Plantapalooza:

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, The UGA Horticulture Club

and The Trial Gardens at UGA Combine Spring Plant Sales in Athens on April 14^th

Athens, GA. – Athens, Georgia, the hotspot of horticulture, is home to outstanding public gardens, including The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Trial Gardens at UGA, as well as many specialty nurseries, the top school in horticulture, and horticulture celebrities. Athens has long been a travel destination for plant enthusiasts, but on Saturday, April 14, 2012 many gardeners will journey to Athens to attend Plantapalooza at the State Botanical Garden, the UGA Horticulture Club and The Trial Gardens at UGA. A wide array of garden plants that thrive in the Southeast will be available at each location from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, along with horticulturists, volunteers and Master Gardeners to help with plant selections. Admission is free for all plant sales.

The Trial Gardens at UGA grows and tests the newest annuals and perennials from plant breeders throughout the world and will offer unique plants that are difficult to find anywhere else in the state. Dr. Allan Armitage will be available to sign his books (which will be for sale) and lead tours of the Trial Garden (www.ugatrialgardens.com). Profits from all sales help fund research and student employees in the gardens.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (botgarden.uga.edu), headquarters of the Georgia Gold Medal Plant Program (www.georgiagoldmedalplants.org), will have Gold Medal plants noted among its broad selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, and more. This sale will also offer many native plants grown at the State Botanical Garden. The Garden Gift Shop and Donderos’ Kitchen (serving coffee drinks and a selection of handmade breakfast and lunch items) will be open.

The UGA Horticulture Club will be selling a wide range of garden and landscape plants near the intersection of Riverbend Road and College Station Road.  Profits from all sales fund projects for students in the Horticulture program.

Gardeners who participate in the 2012 Plantapalooza will be able to get a special card stamped to receive discounts in many area nurseries. Each participating retailer will have a drawing for $25 worth of plants for Plantapalooza participants. Directions andinformation about participating retailers are available online at ugatrialgardens.com. Information on Athens hotels and attractions can be found at www.VisitAthensGA.com.

 

Participating retailers:

 

Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace

1145 Mitchell Bridge Road, Athens

(706) 353-1519, cofers.com

 

Goodness Grows

332 Elberton Road, Lexington

(706) 743-5055, goodnessgrows.com

 

Specialty Ornamentals

3650 Colham Ferry Road, Watkinsville

(706) 310-0143, specialtyornamentals.com

 

Thomas Orchard and Nursery

6091 Macon Highway, Bishop

(706) 769-5011, thomasorchardsandnursery.com

 

Thyme After Thyme

550 Athens Road, Winterville

(706) 742-7149, thymeafterthyme.com

 

Wildwood Specialty Nursery

4970 Lexington Road, Athens

(706) 201-6559, wildwoodspecialtynursery.com

 

Wolfskin Nursery

10325 Double Bridges Road, Winterville

(706)543-5051.

 

 

Site Locations:

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia            botgarden.uga.edu

2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens

The Trial Gardens at UGA                                     www.ugatrialgardens.com

220 W Green Street, Athens behind Snelling Dining Hall

The UGA Horticulture Club                                     www.hortclub.uga.edu

near the intersection of Riverbend Road and College Station Road

 

Perennials, Classic City Awards 2011

Dear Friends of The Trial Garden at UGA

We take great pride in the Trials at the University of Georgia.  We don’t trial for the sake of trialing or to make us look good or to give us something to do – we trial in the steadfast belief that what we do makes a difference.  When we provide real data under real world conditions, we do so in the belief that someone, breeders, growers, retailers and consumers, will pay attention.  That they are, as seen by better plants being put in front of my daughters, speaks to quality of selection and freshness in the marketplace.   Quality is not limited to fertility standards and spacing, quality is also what consumers, from landscapers to buyers, see when they have a little money to spend.

So, in the steadfast belief that what we do does make a difference, here are the Classic City^* Perennial Award winners for 2011, the very best perennials in the trial gardens, based on year round performance and/or eye-clutching beauty.  Of the over 2000 plants in the garden, being a Classic City Award winner is equivalent to the Oscar and Tony rolled up as one.

The Perennials: (in alphabetical order.  All are winter hardy to at least zone 5, unless otherwise noted). The companies in parentheses either bred the plant or supplied the plant to us; however, your broker should be able to obtain all of the winners.

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Classic City Awards 2011 Annuals

Dear All,

We take great pride in the Trials at the University of Georgia.  We don’t trial for the sake of trialing or to make us look good or to give us something to do – we trial in the steadfast belief that what we do makes a difference.  When we provide real data under real world conditions, we do so in the belief that someone, breeders, growers, retailers and consumers, will pay attention.  Quality is not limited to fertility standards and spacing, quality is also what consumers, from landscapers to buyers, see when they have a little money to spend.

So, in the steadfast belief that what we do does make a difference, here are the Classic City^* Award winners for 2011, the very best plants in the trial gardens, based on year round performance and/or eye-clutching beauty.  Of the over 2000 plants in the garden, being a Classic City Award winner is equivalent to the Oscar and Tony rolled up as one.

Happy Gardening,

Dr. Allan Armitage

P.S. Check your inboxes for the full write-up and breeder of each plant. Not on our mailing list? Send your name and email address to contact@ugatrialgardens.com and we will send you the Classic City Awards 2011 and our weekly Plants of Distinctions.

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“An Evening in the Gardens” Great Success

The UGA Trial Gardens hosted their annual “Evening in the Gardens” on Thursday, September 29, 2011. It was a tremendous success with over 230 people in the garden! Real gardeners walked through our garden and flagged their favorite plants that looked the best this late in the season. Enjoy the slideshow!

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Thank you!

“An Evening in the Gardens”

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and supported us last night!! The evening went off without a hitch and we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we enjoyed having you. Our next big thing: PLANTAPALOOZA! If any of you picked up a coupon last night the date is on there, but for everyone else we have decided on April 14, 2012. Check out our website and watch your emails for more details as the event draws closer. Thanks again from everyone here at The Gardens. Until then….

Happy Gardening!

“An Evening in the Garden” Thursday, Sept. 29th

TOMORROW’S THE BIG DAY! Can’t wait to see everyone at The Gardens from 5:30-7:30 for some wine and hors d’oeuvres with Dr. A!

Save the date! You won’t want to miss this.

The date has been set for this year’s “An Evening in the Garden” presented by the UGA Trial Gardens. Thursday, September 29th, 2011 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Trial Gardens will be hosting an evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres, featuring live jazz by “Dial Indicators,” guided tours by Dr. Allan Armitage, and a book sale and signing. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the entrances. This is a beautiful and relaxing evening that gives all visitors a unique view of The Garden as the sun goes down. Don’t miss out!

For more information or any questions you may have, feel free to contact us at contact@ugatrialgardens.com or check out our website http://www.ugatrialgardens.com/

Perennial Plant Association flags

Another group has passed through The Gardens and cast their votes on their favorite plants. We have some familiar plants on the list, but also some new ones that have come in nicely as we get later into the summer season. This is just another opportunity to see the wonderful work we are doing here and the beauty that we have to show for it. Enjoy!

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Cool Mixed Baskets at UGA

This year we are trialing mixed baskets sent to us by breeders supporting The Garden. The mixes are determined by the breeders and then put into 14″ or 16″ baskets by The Garden Staff. Baskets are placed outdoors approx mid May. They look spectacular! Take a look! Photos taken July 20th.

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Cool Mixed Containers from UGA

With all the wonderful plants we receive in The Garden, The Garden Staff has put together some pretty amazing combinations. Check out the slideshow! All photos taken on July 5th.

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