, spreading them instead among the woods to serve as a natural mulch. You can fully immerse yourself in the wild and native beauty of Georgia here.
Model trains
Check out the model trains near the Glade garden. This beautiful interactive display takes you into the miniature world as the trains pop in and out along the designed landscape.
Stream garden
The stream garden offers a picturesque walk among well-maintained plant beds. The zigzag path slowly leads you upwards across a lovely stream. Note the blooming hydrangeas, lilies, gardenias, and irises as you stroll along.
Sit down and relax
The garden offers ample seating in strategically placed nooks all along the paths, where you can relax with a book or your friends.
Shade plants central
The collection of shade-loving plants is truly vast at this botanical garden. Spot various species of Coleus (now Plectranthus), Caladium, Arum and Hostas. Caladium bicolour is especially striking with its bright foliage. A variety of ferns line the woodland walks and can also be seen decorating the plant beds.
Scenic Pond
The pond offers a spectacular display of water lilies and flag irises, popular for their semi-aquatic habit. Moisture-loving flag irises require minimal care and delight with their long stalks, blooming from spring to early summer.
Amphitheater
The botanical garden hosts regular music and social events in its vast amphitheater, with carefully trimmed lawn seating along a tiered semi-circular design.